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United States From pioneering aerospace engineer to visionary entrepreneur, Burt Rutan's designs have consistently pushed the boundaries of aviation and space exploration.
Burt Rutan is in the xCraft corner, aligning two entities known for building powerful designs that break aerospace industry molds. This partnership underscores xCraft's commitment to pushing innovation with a legend whose philosophy resonates with their own.
Burt Rutan, along with Herb Iverson and Pat Storch, established Scaled Composites in 1982. This company has become a cornerstone of aerospace innovation at Mojave Air & Space Port, contributing significantly to its reputation and developments.
Burt Rutan and Richard Branson collaborated on private spaceship projects, gaining significant attention due to Rutan's design track record and Branson's marketing efforts for space tourism including the GlobalFlyer project.
Burt Rutan founded Scaled Composites in April 1982 to develop research aircraft. Scaled has since become the world's most productive aerospace prototype development company, a fact highlighted by SAMPE (Society for the Advancement of Material and Process Engineering).
Burt Rutan and Microsoft co-founder Paul Allen announced the Stratolaunch, a space launch carrier aircraft built by Scaled Composites for Allen's Stratolaunch Systems to carry air launch to orbit rockets.
Elbert Leander Rutan, known as Burt Rutan, was born on June 17, 1943, in Estacada, Oregon, and grew up in Dinuba, California. From an early age, he showed a keen interest in aircraft design, building model airplanes by the age of eight. His first solo flight took place in an Aeronca Champ in 1959 at age 16. Rutan pursued his passion academically, graduating third in his class from California Polytechnic State University in 1965 with a Bachelor of Science degree in Aeronautical Engineering. He began his professional career as a civilian flight test project engineer for the U.S. Air Force at Edwards Air Force Base, where he contributed to nine projects, including working on the LTV XC-142 VSTOL transport and conducting spin tests for the McDonnell Douglas F-4 Phantom II fighter from 1965 to 1972.
In 1972, Rutan transitioned to Bede Aircraft in Newton, Kansas, serving as the Director of Development for the BD-5 aircraft until 1974. He then returned to California to establish the Rutan Aircraft Factory in June 1974. This venture allowed him to design and develop prototypes primarily for amateur builders, introducing innovative designs like the VariViggen, VariEze, and Long-EZ. These aircraft were notable for their canard configurations and popularized the use of moldless composite construction in homebuilt aircraft. In April 1982, Rutan founded Scaled Composites, LLC, which quickly became a leading facility for aircraft design and prototyping in Mojave, California. Under his leadership, Scaled Composites refined designs and built prototypes for various companies, including the Beechcraft Starship.
Rutan’s career is marked by several groundbreaking achievements. He designed the Rutan Voyager, which, in 1986, became the first aircraft to fly around the world without stopping or refueling, piloted by his brother Dick Rutan and Jeana Yeager. This accomplishment earned him and his team the Collier Trophy. In 2004, his SpaceShipOne achieved the historic feat of becoming the first privately funded crewed spacecraft to reach space, subsequently winning the Ansari X-Prize. This project, a joint venture with Paul Allen, significantly advanced the private space industry. Rutan retired from Scaled Composites in April 2011, but continues to be involved in various projects, including the design of the SkiGull amphibious aircraft and advising on the Stratolaunch space launch carrier.
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