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Einar K. Enevoldson (June 15, 1932, in Seattle, Washington – April 14, 2021) was the director of the Perlan Project. He was a civilian research pilot for NASA's Hugh L. Dryden Flight Research Center, Edwards, California, from 1968 until 1986. He was involved in many research programs, including those with experimental wings, propulsion and digital computer flight control systems.

Career

Enevoldson attended several colleges. He received his B.S. degree in Mechanical Engineering and his M.S. degree in Aeronautical Engineering from the University of Wyoming in 1963.

He was a jet fighter pilot in the United States Air Force, and as an exchange officer with the Royal Air Force attended the Empire Test Pilot's School in Farnborough, Hampshire, England. Following graduation, he served at Boscombe Down as a test pilot on the Hawker Hunter, English Electric Lightning, and Gloster Javelin British fighter aircraft from 1966 to 1967.

Enevoldson was awarded the USAF Distinguished Flying Cross in 1959 for his record flights in a Lockheed F-104 Starfighter. In 1974 he was awarded the NASA Exceptional Service Medal, for his contributions as NASA Project Pilot on the F-111 Supercritical Wing Program and on the F-15 Remotely Piloted Research Vehicle. In 1980 he was awarded a second NASA Exceptional Service Medal for contributions as project pilot on F-14 stall and spin resistance tests.

In 1986 he retired from NASA^[1] and accepted a full-time position as the chief test pilot for the Grob Egrett^[2] in Mindelheim, Germany in 1988. The Egrett was a high-altitude reconnaissance aircraft for the German Air Force. Enevoldson set the absolute altitude record for all turboprop aircraft in the prototype Egrett in 1988,^[3] as well as time-to-climb.^[4] With the fall of the Berlin Wall in 1989 the requirement for the Egrett diminished, and the project was cancelled after 6 aircraft had been built.

Subsequently, he was the test pilot for the Grob Strato 2C.^[5] This was an extremely advanced, all carbon, very high altitude, propeller driven aircraft, built to carry two pilots, two scientists, and 2,000 pounds (910 kg) of scientific instruments to an altitude of 80,000 feet (24,000 m) for 8 hours, or to 60,000 feet (18,000 m) for 60 hours. On its 29th and final flight, Enevoldson reached an altitude of over 60,700 feet (18,500 m), which exceeded the official altitude record for all propeller-driven aircraft by over 5,000 feet (1,500 m). The German Aerospace Research Center, DLR, cancelled the project due to the cost of proposed final modifications necessary to make the aircraft mission-ready.

Among the NASA aircraft that Enevoldson flew were the F-111, F-14, F-8 Digital Fly-By-Wire and Supercritical Wing, YF-12A, the oblique wing AD-1, Controlled Deep Stall Sailplane, sub-scale F-15 remotely piloted spin research vehicle and the X-24B lifting body.^[6]

Among the pressure suits in which he flew are the US MC-4, US A/P22S-6, US S-1000, US 1030/1034, UK pressure jerkin with Taylor helmet, the Russian KK0-15, the US copy of the UK pressure jerkin with P-mask.

Enevoldson said that he had never intended to specialize in high altitude testing, but over a long career he probably accumulated more diverse experience there than anyone. He flew above 50,000 feet (15,000 m) in 14 different types of jet aircraft, one turboprop (record altitude), one reciprocating engine (5,000 feet (1,500 m) above record altitude), one sailplane (record altitude), and one rocket aircraft (glide flights). He also held several time-to-climb records in the F104 (3, 6, 9, 12, 15, 20, 25 km^[7] — which have since been broken). He may also hold the record for longest time between record flights — 48 years.

Perlan Project

While working in Germany with the DLR he developed the meteorological basis for the Perlan Project. The theory, briefly, posits that the coincidence of the stratospheric polar night jet and the polar jet stream, when occurring over a mountain barrier, creates the necessary conditions for the amplification of standing mountain waves through the tropopause, in accordance with the Eliassen-Palm theorem. Enevoldson initiated a search for funding for the project. When balloonist and adventurer Steve Fossett heard about it from his friend Barron Hilton, Fossett enthusiastically joined the project as its sponsor. Using NASA and USAF full pressure suits Fossett and Enevoldson set the world sailplane absolute altitude record of 50,724 feet (15,461 meters), flying from El Calafate in the south of Argentine Patagonia,^[8] above the Andes mountains in the wind field of the stratospheric polar night jet.

Enevoldson was chosen to be the pilot for the Perlan II follow-up project aircraft.^[9]

References

^ "NASA biography" NASA 7 May 2014. Accessed: 29 August 2014
^ "Grob Egrett".
^ Staff (1 September 1988). "Class C-1e (Landplanes: take off weight 3 000 to 6 000 kg) - Altitude in horizontal flight". Fédération Aéronautique Internationale. Archived from the original on 3 September 2014. Retrieved 29 August 2014.
^ Staff (1 September 1988). "Class C-1e (Landplanes: take off weight 3 000 to 6 000 kg) - Time to climb to a height of 15 000 m". Fédération Aéronautique Internationale. Archived from the original on 3 September 2014. Retrieved 29 August 2014.
^ "Strato 2C".
^ "Sailplane to the Stratosphere" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 3 September 2014.
^ Staff (13 December 1958). "Class C-1-3 — Time to climb to a height of 25 000 m". Fédération Aéronautique Internationale. Archived from the original on 3 September 2014. Retrieved 29 August 2014. searchname Einar
^ Staff (29 August 2006). "Class DO (Gliders) - Absolute altitude". Fédération Aéronautique Internationale. Archived from the original on 13 April 2015. Retrieved 29 August 2014.
^ "The Perlan II project continues to develop". FreeFlight, the Journal of the Soaring Association of Canada: 24–25. Autumn 2011.

Bibliography

Ryan, Bertha M. (2010) "Soaring Beyond the Clouds: Einar Enevoldson Reaches for 100,000 Feet" Soaring Society of America ISBN 0615402259, 9780615402253

[1] "NASA biography" NASA 7 May 2014. Accessed: 29 August 2014

[2] "Grob Egrett".

[3] Staff (1 September 1988). "Class C-1e (Landplanes: take off weight 3 000 to 6 000 kg) - Altitude in horizontal flight". Fédération Aéronautique Internationale. Archived from the original on 3 September 2014. Retrieved 29 August 2014.

[4] Staff (1 September 1988). "Class C-1e (Landplanes: take off weight 3 000 to 6 000 kg) - Time to climb to a height of 15 000 m". Fédération Aéronautique Internationale. Archived from the original on 3 September 2014. Retrieved 29 August 2014.

[5] "Strato 2C".

[6] "Sailplane to the Stratosphere" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 3 September 2014.

[7] Staff (13 December 1958). "Class C-1-3 — Time to climb to a height of 25 000 m". Fédération Aéronautique Internationale. Archived from the original on 3 September 2014. Retrieved 29 August 2014. searchname Einar

[8] Staff (29 August 2006). "Class DO (Gliders) - Absolute altitude". Fédération Aéronautique Internationale. Archived from the original on 13 April 2015. Retrieved 29 August 2014.

[FF2011-4-9] "The Perlan II project continues to develop". FreeFlight, the Journal of the Soaring Association of Canada: 24–25. Autumn 2011.

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+{{Short description|American test pilot (1932–2021)}}
-{{more footnotes|date=August 2010}}
+{{more footnotes needed|date=August 2010}}
-[[Image:Einar Enevoldson.jpg|right|200px|thumb|Einar Enevoldson]] '''Einar K. Enevoldson''' (born June 15, 1932 in [[Seattle, Washington]]) is the director of the [[Perlan Project]]. He was a civilian research pilot for NASA's Hugh L. [[Dryden Flight Research Center]], Edwards, Calif. from 1968 until 1986. He was involved in many research programs, including those with experimental wings, propulsion and digital computer flight control systems.
+[[Image:Einar Enevoldson (cropped).jpg|right|200px|thumb|Einar Enevoldson]]
+'''Einar K. Enevoldson''' (June 15, 1932, in [[Seattle, Washington]]{{spnd}}April 14, 2021) was the director of the [[Perlan Project]]. He was a civilian research pilot for [[NASA]]'s [[Hugh L. Dryden Flight Research Center]], Edwards, California, from 1968 until 1986. He was involved in many research programs, including those with experimental wings, propulsion and digital computer flight control systems.
 ==Career==
-Enevoldson attended several colleges. He received his B.S. degree in Mechanical Engineering and his M.S. degree in Aeronautical Engineering from the University of Wyoming in 1963.
+Enevoldson attended several colleges. He received his B.S. degree in Mechanical Engineering and his M.S. degree in Aeronautical Engineering from the [[University of Wyoming]] in 1963.
-He was a jet fighter pilot in the [[United States Air Force]], and as an exchange officer with the [[Royal Air Force]] attended the [[Empire Test Pilot's School]] in Farnborough, Hampshire, England. Following graduation, he served as a test pilot on the [[Hawker Hunter]], [[English Electric Lightning]], and [[Gloster Javelin]] British fighter aircraft from 1966 to 1967.
+He was a jet fighter pilot in the [[United States Air Force]], and as an exchange officer with the [[Royal Air Force]] attended the [[Empire Test Pilot's School]] in Farnborough, Hampshire, England. Following graduation, he served at [[Boscombe Down]] as a test pilot on the [[Hawker Hunter]], [[English Electric Lightning]], and [[Gloster Javelin]] British fighter aircraft from 1966 to 1967.
-Enevoldson had been awarded the USAF [[Distinguished Flying Cross (United States)|Distinguished Flying Cross]] in 1959 for his record flights in a [[Lockheed F-104 Starfighter]]. In 1974 he was awarded the [[NASA Exceptional Service Medal]], for his contributions as NASA Project Pilot on the F-111 Supercritical Wing Program and on the F-15 Remotely Piloted Research Vehicle. In 1980 he was awarded second NASA Exceptional Service Medal for contributions as project pilot on F-14 stall and spin resistance tests.
+Enevoldson was awarded the USAF [[Distinguished Flying Cross (United States)|Distinguished Flying Cross]] in 1959 for his record flights in a [[Lockheed F-104 Starfighter]]. In 1974 he was awarded the [[NASA Exceptional Service Medal]], for his contributions as NASA Project Pilot on the F-111 Supercritical Wing Program and on the F-15 Remotely Piloted Research Vehicle. In 1980 he was awarded a second NASA Exceptional Service Medal for contributions as project pilot on F-14 stall and spin resistance tests.
-In 1986 he retired from NASA<ref>"[http://www.nasa.gov/centers/armstrong/news/Biographies/Pilots/bd-dfrc-p003.html NASA biography]" ''[[NASA]]'' 7 May 2014. Accessed: 29 August 2014</ref> and accepted a full-time position as the chief test pilot for the [[Grob G 520|Grob Egrett]]<ref>[http://www.fas.org/man/dod-101/sys/ac/row/egrett.htm Grob Egrett]</ref> in Mindelheim, Germany in 1988. The Egrett was a high altitude reconnaissance aircraft for the German Air Force.  Enevoldson set the absolute altitude record for all turboprop aircraft in the prototype Egrett in 1988,<ref>{{cite web |author=Staff |url=http://www.fai.org/fai-record-file/?recordId=1390 |title=Class C-1e (Landplanes: take off weight 3 000 to 6 000 kg) - Altitude in horizontal flight |publisher=[[Fédération Aéronautique Internationale]] |date= 1 September 1988 |accessdate=29 August 2014 }}</ref> as well as time-to-climb.<ref>{{cite web |author=Staff |url=http://www.fai.org/fai-record-file/?recordId=1392 |title=Class C-1e (Landplanes: take off weight 3 000 to 6 000 kg) - Time to climb to a height of 15 000 m |publisher=[[Fédération Aéronautique Internationale]] |date= 1 September 1988 |accessdate=29 August 2014 }}</ref> With the fall of the Berlin Wall in 1989 the requirement for the Egrett diminished, and the project was cancelled after 6 aircraft had been built.
+In 1986 he retired from NASA<ref>"[http://www.nasa.gov/centers/armstrong/news/Biographies/Pilots/bd-dfrc-p003.html NASA biography]" ''[[NASA]]'' 7 May 2014. Accessed: 29 August 2014</ref> and accepted a full-time position as the chief test pilot for the [[Grob G 520|Grob Egrett]]<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.fas.org/man/dod-101/sys/ac/row/egrett.htm |title=Grob Egrett}}</ref> in Mindelheim, Germany in 1988. The Egrett was a high-altitude reconnaissance aircraft for the German Air Force. Enevoldson set the absolute altitude record for all turboprop aircraft in the prototype Egrett in 1988,<ref>{{cite web |author=Staff |url=http://www.fai.org/fai-record-file/?recordId=1390 |title=Class C-1e (Landplanes: take off weight 3 000 to 6 000 kg) - Altitude in horizontal flight |publisher=[[Fédération Aéronautique Internationale]] |date=1 September 1988 |access-date=29 August 2014 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140903101322/http://www.fai.org/fai-record-file/?recordId=1390 |archive-date=3 September 2014 }}</ref> as well as time-to-climb.<ref>{{cite web |author=Staff |url=http://www.fai.org/fai-record-file/?recordId=1392 |title=Class C-1e (Landplanes: take off weight 3 000 to 6 000 kg) - Time to climb to a height of 15 000 m |publisher=Fédération Aéronautique Internationale |date=1 September 1988 |access-date=29 August 2014 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140903101326/http://www.fai.org/fai-record-file/?recordId=1392 |archive-date=3 September 2014}}</ref> With the fall of the Berlin Wall in 1989 the requirement for the Egrett diminished, and the project was cancelled after 6 aircraft had been built.
-Subsequently he was the test pilot for the [[Grob Strato 2C]].<ref>[http://www.grob-aerospace.net/company/legacy/high-altitude-aircraft/g-850-strato-2c.html Strato 2C]</ref> This was an extremely advanced, all carbon, very high altitude, propeller driven aircraft, built to carry two pilots, two scientists, and 2,000 pounds of scientific instruments to an altitude of 80,000 feet for 8 hours, or to 60,000 feet for 60 hours. On its 29th and final flight, Enevoldson reached an altitude of over 60,700 feet, which exceeded the official altitude record for all propeller driven aircraft by over 5,000 feet. The project was cancelled by the [[German Aerospace Center|German Aerospace Research Center, DLR]] due to the cost of proposed final modifications necessary to make the aircraft mission-ready.
+Subsequently, he was the test pilot for the [[Grob Strato 2C]].<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.grob-aerospace.net/company/legacy/high-altitude-aircraft/g-850-strato-2c.html |title=Strato 2C}}</ref> This was an extremely advanced, all carbon, very high altitude, propeller driven aircraft, built to carry two pilots, two scientists, and {{convert|2,000|lb}} of scientific instruments to an altitude of {{convert|80,000|ft}} for 8 hours, or to {{convert|60,000|ft}} for 60 hours. On its 29th and final flight, Enevoldson reached an altitude of over {{convert|60,700|ft}}, which exceeded the official altitude record for all propeller-driven aircraft by over {{convert|5,000|ft}}. The [[German Aerospace Center|German Aerospace Research Center, DLR]], cancelled the project due to the cost of proposed final modifications necessary to make the aircraft mission-ready.
-Among the NASA aircraft that he flew were the [[General Dynamics F-111|F-111]], [[F-14 Tomcat|F-14]], [[F-8 Crusader|F-8]] [[Fly-by-wire#Digital|Digital Fly-By-Wire]] and [[Supercritical wing|Supercritical Wing]], [[Lockheed YF-12|YF-12A]], the oblique wing AD-1, Controlled [[Stall (flight)#Deep stall|Deep Stall]] [[Sailplane]], sub-scale [[F-15 Eagle|F-15]] remotely piloted spin research vehicle and the [[Martin-Marietta X-24|X-24B]] [[lifting body]].<ref>[http://www.chinalakemuseum.org/secretcitystories/Sailplane%20to%20the%20Stratosphere.pdf Sailplane to the Stratosphere]</ref>
+Among the NASA aircraft that Enevoldson flew were the [[General Dynamics F-111|F-111]], [[F-14 Tomcat|F-14]], [[F-8 Crusader|F-8]] [[Fly-by-wire#Digital systems|Digital Fly-By-Wire]] and [[Supercritical wing|Supercritical Wing]], [[Lockheed YF-12|YF-12A]], the oblique wing AD-1, Controlled [[Stall (flight)#Deep stall|Deep Stall]] [[Sailplane]], sub-scale [[F-15 Eagle|F-15]] remotely piloted spin research vehicle and the [[Martin-Marietta X-24|X-24B]] [[lifting body]].<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.chinalakemuseum.org/secretcitystories/Sailplane%20to%20the%20Stratosphere.pdf |title=Sailplane to the Stratosphere |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140903110105/http://www.chinalakemuseum.org/secretcitystories/Sailplane%20to%20the%20Stratosphere.pdf |archive-date=3 September 2014}}</ref>
 Among the [[pressure suit]]s in which he flew are the US MC-4, US A/P22S-6, US S-1000, US 1030/1034, UK pressure jerkin with Taylor helmet, the Russian KK0-15, the US copy of the UK pressure jerkin with P-mask.
-Enevoldson said that he had never intended to specialize in high altitude testing, but over a long career he has probably accumulated more diverse experience there than anyone. He has flown above 50,000 feet in 14 different types of jet aircraft, one turboprop (record altitude), one reciprocrating engine (5000 feet above record altitude), one sailplane (record altitude), and one rocket aircraft (glide flights).  He also held several time-to-climb records in the F104 (3, 6, 9, 12, 15, 20, 25km<ref>{{cite web |author=Staff |url=http://www.fai.org/fai-record-file/?recordId=9080 |title=Class C-1-3 — Time to climb to a height of 25 000 m |publisher=[[Fédération Aéronautique Internationale]] |date= 13 December 1958 |accessdate=29 August 2014 }} searchname Einar</ref> — which have since been broken). He may also hold the record for longest time between record flights — 48 years.
+Enevoldson said that he had never intended to specialize in high altitude testing, but over a long career he probably accumulated more diverse experience there than anyone. He flew above {{convert|50,000|ft}} in 14 different types of jet aircraft, one turboprop (record altitude), one reciprocating engine ({{convert|5000|ft}} above record altitude), one sailplane (record altitude), and one rocket aircraft (glide flights). He also held several time-to-climb records in the F104 (3, 6, 9, 12, 15, 20, 25&nbsp;km<ref>{{cite web |author=Staff |url=http://www.fai.org/fai-record-file/?recordId=9080 |title=Class C-1-3 — Time to climb to a height of 25 000 m |publisher=Fédération Aéronautique Internationale |date=13 December 1958 |access-date=29 August 2014 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140903102432/http://www.fai.org/fai-record-file/?recordId=9080 |archive-date=3 September 2014}} searchname Einar</ref> — which have since been broken). He may also hold the record for longest time between record flights — 48 years.
 ==Perlan Project==
-While working in Germany with the [[German Aerospace Center|DLR]] he developed the meteorological basis for the [[Perlan Project]].  The theory, briefly, posits that the coincidence of the stratospheric [[polar night jet]] and the polar [[jet stream]], when occurring over a mountain barrier, creates the necessary conditions for the amplification of standing mountain waves through the tropopause, in accordance with the Eliassen-Palm theorem.  Enevoldson initiated a search for funding for the project. When balloonist and adventurer [[Steve Fossett]] heard about it from his friend [[Barron Hilton]], Fossett enthusiastically joined the project as its sponsor. Using NASA and USAF full pressure suits Fossett and Enevoldson set the world [[Glaser-Dirks DG-500|sailplane]] absolute altitude record of 50,724 feet (15,460 meters), flying from [[Comandante Armando Tola International Airport|El Calafate]] in the south of Argentine Patagonia,<ref>{{cite web |author=Staff |url=http://www.fai.org/fai-record-file/?recordId=14043 |title=Class DO (Gliders) - Absolute altitude |publisher=[[Fédération Aéronautique Internationale]] |date= 29 August 2006 |accessdate=29 August 2014 }}</ref> above the Andes mountains in the wind field of the stratospheric polar night jet.
+While working in Germany with the [[German Aerospace Center|DLR]] he developed the meteorological basis for the [[Perlan Project]]. The theory, briefly, posits that the coincidence of the stratospheric [[polar night jet]] and the polar [[jet stream]], when occurring over a mountain barrier, creates the necessary conditions for the amplification of standing mountain waves through the tropopause, in accordance with the Eliassen-Palm theorem. Enevoldson initiated a search for funding for the project. When balloonist and adventurer [[Steve Fossett]] heard about it from his friend [[Barron Hilton]], Fossett enthusiastically joined the project as its sponsor. Using NASA and USAF full pressure suits Fossett and Enevoldson set the world [[Glaser-Dirks DG-500|sailplane]] absolute altitude record of {{convert|50,724|ft|m|abbr=off|sp=us}}, flying from [[Comandante Armando Tola International Airport|El Calafate]] in the south of Argentine Patagonia,<ref>{{cite web |author=Staff |url=http://www.fai.org/fai-record-file/?recordId=14043 |title=Class DO (Gliders) - Absolute altitude |publisher=[[Fédération Aéronautique Internationale]] |date=29 August 2006 |access-date=29 August 2014 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150413093412/http://www.fai.org/fai-record-file/?recordId=14043 |archive-date=13 April 2015}}</ref> above the Andes mountains in the wind field of the stratospheric polar night jet.
-Enevoldson will be the pilot for the [[Perlan II]] follow-up project aircraft.<ref name="FF2011-4">''The Perlan II project continues to develop'', 24-25. FreeFlight, the Journal of the [[Soaring Association of Canada]], Autumn, 2011.</ref>
+Enevoldson was chosen to be the pilot for the [[Perlan II]] follow-up project aircraft.<ref name="FF2011-4">{{cite journal |title=The Perlan II project continues to develop |pages=24–25 |journal=FreeFlight, the Journal of the Soaring Association of Canada |date=Autumn 2011}}</ref>
 ==References==
 {{Reflist}}
-* Ryan, Bertha M. (2010) "[http://books.google.dk/books/about/Soaring_Beyond_the_Clouds.html?id=Rs8YkgAACAAJ&redir_esc=y Soaring Beyond the Clouds: Einar Enevoldson Reaches for 100,000 Feet]" ''[[Soaring Society of America]]'' ISBN	0615402259, 9780615402253
+==Bibliography==
-{{Portal|United States Air Force}}
+{{Commons category}}
+* Ryan, Bertha M. (2010) "[https://books.google.com/books?id=Rs8YkgAACAAJ Soaring Beyond the Clouds: Einar Enevoldson Reaches for 100,000 Feet]" ''[[Soaring Society of America]]'' {{ISBN|0615402259}}, 9780615402253
-{{Persondata <!-- Metadata: see [[Wikipedia:Persondata]]. -->
-| NAME              = Enevoldson, Einar K.
-| ALTERNATIVE NAMES =
-| SHORT DESCRIPTION = American test pilot
-| DATE OF BIRTH     = June 15, 1932
-| PLACE OF BIRTH    =
-| DATE OF DEATH     =
-| PLACE OF DEATH    =
-}}
 {{DEFAULTSORT:Enevoldson, Einar K.}}
 [[Category:1932 births]]
-[[Category:Living people]]
+[[Category:2021 deaths]]
-[[Category:United States Air Force officers]]
+[[Category:American aviation record holders]]
+[[Category:American glider pilots]]
 [[Category:American test pilots]]
-[[Category:Recipients of the Distinguished Flying Cross (United States)]]
 [[Category:Flight altitude record holders]]
+[[Category:Glider flight record holders]]
+[[Category:NASA people]]
+[[Category:People from Seattle]]
+[[Category:Recipients of the Distinguished Flying Cross (United States)]]
+[[Category:Recipients of the NASA Exceptional Service Medal]]
+[[Category:United States Air Force officers]]
+[[Category:University of Wyoming alumni]]