View source for Burt Rutan

{{short description|American aerospace engineer (born 1943)}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=June 2022}}
{{Infobox person
| name          = Burt Rutan
| image         = Burt Rutan Oct 3 2004 photo D Ramey Logan.jpg
| image_size    = 
| caption       = Rutan in 2004
| birth_name    = Elbert Leander Rutan
| birth_date    = {{Birth date and age|1943|06|17}}
| birth_place   = [[Estacada, Oregon]], US
| death_date    =
| death_place   =
| alma_mater     = [[California Polytechnic State University]] ([[Bachelor of Science in Engineering|BSE]])
| occupation    = Aerospace engineer and entrepreneur
| years active  = 1965–2011, 2015–present
| awards        = [[#Awards and accolades (partial list)|See below]]
| known for     = [[Rutan Voyager]], [[SpaceShipOne]], [[Virgin Atlantic GlobalFlyer]], [[Rutan VariEze]] and [[Rutan Long-EZ|Long-EZ]], [[Scaled Composites]] founder, [[The Spaceship Company]] co-founder, pioneer of [[composite material]] for [[homebuilt aircraft]] 
| spouse        = Tonya Rutan
| children      = 2
| relations     = [[Dick Rutan]]<br />Nell Rutan
| website       = {{URL| burtrutan.com}} 
}}

'''Elbert Leander''' "'''Burt'''" '''Rutan''' ({{IPAc-en|ˈ|r|uː|t|ən}}; born June 17, 1943) is an American retired [[aerospace engineering|aerospace engineer]] and entrepreneur noted for his originality in designing light, strong, unusual-looking, and energy-efficient [[aircraft|air]] and [[spacecraft|space]] craft. He designed the record-breaking [[Rutan Voyager|Voyager]], which in 1986 was the first plane to fly around the world without stopping or refueling. He also designed the [[Virgin Atlantic GlobalFlyer]], which in 2006 set the world record for the fastest (342&nbsp;mph/551&nbsp;km/h in 67 hours) and longest (25,766 miles/41,466&nbsp;km) nonstop non-refueled circumnavigation flight in history. In 2004, Rutan's [[sub-orbital spaceflight|sub-orbital]] [[spaceplane]] design [[SpaceShipOne]] became the first privately funded spacecraft to enter the realm of space, winning the [[Ansari X-Prize]] that year for achieving the feat twice within a two-week period.

With his [[Rutan VariEze|VariEze]] and [[Rutan Long-EZ|Long-EZ]] designs, which first flew in 1975 and 1979 respectively, Rutan is responsible for helping popularize both the [[canard (aeronautics)|canard configuration]] and the use of moldless [[composite materials|composite construction]] in the [[homebuilt aircraft]] industry, the latter a technique that was adopted in several production and commercial aircraft in the following decades. He is the founder or co-founder of multiple aerospace companies, including the [[Rutan Aircraft Factory]], [[Scaled Composites]], [[Mojave Aerospace Ventures]], and [[The Spaceship Company]].

Rutan has designed 46 aircraft throughout his career, been included in the [[Time 100|''Time'' 100 Most Influential People in the World]] list for the year 2004, been the co-recipient of both the [[Collier Trophy|Collier]] and [[National Air and Space Museum Trophy|National Air and Space Museum]] trophies on two occasions (each for his accomplishments with Voyager in 1986 and SpaceShipOne in 2004), received six honorary doctoral degrees, and has won over 100 different awards for aerospace design and development.<ref name="FlightClub"/><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.burtrutan.com/home/awards/|title=Awards|work=BurtRutan.com}}</ref> In 1995, he was inducted into the [[National Aviation Hall of Fame]]. Rutan has five aircraft on display in the [[Smithsonian Institution]]'s [[National Air and Space Museum]]: the VariEze, [[Rutan Quickie|Quickie]], Voyager, SpaceShipOne, and the Virgin Atlantic GlobalFlyer.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.nasm.si.edu/collections/artifact.cfm?id=A19830337000|title=eroRutan Quickie|work=si.edu|access-date=March 7, 2011|archive-date=April 2, 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110402171039/http://www.nasm.si.edu/collections/artifact.cfm?id=A19830337000|url-status=dead}}</ref> He is the younger brother of the late test pilot and United States Air Force fighter pilot [[Dick Rutan]], who piloted many of Burt's earlier original designs on class record-breaking flights.

==Life and career==
Burt Rutan was born in 1943 in [[Estacada, Oregon]], near Portland, and raised in [[Dinuba, California]]. He was one of three children born to George (a dentist) and Irene Rutan. His sister, Nell Rutan, is a former flight attendant for [[American Airlines]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1986-12-18-mn-4087-story.html|title='Ground Crew' Keeps Busy at Mojave Hangar : For Pilots' Families, It's a Time to Wait|work=Los Angeles Times|date=1986|accessdate=August 3, 2023}}</ref> He displayed an early interest in aircraft design. By the time he was eight years old, Rutan was designing and building model aircraft. His [[first solo flight]] piloting an airplane was in an [[Aeronca Champ]] in 1959, at age 16. In 1965, he graduated third in his class from the [[California Polytechnic State University]] (Cal Poly-San Luis Obispo) with a BS degree in aeronautical engineering.<ref name="RutanCV">
{{cite web
  | date = April 2005
  | title = Burt Rutan, Curriculum Vitae
  | publisher = Royce Carlton Inc.
  | url = http://www.roycecarlton.com/speaker-print-format/Burt-Rutan-Curriculum-Vitae/
  | access-date = July 8, 2009
  | url-status = usurped
  | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20110715205704/http://www.roycecarlton.com/speaker-print-format/Burt-Rutan-Curriculum-Vitae/
  | archive-date = July 15, 2011
  }}
</ref><ref name="ISEPP2002-3bio">
{{cite web
  | title = Science, Technology and Society 2002–2003 Resident Scholar Program biography
  | publisher = Institute for Science, Engineering and Public Policy
  | url = http://www.isepp.org/Pages/02-03%20Pages/Rutan-2.html
  | access-date = July 8, 2009
}}</ref>

From 1965 to 1972, Rutan was a civilian flight test project engineer for the [[U.S. Air Force]] at [[Edwards Air Force Base]], working on nine projects including the [[LTV XC-142]] [[VSTOL]] transport and [[Spin (flight)|spin tests]] of the [[McDonnell Douglas F-4 Phantom II]] fighter.<ref name="NSSPressRelease">{{cite web |date=April 15, 2008 |title=Burt Rutan to Receive Heinlein Award for Lifetime Achievement in Aerospace |publisher=National Space Society |url=http://www.spaceref.com/news/viewpr.html?pid=25222 |archive-url=https://archive.today/20130203202439/http://www.spaceref.com/news/viewpr.html?pid=25222 |url-status=dead |archive-date=February 3, 2013 |access-date=July 8, 2009 }}</ref>  He left to become Director of Development of the [[Bede BD-5|BD-5 aircraft]] for [[Bede Aircraft]] in [[Newton, Kansas]], a position he held until 1974.<ref>BD-5 Flight Test Program Report, Lester H. Berven, Chief Test Pilot – Bede Aircraft, Inc.</ref>

In June 1974, Rutan returned to California to establish the [[Rutan Aircraft Factory]].<ref>{{Cite book |last=Fisk |first=Peter |title=Creative Genius: An Innovation Guide for Business Leaders, Border Crossers and Game Changers |publisher=John Wiley & Sons |year=2011 |isbn=978-0-85708-023-3 |location=Hoboken, NJ |language=en}}</ref>  In this business he designed and developed prototypes for several aircraft, mostly intended for amateur builders.  His first design, executed while he was still at Bede, was the [[Rutan VariViggen|VariViggen]], a two-seat [[Pusher configuration|pusher]] single-engine craft of [[Canard (aeronautics)|canard]] configuration.  The canard would become a feature of many Rutan designs, notably the very popular VariEze and Long-EZ.<ref name="NAL-IN-bio">{{cite web |author=M.S.Rajamurthy |title=Rutan – The Canard Guru |publisher=National Aerospace Laboratories, India |url=http://www.nal.res.in/pdf/msrrutanguru1.pdf |access-date=July 8, 2009 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110409141553/http://www.nal.res.in/pdf/msrrutanguru1.pdf |archive-date=April 9, 2011  }}</ref>  He is also known for using exotic and unconventional materials in his designs.<ref>{{Cite book |last=van der Linden |first=F. Robert |title=The Nation's Hangar: Aircraft Treasures of the Smithsonian |publisher=Smithsonian Institution |year=2011 |isbn=978-1-58834-316-1 |pages=173 |language=en}}</ref> He was the first to use moldless composite construction.  According to him, he started his composite work by copying the concept used in the repair of molded European sailplanes.<ref name=":0">{{Cite book |last=Linehan |first=Dan |title=SpaceShipOne: An Illustrated History |publisher=Zenith Press |year=2011 |isbn=978-1-61673-230-1 |location=Kenilworth, NJ |pages=16 |language=en}}</ref> His innovation was the adoption of the method not for repair but to build an aircraft with hotwire wing cores and hand-carved foam for the fuselage box.<ref name=":0" /> This method allowed Rutan to build a plane without a mold.<ref name=":0" />

In April 1982, Rutan founded [[Scaled Composites]], LLC, which has become one of the world's pre-eminent aircraft design and prototyping facilities.  Scaled Composites is headquartered in [[Mojave, California]], at the [[Mojave Air & Space Port]].<ref name="ScaledHQ">{{cite web |title=Printable map to Scaled Composites |publisher=Scaled Composites, LLC |url=http://www.scaled.com/map.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20041014230552/http://www.scaled.com/map.html |url-status=dead |archive-date=October 14, 2004 |access-date=July 8, 2009 }}</ref> That same year, Beechcraft contracted Rutan's Scaled Composites to refine the design and build the prototype [[Beechcraft Starship]].

In 1987, Rutan received the Golden Plate Award of the [[Academy of Achievement|American Academy of Achievement]].<ref>{{cite web|title= Golden Plate Awardees of the American Academy of Achievement |website=www.achievement.org|publisher=[[American Academy of Achievement]]|url=https://achievement.org/our-history/golden-plate-awards/#science-exploration}}</ref> In 1988, he was inducted into the [[International Air & Space Hall of Fame]] at the [[San Diego Air & Space Museum]]<ref>Sprekelmeyer, Linda, editor. ''These We Honor: The International Aerospace Hall of Fame''. Donning Co. Publishers, 2006. {{ISBN|978-1-57864-397-4}}.</ref> and in 1995, the [[National Aviation Hall of Fame]] at the [[National Museum of the United States Air Force]] in [[Dayton, Ohio]]. Rutan was elected a member of the [[National Academy of Engineering]] in 1989 for leading the engineering, design, construction, and testing of a series of aircraft, including ''Voyager''.<ref name=":1">{{Cite book |last=United States Congress House Committee on Science Subcommittee on Space and Aeronautics |title=Future Markets for Commercial Space: Hearing Before the Subcommittee on Space and Aeronautics, Committee on Science, House of Representatives, One Hundred Ninth Congress, First Session, April 20, 2005 |date=2005 |publisher=U.S. Government Printing Office |isbn=978-0-16-075511-8 |location=Washington, D.C. |pages=23 |language=en}}</ref> In 2004, after SpaceShipOne flew, he was listed as one of ''[[Time (magazine)|Time]]'' magazine's "100 Most Influential People in the World"<ref name=FlyingList>Flying – 51 Heroes of Aviation http://www.flyingmag.com/photo-gallery/photos/51-heroes-aviation?pnid=41836</ref> and as ''[[Inc. (magazine)|Inc.]]'' magazine's "Entrepreneur of the Year".<ref>Freedman, David H. (January 1, 2005). [https://www.inc.com/magazine/20050101/eoty-rutan.html Entrepreneur of the Year"]. ''[[Inc. (magazine)|Inc.]]''.</ref> In 2005, he received the [[NAS Award in Aeronautical Engineering]] from the [[United States National Academy of Sciences|National Academy of Sciences]].<ref name=Hunsaker>{{cite web |title=J. C. Hunsaker Award in Aeronautical Engineering |url=http://www.nasonline.org/site/PageServer?pagename=AWARDS_aero_eng |publisher=National Academy of Sciences |access-date=February 14, 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101229194814/http://www.nasonline.org/site/PageServer?pagename=AWARDS_aero_eng |archive-date=December 29, 2010 |url-status=dead }}</ref> In the same year, he was awarded the [[Robert J. Collier Trophy]], which he also obtained in 1986 for his design and development of the Voyager 15.<ref name=":1" />

In 2007, [[Northrop Grumman]] became the sole owner of Rutan's Scaled Composites.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.space.com/news/070720_scaled_bought.html |title=Northrop Grumman Buys Builder of SpaceShipOne |publisher=SPACE.com |date=July 20, 2007 |access-date=October 21, 2019}}</ref>

{{external media
| width = 210px
| video1 = [https://bigthink.com/videos/big-think-interview-with-burt-rutan Burt Rutan interview featured on Big Think in 2010]
}}

In a 2010 [[Big Think]] interview, Rutan articulated his motivation for developing [[suborbital]] spaceflight technology projects with [[SpaceShipOne]] and [[SpaceShipTwo]]. In it he said, "we can achieve some breakthroughs", making such flight "orders of magnitude safer and orders of magnitude more affordable.  I'm taking this step because I think achieving something that has never existed in manned spaceflight – and that is ''high volume'' and ''public access'' – I think it is important to do that and to do it as soon as possible."<ref name=bt20100303>[http://bigthink.com/burtrutan Burt Rutan, Aerospace Engineer], ''BigThink'', interview with Burt Rutan, March 3, 2010, accessed March 6, 2010.  Video segment at 8:40 ff.</ref>

He retired from Scaled Composites in April 2011. That same year, he received the [[Daniel Guggenheim Medal]] and became recognized as a [[Living Legends of Aviation|Living Legend of Aviation]], receiving the [[Bob Hoover]] Freedom of Flight Award from the Kiddie Hawk Air Academy. In 2012, Rutan spoke on "Innovation and the Space Race" to the World Affairs Council, as recorded on C-Span.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.c-spanvideo.org/program/309634-1|title=Innovation Space Race - Video - C-SPAN.org|work=C-SPAN.org}}</ref> ''[[Flying (magazine)|Flying]]'' magazine ranked him at number 18 on their 2013 list, "51 Heroes of Aviation".<ref name=FlyingList/> Rutan was also a recipient of the prestigious [[Wright Brothers Memorial Trophy]] in 2015.<ref>{{cite web |author=Megan Elliot |date=October 2015 |title=Burt Rutan Wins 2015 Wright Trophy |publisher=Flyingmag.com |url=http://www.flyingmag.com/news/burt-rutan-wins-2015-wright-trophy |access-date=January 16, 2015}}</ref> In 2021, he received his second eponymous Bob Hoover award with the [[AOPA]]'s R.A. "Bob" Hoover Trophy, given to "people in the industry who have made major contributions over the course of their careers to key areas within [[general aviation]]."<ref>{{cite web |author=Julie Boatman |date=February 4, 2021 |title=Burt Rutan Wins R.A. 'Bob' Hoover Trophy |work=[[Flying (magazine)|Flying]] |url=https://www.flyingmag.com/story/news/burt-rutan-wins-hoover-trophy/ |access-date=February 5, 2020}}</ref>

In 2022, the [[Mojave Air and Space Port]] was given the name "Rutan Field" in honor of the Rutan brothers' contributions to the airport, its board stating that the Rutans' aviation achievements "have played a key role in the evolution of the aerospace industry and the success of the Mojave Air & Space Port organization."<ref>{{cite web|date=January 21, 2022 |title=Mojave Airport Honors Rutan Name |work=AINonline |url=https://www.ainonline.com/aviation-news/aerospace/2022-01-21/mojave-airport-honors-rutan-name|accessdate=August 7, 2022}}</ref>

Burt is married to Tonya Rutan and together they have two children.<ref name="XPrizereview04">{{cite web |author=Leonard David |date=September 27, 2004 |title=Set to Soar: First X Prize Flight This Week |publisher=Space.com |url=http://www.space.com/missionlaunches/xprize_preview_040927.html |access-date=July 8, 2009}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|author=Peter Garrison |title= The Unconventional Burt Rutan|date= September 20, 2009| url=https://www.historynet.com/burt-rutan-reaches-outer-space.htm |access-date=February 7, 2021}}</ref>

==Aircraft designs==
In a 45-year career, many of Rutan's designs have often been quite dissimilar from their predecessors. The ''[[Los Angeles Times]]'' said of his designs: "His airplanes and spacecraft take on all types of sleek shapes and sizes, looking more like the work of a sculptor than an engineer. In all, Rutan has come up with 367 individual concepts—of which 45 have flown."<ref name=lat20110424 />

===Homebuilt aircraft===
'''VariViggen and VariViggen SP'''
[[File:variviggen.jpg|thumb|left|1972 [[Rutan VariViggen]]]]

In 1968, he began building his first design, the [[Rutan VariViggen|VariViggen]], which first flew in April 1972. It had the rear wing, forward [[canard (aeronautics)|canard]], and [[pusher configuration]] design elements which became his trademarks.<ref name="NAL-IN-bio"/>  In lieu of wind tunnel testing, Rutan developed aerodynamic parameters for the VariViggen using a model rigged atop his [[station wagon]], and measured the forces while driving on empty roads.

The VariViggen was the Rutan model 27.  A new set of outer wings, with winglets, was later developed by Rutan for the VariViggen, producing the VariViggen SP, Rutan model 32.  The VariViggen was named in honor of the [[Saab 37 Viggen]], a canard-configured fighter jet developed in Sweden.  One VariViggen, built in France and named Micro Star, was powered by two [[Microturbo TRS-18]] jet engines in lieu of the usual [[piston engine]].<ref name="Micro_Star">{{cite web |title=Micro Star |url=https://translate.google.com/translate?js=y&prev=_t&hl=en&ie=UTF-8&layout=1&eotf=1&u=http%3A%2F%2Fminijets.org%2Ftypo3%2Findex.php%3Fid%3D31&sl=fr&tl=en |access-date=December 7, 2009 |work=The Price of Passion – Minijets}}</ref>

'''VariEze and Long-EZ'''
[[File:N39L (5879108221).jpg|thumb|1976 [[Rutan VariEze]]]]
[[File:Rutan.long-EZ.g-wily.arp.jpg|thumb|1979 [[Rutan Long-EZ]]]]

The VariViggen design led to the successful<ref name=lat20110424 /> [[Rutan VariEze|VariEze]] (pronounced "very easy")<ref name=lat20110424 /> [[homebuilt aircraft]] designs, in which he pioneered the use of moldless [[glass-reinforced plastic]] construction in homebuilts. The prototype, designated Model 31, made its public debut at the 1975 [[EAA Airventure Oshkosh|EAA Convention and Fly-In]] (now called AirVenture) in [[Oshkosh, Wisconsin]].<ref name="EAAAirVentureMuseum">{{cite web |url=https://www.eaa.org/en/eaa-museum/museum-collection/aircraft-collection-folder/1975-rutan-varieze-prototype---n7ez |title=1975 Rutan VariEze Prototype – N7EZ |access-date=November 8, 2014 |last=EAA Aviation Center |date=n.d.}}</ref> That same year, his brother [[Dick Rutan]] set a world distance record in the under-500&nbsp;kg (1100&nbsp;lb) class in the VariEze,<ref name=distance500>"[http://www.fai.org/fai-record-file/?recordId=1898 FAI Record ID #1898 – Distance over a closed course] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150722070140/http://www.fai.org/fai-record-file/?recordId=1898 |date=July 22, 2015 }}" [[Fédération Aéronautique Internationale]]. Retrieved: September 14, 2014.</ref> and these aircraft went on to set other world records in this class.<ref>[http://records.fai.org/general_aviation/aircraft.asp?id=209 List of records established by the 'Rutan VariEze'] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060512085522/http://records.fai.org/general_aviation/aircraft.asp?id=209 |date=May 12, 2006 }}. Accessed January 5, 2006.</ref>
They were also the first aircraft to fly with NASA-developed [[Wingtip device|winglets]].<ref>[http://oea.larc.nasa.gov/PAIS/Concept2Reality/winglets.html Winglets] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070213073117/http://oea.larc.nasa.gov/PAIS/Concept2Reality/winglets.html |date=February 13, 2007 }} by Gail S. Langevin of NASA. Accessed January 5, 2006.</ref>

Rutan later revised the VariEze design, providing more volume for fuel and cargo, resulting in the Rutan model 61 [[Long-EZ]], designed to be powered by a [[Lycoming O-235]], although some have used [[Lycoming O-320]]s or [[Lycoming O-360]]s. The Long-EZ had a range of {{convert|2010|mi|km}}, over twice that of the VariEze.<ref name=lat20110424 /> The Long-EZ also has a revised wing spar design that is not subject to the 2.5&nbsp;g positive, 1.5&nbsp;g negative, maximum load factor limit applied to the VariEze after the discovery of problems with some VariEze wings.<ref>[http://www.cozybuilders.org/Canard_Pusher/RAF_inspection.pdf] RAF service bulletin published on www.cozybuilders.org. Accessed February 20, 2010.</ref>

'''Quickie'''

Rutan was approached by Gene Sheehan and Tom Jewett to develop a single-seat personal sport aircraft. Following a preliminary canard project (model 49), a tandem wing configuration was eventually designed, to be powered by an 18&nbsp;hp Onan industrial engine. The prototype (Rutan model 54) was built in 1977 and registered as N77Q. After 5 months of testing, [[Quickie Aircraft]] marketed the aircraft as the Rutan model 54 [[Rutan Quickie|Quickie]] in 1978.{{citation needed|date=September 2013}}

Two derivatives of the Quickie were subsequently developed, both expanded to include two seats. Quickie Aircraft had Gary LaGare develop the [[Rutan Quickie#Variants|Q2]], while Viking Aircraft developed the [[Viking Dragonfly]].<ref name="Dragonfly_FAQ">{{cite web |author=Dave Morris |title=Dragonfly FAQ |publisher=Dave Morris' Dragonfly Page |url=http://www.davemorris.com/Dave/dfly-faq.html |access-date=July 8, 2009}}</ref>

'''Solitaire'''

The 1982 Sailplane Homebuilders Association (Now the Experimental Soaring Association) opened a competition for a homebuilt, self-launching sailplane.  Rutan designed the [[Rutan Solitaire|model 77 Solitaire]] for this competition, which it won.  The sailplane was canard-configured, with a retractable engine ahead of the cockpit.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.sailplanedirectory.com/zwfmot.htm#Solitaire |title=Alex's Sailplane Directory |access-date=July 8, 2009 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090518143547/http://www.sailplanedirectory.com/zwfmot.htm#Solitaire |archive-date=May 18, 2009  }} Sailplanedirectory.com entry</ref>

===Research aircraft===

'''Grizzly'''

Rutan designed the model 72 [[Rutan Grizzly|Grizzly]] to investigate the possibility of a [[STOL]] canard aircraft. It was retired after testing in 1982.<ref name="EAA_Grizzly">{{cite web |title=AirVenture Museum: Rutan Grizzly 72 – N80RA |publisher=EAA Aviation Center |url=http://www.airventuremuseum.org/collection/aircraft/Rutan%20Grizzly%2072.asp |access-date=July 8, 2009}}</ref>

'''Lotus Microlight'''

Rutan was approached by [[Colin Chapman]], the founder of [[Lotus Cars]], to design a single-seat [[ultralight aircraft]].  Again, a canard configuration was developed, the Rutan model 91.  Colin Chapman's death in 1982 brought this project to an end, after the aircraft had flown.<ref name="LotusTalk">{{cite web |date=September 28, 2004 |title=AutoWeek Burt Rutan and Colin Chapman Article |publisher=Lotus Talk (forum) |url=http://www.lotustalk.com/forums/f103/autoweek-burt-rutan-colin-chapman-article-6245/ |access-date=July 8, 2009}}</ref>

'''Ames AD-1'''

In the 1980s [[NASA]] issued a contract to Ames Industrial Company of [[Bohemia, New York]] to develop a small, low-cost aircraft to investigate [[Robert Thomas Jones (engineer)|Robert T. Jones]]'s (a NASA researcher at NASA's [[Ames Research Center]]) [[oblique wing]] concept.  Ames turned to Rutan, who designed a small, [[fiberglass]] [[airframe]], powered by two Microturbo TRS-18 jet engines.  This was the Rutan model 35, the [[NASA AD-1|Ames AD-1]].  After completion of the test program, the AD-1 was retired in 1982 and is now on exhibit in the [[Hiller Aviation Museum]] in [[San Carlos, California]].<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.hiller.org/files/docs/breifing_Q4_05.pdf |title=Hiller Aviation Museum ''Briefing'' |access-date=October 27, 2006 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20061025013650/http://www.hiller.org/files/docs/breifing_Q4_05.pdf |archive-date=October 25, 2006  }}</ref>

'''ARES'''

The [[Scaled Composites ARES]], also called the "Mudfighter", is a full-size flying and shooting prototype of a lightweight low cost aircraft with a similar ground attack and support role as the [[A-10]]. The aircraft first flew in 1990.

'''Boomerang'''

A departure from the canard design was the 1996 [[Rutan Boomerang|Boomerang]], perhaps one of the unconventional designer's most unconventional aircraft. The aircraft, the Rutan model 202 Boomerang, is an asymmetric twin-engine [[tractor configuration]] aircraft with one engine on the [[fuselage]] and another mounted on a pod. A November 1996 ''[[Popular Mechanics]]'' feature article said it "looks more like a trimotor that lost its right boom and engine".<ref>[http://www.popularmechanics.com/technology/transportation/1289166.html Boomerang!] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20061210204229/http://www.popularmechanics.com/technology/transportation/1289166.html |date=December 10, 2006 }}. Accessed January 5, 2006.</ref>

'''BiPod'''

The [[Scaled Composites Model 367 BiPod|BiPod]], Rutan's latest design in association with his company Scaled Composites, is a [[hybrid vehicle|hybrid]] [[Flying car (aircraft)|flying car]].  Announced in July 2011, the twin-pod vehicle has a [[wingspan]] of 31 feet 10 inches; with the wings reconfigured (stowed between the pods), the [[automobile|car]] has a width of 7 feet 11 inches and fits in a single-car garage.  The design has two 450 cc [[Four cycle engine|four-cycle engines]], one in each pod, which power a pair of [[Electric generator|generators]] that in turn power the electric motors used for propulsion.  "[[Lithium-ion batteries]] in the nose of each pod will provide power during take off and an emergency backup for landing. With a cruising speed of {{convert|100|mph}}, Scaled says the Model 367 BiPod would have a range of {{convert|760|miles}}."  The plane can fly at {{convert|200|mph}} which reduces the range to {{convert|530|miles}}.  "Out on the road, this roadable aircraft, which carries {{convert|18|USgal}} of fuel, is expected to have a driving range of 820 miles. It has a claimed electric-only range of 35 miles."<ref name=w20110718>{{cite news |last=Paur |first=Jason |title=Burt Rutan Designs a Hybrid Flying Car |url=https://www.wired.com/autopia/2011/07/burt-rutan-designs-hybrid-flying-car/ |access-date=July 27, 2011 |newspaper=Wired |date=July 18, 2011 |quote=The gasoline-electric twin-pod vehicle has a range of 760 miles in the air and 820 miles on the ground, and it works a bit like a Chevrolet Volt. Electric motors provide propulsion, while two gasoline engines drive generators that keep the juice flowing. Design No. 367 — the craft is named in accordance with the simple numbering system long used by Rutan — was unveiled [in July 2011] after making its first short hop in the air on March 30. It is the legendary aerospace designer's final project at Scaled Composites, the company he founded in 1982.}}</ref> Flight controls are in the right pod, road controls (steering wheel and brakes) in the left.<ref name="smith">{{Cite journal |url=http://www.airspacemag.com/flight-today/design-by-rutan-133347555/?no-ist |last=Editorial staff |title=Design by Rutan: 39 years, 37 Airplanes, 1 Spaceship |journal=Air & Space Smithsonian |date=January 2012}}, pp. 42-51.</ref>

===Performance aircraft===

'''Amsoil Racer'''

The Rutan model 68 [[AMSOIL Racer|Amsoil Racer]] was a racing aircraft of Quickie configuration, built in 1981. It set several speed records, but crashed at the 1983 [[Reno Air Races]] and was unsalvageable.

'''Voyager'''
{{Main|Rutan Voyager}}
[[File:VoyagerAircraftAtNASM-common.jpg|thumb|left|1986 [[Rutan Voyager]] on display in the [[National Air and Space Museum]]]]

The Rutan model 76 Voyager was the first airplane to fly nonstop, without refueling around the world.  Piloted by Rutan's brother [[Dick Rutan|Dick]] and [[Jeana Yeager]] the airplane made the round the world flight over 9 days in December 1986.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.nasm.si.edu/collections/artifact.cfm?id=A19880548000|title=Rutan Voyager|work=si.edu|access-date=April 17, 2010|archive-date=April 2, 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110402171045/http://www.nasm.si.edu/collections/artifact.cfm?id=A19880548000|url-status=dead}}</ref> Around-the-world flights had been accomplished by military crews using [[Aerial refueling|in-flight refueling]].<ref name="lucky_lady_ii">For example, the [[Lucky Lady II]] made an around the world flight from February 26, 1949, to March 2, 1949.{{cite web |url=http://www.af.mil/information/heritage/milestones.asp?dec=1940&sd=01/01/1940&ed=12/31/1949 |title=AF.mil – History Milestones |access-date=June 20, 2010 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121020162322/http://www.af.mil/information/heritage/milestones.asp?dec=1940&sd=01%2F01%2F1940&ed=12%2F31%2F1949 |archive-date=October 20, 2012  }}</ref>

Burt developed a twin-engined (piston engines, one pusher and one tractor) canard-configured design.  The pusher engine ran continuously, the tractor engine was used for take-off and initial climb to altitude, then was shut down.<ref name="PSW_Rutan">{{cite web |date=April 9, 2008 |title=Burt Rutan |publisher=Plane Spotting World |url=http://plane.spottingworld.com/Burt_Rutan |access-date=July 8, 2009}}</ref><ref name="Jackson_Voyager">{{cite book |last=Jackson |first=Robert |title=The Encyclopedia of Aircraft |publisher=Thunder Bay Press |year=2004 |pages=426–27}}</ref>

The aircraft was first flown with two [[Lycoming O-235]] engines.  After development work, it was reengined with a [[Continental O-200]] (modified to include [[Radiator (engine cooling)|liquid cooling]]) as the pusher engine and a [[Continental O-240]] as the tractor engine.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://airandspace.si.edu/collections/artifact.cfm?id=A19880548000|title=Rutan Voyager|work=si.edu|access-date=August 19, 2013|archive-date=May 7, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160507164952/http://airandspace.si.edu/collections/artifact.cfm?id=A19880548000|url-status=dead}}</ref>

As a proving flight the aircraft made a record setting endurance flight{{Clarify|date=July 2010}} off the coast of California.<!-- the first sentence could be about the circumnavigational flight; but then why call it a proving flight?  is it about some other flight?  -->  In December 1986, they took off from [[Edwards Air Force Base]] in California and flew around the world (westward) in nine days, fulfilling the aircraft's design goals and setting multiple [[Flight distance record|world absolute flight distance records]]. The Voyager was retired and now hangs in the ''Milestones of Flight'' exhibit in the [[National Air and Space Museum]] (NASM) main exhibit hall,<ref name="COFC_Rutan">{{cite web |title=Rutan Aircraft Designs |publisher=US Centennial of Flight Commission |url=http://www.centennialofflight.gov/essay/GENERAL_AVIATION/rutan/GA15.htm |access-date=July 8, 2009 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090827123235/http://centennialofflight.gov/essay/GENERAL_AVIATION/rutan/GA15.htm |archive-date=August 27, 2009  }}</ref> with the ''[[Wright Flyer]]'', ''[[Spirit of St. Louis]]'' and [[Bell X-1]].

Burt and Dick Rutan, along with Yeager, made headlines for their efforts as the ''Voyager'' team and received the 1986 [[Collier Trophy]] and [[Presidential Citizens Medal]] from President [[Ronald Reagan]].

'''Catbird'''

The [[Scaled Composites Model 81 Catbird]] is a five-seat, single-engined pressurized airplane.  The airplane was configured as a three-surface aircraft (canard, main wing, and tail) and first flew in 1988.  After serving as Rutan's personal airplane, it was retired.  The Catbird is notable for winning the [[CAFE Foundation#Foundation activities|CAFE Challenge]] aircraft efficiency prize in 1993.<ref>[http://www.cafefoundation.org/v2/main_story.php CAFE Foundation<!-- Bot generated title -->] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080723165515/http://www.cafefoundation.org/v2/main_story.php |date=July 23, 2008 }}</ref>

'''Pond Racer'''

The 1991 [[Scaled Composites Pond Racer|Pond Racer]] was an Unlimited Class racing airplane.  Concerned about the dwindling numbers of [[World War II aircraft]], with many being consumed by use as Unlimited Class racers at the Reno Air Races, Bob Pond contracted Rutan and Scaled to design and build an Unlimited Class racer. After design studies, a twin-engined, conventional configured layout was chosen.  The aircraft was powered by two {{cvt|1000|hp|kW}} Electromotive-Nissan [[Nissan VG engine|VG-30]] 3-liter GTP piston engines running on [[methanol]].  The aircraft was built and tested before delivery to the customer.  It appeared at the [[Reno Air Races]] in 1991, 1992 and 1993.  The aircraft was destroyed in a forced landing crash on September 14, 1993, killing pilot Rick Brickert.<ref name="fitzrr">{{cite web |author=Fitzgerald |title=Airplane Page |url=http://members.pioneer.net/~fitzrr/index13.html |access-date=July 8, 2009}}</ref>

'''Proteus'''

The [[Scaled Composites Proteus|Model 281 Proteus]] is a [[tandem-wing]] high-endurance aircraft designed by Rutan and built by Scaled Composites to investigate the use of aircraft as high altitude telecommunications relays. The aircraft's requirements were designed by Angel Technologies and Broadband.com. Its first flights were in 1998. It holds several altitude records, set in 2000.<ref name=faic1e2>{{Cite web|url=http://records.fai.org/general_aviation/aircraft.asp?id=2137|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070520133938/http://records.fai.org/general_aviation/aircraft.asp?id=2137|title=FAI world aviation records database, accessed August 30, 2008|archive-date=May 20, 2007}}</ref>

'''GlobalFlyer'''
{{Main|GlobalFlyer}}
[[File:Globalflyer landing cropped.jpg|thumb|[[Virgin Atlantic GlobalFlyer]] arriving at [[Kennedy Space Center]] in 2006, [[Steve Fossett]] piloting]]

On March 3, 2005, the Virgin Atlantic GlobalFlyer, an aircraft similar to the Voyager design but built by Scaled using stiffer materials and a single [[jet engine]], completed the first solo non-stop, non-refueled flight around the world with adventurer [[Steve Fossett]] as pilot. Reducing weight was critical to the design, and Rutan is quoted as facetiously telling his staff that when they finish building a part, they must throw it up in the air for a weight test, and "If it comes down, it's too heavy".<ref>{{cite journal
  | journal = [[Popular Mechanics]]
  | title = Burt Rutan and the Ultimate Solo
  | author = David Noland
  | date = February 2005
  | url = http://www.popularmechanics.com/science/air_space/1262012.html?page=3
  | url-status = dead
  | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20061211202755/http://www.popularmechanics.com/science/air_space/1262012.html?page=3
  | archive-date = December 11, 2006
  }}
</ref> Between February 7, 2006 and February 11, 2006, Fossett and the GlobalFlyer set a record for the longest flight in history: {{convert|41,467.53|km|mi|abbr=on}}, the third absolute world record set with this aircraft<ref>[http://records.fai.org/general_aviation/aircraft.asp?id=3302 List of records established by the 'Scaled Composites M311'] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060502233607/http://records.fai.org/general_aviation/aircraft.asp?id=3302 |date=May 2, 2006 }}. Accessed January 5, 2006.</ref> before being flown to the NASM [[Steven F. Udvar-Hazy Center]]. The Global Flyer is the sixth aerospace vehicle designed by Rutan in the NASM collection.<ref>[http://www.nasm.si.edu/events/pressroom/releaseDetail.cfm?releaseID=153 National Air and Space Museum to Welcome Steve Fossett's History-Making Airplane for Permanent Display at Steven F. Udvar-Hazy Center] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090407111749/http://www.nasm.si.edu/events/pressroom/releaseDetail.cfm?releaseID=153 |date=April 7, 2009 }}. Accessed January 5, 2006.</ref>

'''SkiGull'''

The [[Rutan SkiGull|SkiGull]] is an [[amphibious aircraft]] that was publicly announced at the 2015 EAA AirVenture gathering, post Rutan's retirement. His most recent design, the aircraft is a two-seat composite/titanium aircraft equipped with a retractable ski [[landing gear|undercarriage]] that can have wheels attached for water, snow or land operations, landing on around {{convert|400|ft|m}} of surface but with a range to cross oceans. It has two electric motors with forward-folding [[reversible propeller]]s to simplify docking and give optional takeoff power. The SkiGull is being developed and funded privately, and had its first test flight in November 2015.

===Contracted aircraft===

'''Triumph'''

The 1988 [[Scaled Composites Triumph]] was a twin-engine, business jet prototype designed and built for [[Beechcraft]]. The aircraft is a [[Three-surface aircraft|three lifting surface]] design, with both a small forward wing, and a small conventional horizontal stabilizer in a [[T-tail]] configuration.

'''Visionair Vantage'''

The [[VisionAire Vantage|VisionAire VA-10 Vantage]] is a prototype single-engined light business-jet (or "[[very light jet]]", also known as VLJ) developed by VisionAire Jets Corporation. In 1996 Rutan designed the first prototype, a proof-of-concept aircraft intended to confirm the design's handling, which resulted in several problems and a redesign of the aircraft in 1998.

'''V-Jet II'''
[[File:Scaled Composites 271 V-Jet II (N222FJ).jpg|thumb|[[Williams V-Jet II]] at [[EAA AirVenture Oshkosh]] in 2007]]

The [[Williams V-Jet II]], which first flew in 1997, was a VLJ designed and built as a test bed and demonstrator aircraft for [[Williams International]]'s new FJX-1 [[turbofan]] engine. It served as the design inspiration for the [[Eclipse 500]], and was retired in 2001.

'''Adam M-309'''

The [[Adam M-309 CarbonAero]] was a technology demonstrator six-seat civil utility aircraft designed by Rutan and built by Scaled Composites in the early 2000s. It developed into the A500, which is produced by [[Adam Aircraft Industries]].

'''Stratolaunch'''

In 2011, Rutan and [[Microsoft]] co-founder [[Paul Allen]] announced the [[Scaled Composites Stratolaunch|Stratolaunch]], a space launch carrier aircraft built by Scaled Composites for Allen's [[Stratolaunch Systems]] to carry [[air launch to orbit]] rockets.<ref name=aw20111220>{{cite news |title= Allen Places Big Bet On Air Launches - Billionaire Paul Allen backs Burt Rutan's vision of air launch|url= http://aviationweek.com/awin/allen-places-big-bet-air-launches |author= Michael Mecham and Frank Morring Jr. |date= December 19, 2011 |work= Aviation Week & Space Technology}}</ref>

==Spacecraft designs==
[[File:SpaceShipOne Flight 15P photo Don Ramey Logan.jpg|thumb|[[SpaceShipOne]] after its first flight into space on June 21, 2004]]
[[File:SS1Group01.jpg|thumb|(L-R) [[Marion Blakey]], [[Mike Melvill]], Sir [[Richard Branson]], Burt Rutan, [[Brian Binnie]] and [[Paul Allen]] reflect on a mission accomplished in 2004]]

'''SpaceShipOne'''
{{Main|SpaceShipOne}}

Rutan made headlines again in June 2004 with SpaceShipOne, which became the first privately built, flown and funded crewed craft to reach space. The project, named "[[Scaled Composites Tier One|Tier One]]" (later known as Tier 1b), was developed and flown by [[Mojave Aerospace Ventures]], which is part-owned by Scaled Composites and was a joint venture between Paul Allen and Rutan, with an estimated development cost of US$25 million (provided entirely by Allen). On October 4, the SpaceShipOne team won the [[Ansari X Prize]] of US$10 million, completing two flights within two weeks, flying with the equivalent weight of 3 persons, and doing so while reusing at least 80% of the vehicle hardware. The two flights were piloted by [[Mike Melville]] and [[Brian Binnie]] respectively. The project team was honored with the 2004 [[Collier Trophy]], awarded by the [[National Aeronautic Association]] for "greatest achievement in aeronautics or astronautics in America". The craft embodies Rutan's unique style, and is another of the "icons of flight" displayed in the NASM ''Milestones of Flight'' exhibit.<ref>[http://www.nasm.si.edu/events/pressroom/releaseDetail.cfm?releaseID=138 SpaceShipOne Joins the Icons of Flight on Display at Smithsonian's National Air and Space Museum] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20061202025028/http://www.nasm.si.edu/events/pressroom/releaseDetail.cfm?releaseID=138 |date=December 2, 2006 }}. Accessed January 5, 2006.</ref> As the first privately-funded spacecraft, it helped spur the beginning of the global [[private space race]].

'''SpaceShipTwo Project'''
[[File:SS2 and VMS Eve.jpg|thumb|left|[[SpaceShipTwo]] (central fuselage) carried under its twin fuselage [[mother ship]], [[Scaled Composites White Knight Two|White Knight Two]]]]

[[Virgin Galactic]]—an offshoot of businessman and investor Sir [[Richard Branson]]'s [[Virgin Group]], and the parent company of Branson and Rutan's 2005 spacecraft manufacturing startup [[The Spaceship Company]]—announced that it would begin [[space tourism]] flights in 2008 using craft based on the designs of SpaceShipOne. Dubbed [[SpaceShipTwo]], these new craft, also designed by Rutan, are intended to allow six "experience optimized" passengers to glimpse the planet from 70 to 80 miles up in suborbital space.  Production of the first of five planned SpaceShipTwo craft has started, but commercial flights did not begin in 2008 as planned. An explosion at the Scaled Composite factory at the [[Mojave Spaceport]] on July 26, 2007, which killed three engineers and seriously injured three others, may have contributed to the delay. They were testing components for [[SpaceShipTwo]], but {{As of|2007|8|lc=on}} Scaled Composites remained dedicated to perfecting the design of SpaceShipTwo.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.bakersfield.com/102/story/199769.html |title=Query into tragic test begins : But finding the cause of the deadly blast may take up to six months, officials say> |work=Kern County news |access-date=July 29, 2007 |date=July 27, 2007 |author=Doligosa Felix Jr. |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070927035203/http://www.bakersfield.com/102/story/199769.html |archive-date=September 27, 2007 |url-status=dead  }}</ref> Virgin continues to work on developing SpaceShipTwo, but it has stopped predicting when commercial spaceflights will begin.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.wsj.com/articles/SB10001424053111903352704576540690208736946 |url-status=dead |work=The Wall Street Journal |first1=Stephanie |last1=Simon |first2=Andy |last2=Pasztor |title=Slow Liftoff for Space Tours |date=September 1, 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110903102110/http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424053111903352704576540690208736946.html |archive-date=September 3, 2011 }}</ref> A further SpaceshipTwo accident on October 31, 2014 ([[VSS Enterprise]] tail number: N339SS) resulted in the death of copilot [[Michael Alsbury]] and injuries to the pilot.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.space.com/27629-virgin-galactic-spaceshiptwo-crash-full-coverage.html |title=Virgin Galactic SpaceShipTwo Crash: Full Coverage and Investigation |publisher=Space.com |date=December 2014 |access-date=May 1, 2015 |first=Tariq |last=Malik}}</ref>

Rutan was also working with [[t/Space]] in the mid-2000s on the development of an [[air launch]]ed, two-stage-to-orbit, crewed spacecraft. It was intended to have a taxi capacity to carry passengers to the [[International Space Station]]. In June 2005, [[drop test|air drop tests]] of quarter scale mockups verified the practicality of air release and rotation to vertical.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.space.com/missionlaunches/050615_tspace_droptest.html |title=t/Space Tests Air-Launch Passenger-Carrying Rocket Concept |publisher=[[Space.com]] | date=June 15, 2005 |access-date=October 17, 2010 |first=Leonard |last=David}}</ref>
[[File:Ss1 smithsonian.jpg|thumb|SpaceShipOne now hangs in the NASM in Washington D.C., with the ''[[Spirit of St. Louis]]'' and [[Bell X-1|Bell X-1 ''Glamorous Glennis'']]]]

'''White Knight One and Two'''

On July 28, 2008, [[Richard Branson]] unveiled [[Scaled Composites White Knight Two]] ''Eve'', at the [[Mojave Spaceport]]. The jet-powered cargo aircraft is based on SpaceShipOne's successful mothership, [[Scaled Composites White Knight|White Knight One]], which was designed by Rutan and based on [[Scaled Composites Proteus|Proteus]]. Flight tests were set to begin in September 2008.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.airventure.org/2008/news/080605_ss2.html |title=2008 AirVenture Oshkosh schedule |access-date=July 19, 2008}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.space.com/businesstechnology/080606-virgin-mother.html |title=Virgin Galactic Spaceline: Mega-Mothership Set for Rollout Debut |access-date=June 10, 2008 |date=June 6, 2008 |author=Leonard David |publisher=SPACE.com}}</ref> The launch customer of White Knight Two is [[Virgin Galactic]], which will have the first 2 units, and exclusive rights to the craft for the first few years. In 2008, Branson predicted that the maiden space voyage would take place within 18 months: "It represents&nbsp;... the chance for our ever-growing group of future astronauts and other scientists to see our world in a completely new light." Virgin Galactic contracted Rutan to build the mothership and spacecraft.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/science/nature/7529978.stm|title=Branson unveils space tourism jet|date= July 2008|work=BBC}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.newscientist.com/article/dn14419-virgin-galactic-rolls-out-spaceshiptwos-mothership.html?DCMP=ILC-hmts&nsref=tech3_head_Virgin%20Galactic%20rolls%20out%20SpaceShipTwo's%20'mothership'|title=Virgin Galactic rolls out SpaceShipTwo's 'mothership' - New Scientist|author=Rachel Courtland, Oshkosh|work=New Scientist}}</ref>

==Retirement and post-retirement work==
[[File:Burt Rutan - Cropped.JPG|thumb|left|Rutan at EAA AirVenture in 2011]]

On November 3, 2010, [[Scaled Composites]] announced the retirement of Rutan:

"Burt Rutan, founder of aerospace research firm Scaled Composites in 1982, had announced his plans to retire in April 2011. He currently serves as Scaled's chief technical officer and, following his retirement, Burt will assume the title of founder and chairman emeritus. Burt has worked in California's Antelope Valley for more than 45 years, initially as flight test project engineer for the Air Force and in 1974 he founded the Rutan Aircraft Factory to develop experimental aircraft for homebuilders."<ref name=retire />

"Burt is known worldwide as a legendary genius in aircraft design in the aviation world. I am very fortunate and proud to have worked by his side for the past 28 years", says President [[Douglas B. Shane]]. "We wish Burt and his wife, Tonya, the very best the future holds for them."<ref name=retire>{{cite press release |title=Burt Rutan Announces Retirement Plans |url=http://www.scaled.com/images/uploads/news/Burt_Rutan_Announces_Retirement_Plans_03Nov10.pdf |date=November 3, 2010 |publisher=[[Scaled Composites]]}}</ref>

On April 1, 2011, Rutan retired from Scaled Composites to his home in [[Coeur d'Alene, Idaho]].<ref>{{Cite web|date=April 1, 2011|title=Aerospace legend Burt Rutan ready for a landing|url=https://www.latimes.com/business/la-xpm-2011-apr-01-la-fi-rutan-retirement-20110401-story.html|access-date=November 4, 2020|website=[[Los Angeles Times]]}}</ref>

Rutan has continued working out of his home in retirement on various designs since stepping down from Scaled Composites in 2011. That year he said that he was working on one more innovative design.<ref name=lat20110424>{{cite news |url=http://www.latimes.com/business/la-fi-rutan-retirement-20110401,0,1938565.story |title=Aerospace legend Burt Rutan ready for a landing |author=W.J. Hennigan |date=April 1, 2011 |newspaper=[[Los Angeles Times]] |access-date=April 2, 2011 |quote=Five of his planes now hang in the Smithsonian National Air and Space Museum, including the Voyager, which in 1986 became the first airplane to fly around the world without refueling, and SpaceShipOne, which in 2004 became the first private rocket plane ever to put a man into space.&nbsp;... Rutan has been the subject of documentaries, magazine covers and the CBS newsmagazine "60 Minutes."&nbsp;... For more than 45 years, Rutan has worked&nbsp;... designing aircraft unlike any other that preceded it. His airplanes and spacecraft take on all types of sleek shapes and sizes, looking more like the work of a sculptor than an engineer. In all, Rutan has come up with 367 individual concepts — of which 45 have flown.}}</ref>
In July 2011, this was revealed to be a hybrid flying car, the [[Scaled Composites Model 367 BiPod|Model 367 BiPod]].<ref name=w20110718 />

In January 2012, Rutan was among 16 signatories of a Wall Street Journal op-ed which argued against drastic action on climate change.<ref>{{cite web |title=Sixteen Concerned Scientists: No Need to Panic About Global Warming |url=https://www.wsj.com/articles/SB10001424052970204301404577171531838421366 |website=Wall Street Journal |access-date=17 October 2025 |date=27 January 2012}}</ref> The op-ed prompted a response signed by 38 climate scientists who criticized the authors for lacking climate science expertise and stated that over 97% of actively publishing climate scientists agree that climate change is real and caused by humans.<ref>{{cite web |title=Check With Climate Scientists for Views on Climate — Letters to the Editor |url=https://www.wsj.com/articles/SB10001424052970204740904577193270727472662 |website=Wall Street Journal |access-date=17 October 2025 |date=31 January 2012}}</ref>

In 2015 he began water and flight testing a prototype of a new amphibious aircraft, the [[Rutan SkiGull]], intended to be capable of flying between Hawaii and California, cruising at {{cvt|200|mph|km/h}}, taking off or landing in about {{convert|400|ft|m}} on challenging surfaces including rough terrain, seas, grass, snow, or ordinary runways, fueled by ordinary automotive or marine gasoline, and having small electric motors for power assists or emergency landing.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.aopa.org/news-and-media/all-news/2015/july/22/skigull-details-revealed|title=SkiGull details revealed|date=July 22, 2015|website=www.aopa.org}}</ref><ref name=FlightClub>{{cite web|url=http://flightclub.jalopnik.com/burt-rutans-skigull-could-be-his-last-creation-and-most-1719674764|title=Burt Rutan's SkiGull Could Be His Last Creation And Most Versatile Ever|author=Collin Krum|work=Flight Club|date=July 24, 2015 }}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.eaa.org/en/eaa/eaa-news-and-aviation-news/2015-news/11-24-2015-rutans-skigull-first-flight|title=Rutan's SkiGull - First Flight|work=eaa.org|access-date=November 26, 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151126164357/http://www.eaa.org/en/eaa/eaa-news-and-aviation-news/2015-news/11-24-2015-rutans-skigull-first-flight|archive-date=November 26, 2015|url-status=dead}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.cnn.com/2016/02/21/aviation/light-aircraft-land-sea-air/index.html|title=Sky pioneers: A light aircraft revolution is taking off|first1=Miquel |last1=Ros|date=February 22, 2016|work=CNN}}</ref>

Rutan also advised on the design of the [[Paul Allen]]-funded [[Scaled Composites Stratolaunch|Stratolaunch]] space launch carrier since retiring in 2011, which is the world's largest airplane by [[wingspan]], and in 2019 announced that he was working on a new [[eVTOL]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.avweb.com/aviation-news/rutan-working-on-evtol/|title= Rutan Working On EVTOL|author=Russ Niles|date=October 28, 2019|work=AVweb}}</ref>

==Awards and accolades ''(partial list)''==
Rutan has received numerous awards and honors for aerospace design and development throughout his over 50-year-long career. Below is a list of some of his most notable tributes and accolades.

*[[Experimental Aircraft Association]] (EAA)'s [[August Raspet#The Dr. August Raspet Memorial Award|Dr. August Raspet Memorial Award]] (1976)
*[[Presidential Citizens Medal]] (with [[Dick Rutan]] and [[Jeana Yeager]], 1986)
*[[National Aeronautic Association]] (NAA)'s [[Collier Trophy]] (with crews of [[Rutan Voyager|Voyager]] and [[SpaceShipOne]], 1986 and 2004)
*[[Society of Experimental Test Pilots]] (SETP)'s [[James H. Doolittle Award]] (with [[Scaled Composites]] team, 1987 and 2004)
*[[National Aviation Hall of Fame]] Inductee (1995)
*EAA's [[Experimental Aircraft Association#EAA Freedom of Flight Award|Freedom of Flight Award]] (1996)
*SETP's [[Ray E. Tenhoff Award]] (with [[Doug Shane]], 2003)
*Listed among the [[Time 100|''Time'' 100]] (2004)
*''[[Inc. (magazine)|Inc. Magazine]]''{{'s}} "Entrepreneur of the Year" (2004)
*[[The Explorers Club#Honors and grants|The Explorers Club Medal]] (2005)
*[[National Space Society]] (NSS)'s [[National Space Society#NSS Von Braun Award|Von Braun Award]] (2005)
*[[National Air and Space Museum]] (NASM) Trophy for [[National Air and Space Museum Trophy#Recipients for Current Achievement|Current Achievement]] (with [[Paul Allen]] and SpaceShipOne team, 2005)
*NSS's [[National Space Society#Robert A. Heinlein Memorial Award|Robert A. Heinlein Memorial Award]] (2008)
*Kiddie Hawk Air Academy's [[Living Legends of Aviation]] [[Living Legends of Aviation#List of winners|Bob Hoover Freedom of Flight Award]] (2011)
*[[Daniel Guggenheim Medal]] (2011)
*NASM Trophy for [[National Air and Space Museum Trophy#Recipients for Lifetime Achievements|Lifetime Achievement]] (2012)
*Ranked No. 18 in ''[[Flying (magazine)|Flying Magazine]]''{{'s}} "51 Heroes of Aviation" (2013)
*NAA's [[Wright Brothers Memorial Trophy]] (2015)
*[[Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association]] (AOPA)'s R.A. [[Bob Hoover]] Trophy (2021)
*[[Mojave Air and Space Port]] is renamed "Rutan Field" (with Dick Rutan, 2022)

==See also==
* [[Rutan Defiant]], homebuilt with twin push-pull engines and 4 seats
* [[Hugo Junkers]], German engineer and aircraft designer, considered the first aerospace airframe materials innovator, with the all-metal [[Junkers J 1|J 1]] in 1915
* [[Klapmeier brothers]], founders of [[Cirrus Aircraft]], inaugurated major change in production airframe manufacturing, with the all-composite [[Cirrus SR20|SR20]] in 1999
* [[Paul Poberezny]], founder of the [[Experimental Aircraft Association]] and [[EAA AirVenture|EAA Annual Convention & Fly-In]], designed and built several homebuilt aircraft
* ''[[Black Sky: The Race for Space]]'', a 2005 documentary about Rutan, [[SpaceShipOne]] and the [[Ansari X Prize]]

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==External links==
{{Wikiquote}}
{{commons category|Burt Rutan}}

* {{official website}}
* {{TED speaker}}
* [http://www.isepp.org/Pages/02-03%20Pages/Rutan-2.html Rutan online biography]
* [https://nationalaviation.org/enshrinee/elbert-burt-rutan/ Rutan's profile] in the [[National Aviation Hall of Fame]]
* [http://stargazer2006.online.fr/ ''Stargazer'' - online resource on every known Rutan project]
* [https://www.ted.com/talks/burt_rutan_the_real_future_of_space_exploration Rutan speech "The real future of space exploration"] (TED, February 2006)

===Articles===
* [http://airportjournals.com/3-the-designer-burt-rutan/ ''The Designer: Burt Rutan''] - ''Airport Journals'' (2005)
* [http://thespacereview.com/article/1910/1/ ''The wit and wisdom of Burt Rutan''] - ''[[The Space Review]]'' (2011)
* [http://burtrutan.com/downloads/BurtRutanBioGustafson.pdf ''Burt Rutan: Icon of Homebuilding and Space Travel''] - ''[[Aircraft Spruce]]'' (2012)

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{{The Spaceship Company}}
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{{DEFAULTSORT:Rutan, Burt}}
[[Category:1943 births]]
[[Category:Living people]]
[[Category:American aerospace engineers]]
[[Category:American aircraft designers]]
[[Category:American aviation pioneers]]
[[Category:American businesspeople in aerospace]]
[[Category:Aviation inventors]]
[[Category:Aviators from California]]
[[Category:California Polytechnic State University alumni]]
[[Category:Collier Trophy recipients]]
[[Category:Engineers from California]]
[[Category:Engineers from Oregon]]
[[Category:National Aviation Hall of Fame inductees]]
[[Category:People from Dinuba, California]]
[[Category:People from Estacada, Oregon]]
[[Category:Presidential Citizens Medal recipients]]
[[Category:Space advocates]]