A new absolute altitude record is a rare event. Here are the FAI data on the latest altitude achievement in open class gliders:
February 1986, Robert R. Harris on Burkhart Grob Astir G-102 reached 14 938 meters
August 2006, Steve Fossett on Glaser-Dirks DG-505 reached 15 460 meters.
Since 2017 a new Era of world altitude records started by Perlan Mission II.
The current world record in glider open class is 22 657 m, but still far from the declared Perlan Mission II team. The Perlan II glider was designed for the flights in stratosphere: its performance optimized for flight at 15 000 meters, but theoretically it can fly up to 27 000 meters and has pressurized cabin. Superseding world altitude records will further require very high cost special stratosphere gliders.
Shall we consider that record flights in gliding are no longer important? Of course, no! Besides world records there are national and regional. As well sailplanes are not restricted by open class only. Still we have room to challenge ourselves and surpass over the existing achievements.
For Russia, the national absolute altitude record has been set by Mr. Oleg Pasechnik on a famous training glider Let L-13 Blanik - he had achieved 10 800 meters in October 1978.
Our project goal is to supersede this achievement. The project name referred to different position – STRATOSPHERE in respect of flight altitude and ELBRUS (a highest Caucasian mountain) for the geographical region of intended record flight.
Our project is not so ambitious as Perlan, but we will fly on regular type of glider you can see on a soaring competitions and trainings of the glider pilots. We are not going to close project upon absolute altitude record flight but will continue to support soaring by new achievements.
Here you will find information of how you can use the energy of nature and where to find it.