description Elbert L. (Burt) Rutan Overview
Elbert L. Rutan, known as Burt Rutan, is an American aerospace engineer and aircraft designer associated with unconventional, lightweight experimental aircraft. He designed Voyager, the carbon-fiber aircraft flown by his brother Dick Rutan and Jeana Yeager on the first nonstop, unrefueled flight around the world in 1986. Rutan also founded Scaled Composites, a company that developed experimental aircraft and later worked on private-spaceflight vehicles, including SpaceShipOne.
help Elbert L. (Burt) Rutan FAQ
Who flew Burt Rutan's Voyager aircraft around the world?
Dick Rutan and Jeana Yeager flew Voyager on its nonstop, unrefueled circumnavigation in 1986. The aircraft completed the flight after more than nine days in the air.
What made Voyager technically unusual?
Voyager used an extremely lightweight composite structure and long, efficient wings to carry enough fuel for its global flight. Its design showed how advanced composites could extend the range of a small aircraft.
Did Burt Rutan also design SpaceShipOne?
Yes, Rutan designed SpaceShipOne through his company Scaled Composites. It won the Ansari X Prize in 2004 after making two successful privately funded suborbital flights.
What other aircraft did Burt Rutan design?
Before Voyager, Rutan designed the VariEze and Long-EZ, influential homebuilt aircraft with canard layouts. He later became known for experimental aircraft that emphasized lightweight composite construction.
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