Project Soar Eagle: Wave Flying the Grob 103 Sailplane.

Abstract

Project Soar Eagle is the U.S. Air Force Test Pilot School effort to break the world absolute altitude record for gliders. TPS initiated the project in 1981 and flew a modified Blanik L-13 from late 1983 until 1985. In 1986 the project team replaced the Blanik with a modified Grob G-103, a sailplane better suited to the mission. A Project Soar Eagle pilot has soared the Grob to 42,200 feet in the mountain wave generated by the Sierra-Nevada Mountains. This report documents and analyzes the Grob G-103 sailplane, the avionics, the life support systems (full pressure suit), and the flight operations used by Project Soar Eagle. The purpose of the report was to provide a blueprint from which the project could be duplicated, to provide a project history, and to aid the safe, successful conclusion of the project.

Open PDF

Document Details

Document Type
Technical Report
Publication Date
Apr 01, 1988
Accession Number
ADA192457

Entities

People

  • James M. Payne

Organizations

  • Air Command and Staff College

Tags

Communities of Interest

  • Air Platforms
  • Energy and Power Technologies
  • Ground and Sea Platforms
  • Human Systems
  • Weapons Technologies

DTIC Thesaurus Topics

  • Air Force
  • Air Force Facilities
  • Aircrafts
  • Altitude
  • Control Systems
  • Engineering
  • Gliders
  • High Altitude
  • Instrument Panels
  • Liquid Oxygen
  • Pressure Suits
  • Schools
  • Sea Level
  • Students
  • Training
  • United States
  • Wiring Diagrams

Readers

  • Aviation Science / Aeronautics.
  • Marine Mammal Biology
  • Military History of the United States in the 20th Century.

Technology Areas

  • Autonomy