The Perlan Project is a non-profit organization doing upper atmospheric research. They are designing and building a research glider to fly to 90,000 feet in the polar vortex. They have an international staff of meteorologists, scientists, engineers and pilots. The Perlan 1 team set a new world glider altitude record in 2006 over Argentina. The pilots were Steve Fossett and Einar Enevoldson. They reached 50,671 feet (15,447 m) - the first ever glider flight into the earth's stratosphere. Having proved that the stratosphere could be reached in a glider the team is now building the Perlan 2 with a pressurized cabin. They are planning on returning to Argentina on an expedition where they hope to gather data on the atmosphere at 90,000 feet. If they reach this altitude it will be the highest any winged aircraft has flown in level flight. It will top the SR-71's record by 5,000 feet.
