The High-Performance Instrumented Airborne Platform for Environmental Research (HIAPER) will be a medium sized jet aircraft capable of operating in the upper troposphere to lower stratosphere, highly modified to carry a substantial scientific research payload. The vision for this project emerged from the community in the 1980s, reviewed and approval by the National Science Board starting 1997, and received its first funding in FY 2000. HIAPER is being designed to serve a broad cross-section of the geosciences community. The continued involvements of the community in the design of this research platform as well as on-board instrumentation are hallmarks of the project. Rationale for HIAPER, a project overview, and the science needs it will fulfill are discussed. Particular attention will be given to current status of the project and the opportunities for community input instrumentations to be carried by HIAPER.