At almost 80 years old, Burt Rutan has shown that you really can have it all. In his career spanning 55 years, Burt Rutan has designed hundreds of aircraft for differing purposes, and has even designed spaceships!
Originally designing aircraft kits, he soon moved on to designing some of the strangest aircraft that have ever flown! Part way through this, Rutan also designed and built several privately-funded spaceships… all through his own companies.
Early Life
Elbert Leander Rutan, more commonly known as Burt Rutan, was born on June 17 1943 in Estacada, Oregon. He was the youngest of three children, with is older brother Dick going to become a famous aviator in his own right.
He was born to George and Irene Rutan, with his father being a rather successful dentist. Soon after Burt was born, his parents moved from Oregon, back to their native California.
The Rutan family settled in the small town of Dinuba, California. Burt’s father, George Rutan was the local dentist, but was also a pilot, owning several different aircraft, often taking his two sons flying with him.
Both brothers subsequently became fascinated with aviation, and both wanted to become fighter pilots (which Dick Rutan would later do). However, Burt also took an interest in how the aircraft worked as well.
Eventually, this led to him looking at how his father’s aircraft worked. By the age of eight, he was designing and building his own model aircraft, as well as designing crude fighter jets, that would inspire some of his later designs.
At the age of 16, he conducted his first solo flight. Loving it so much, he enrolled did a degree in aeronautical engineering, graduating third in his class in 1965 from Cal Poly-San Luis Obispo.
Career
Before starting up Rutan Aircraft Factory in June 1974 and Scale Composites in 1987, Burt Rutan had a long and detailed career as both a civilian test pilot and an aircraft designer for Bede Aircraft.
USAF Engineer
Upon graduating from Cal Poly, Burt Rutan attempted to sign up for the military as a pilot. However, due to his age and perceived lack of expertise, he was denied.
However, the USAF were interested in him becoming a civilian engineer for some of their experimental aircraft. This is a position they would offer him, and he would accept the same year.
Accepting this position made him one of only a handful of civilian experimental aircraft engineers to have ever been employed by the United States Air Force.
Here, Burt Rutan began by working on the experimental LTV XC 142 VSTOL transport aircraft. As per test pilot’s requests, Rutan and a team of other engineers would alter the XC 142 for the various tets flights.
In the end, the XC 142 proved to be unsuccessful, with the USAF not ordering the aircraft. However, the project proved how good of an engineer Rutan was, and he was retained by the USAF for future projects.
One of these future projects turned out to be the spin tests for the McDonnell Douglas F-4 Phantom. This proved to be instrumental for the USAF, and the results from these tests have been incorporated into modern day aircraft designs.
Bede Aircraft
In 1972, Burt Rutan had worked his way up the food chain and was one of the most respected experimental aircraft engineers in the entire USAF, even if he was technically a civilian.
During his time with the USAF, Burt Rutan had met Jim Bede, the founder and CEO of Bede Aircraft. In 1972, Bede offered Rutan a position as Director of Development for the BD-5 homebuilt aircraft.
Rutan accepted this position, leaving the USAF experimental aircraft engineering team and changing it for a position at Bede. Here, Rutan would lead the development of the BD-5.
The BD-5 was unlike any aircraft Rutan had worked on for the USAF, and Rutan learned a lot about it in a very short space of time. The BD-5 was subsequently released in 1973.
Homebuilders found the design of the aircraft quite intuitive and it soon sold many copies. Jim Bede himself was really impressed with the aircraft, and Rutan in particular.
Rutan would subsequently lead the initial effort to produce a jet-powered version of the BD-5, however, would leave before this ever came to fruition.
Aircraft
After leaving Bede Aircraft in 1974, Rutan would establish Rutan Aircraft Factory in California, before evntually founding Scaled Composites in 1987. Here, he designed some of his most famous aircraft.
Rutan VariViggen
Prior to founding Rutan Aircraft Factory in 1974, Burt Rutan decided that he would try to design a homebuilt aircraft for himself, rather than for Bede. This aircraft was the Rutan VariViggen.
Burt drew inspiration for the aircraft from the Saab Viggen fighter jet and the North American XB-70 prototype bomber, when he designed the aircraft.
On top of using the Viggen and XB-70, Burt also drew on his experiences designing homebuilt aircraft for Bede Aircraft. Many of the aircraft he designed at Bede do resemble the VariViggen, or at least their fuselage.
Burt designed the VariViggen to be the only homebuilt aircraft that could resist both stalls and spins. Even today, almost 50 years later, the VariViggen is one of the only homebuilt aircraft to have these capabilities.
Many homebuilders were impressed with the capabilities of the VariViggen and Burt sold over 600 plans for the aircraft. This convinced him to establish Rutan Aircraft Factory in 1974.
However, a high profile crash in 2006 led to the aircraft being perceived as dangerous, as there had been a contamination in the fuel tank which led to the crash. Today there are only five still airworthy.
Rutan VariEze
Following the first flight of the VariViggen, Rutan became interested in producing a much lighter aircraft with the same specs, for a much cheaper price.
As such, he pretty much abandoned the VariViggen program. In its place, he would design the record-setting VariViggen, which would set a number of records on its first flight.
Initially, it was only meant as a technology demonstrator, however, people saw the aircraft’s first flight and were amazed at its specs and weight. This would see Rutan redesign the aircraft to be sold as a kit.
Rutan designated the aircraft as the Rutan VariEze. As many critics imagined at the time the VariEze sold several hundred copies in only a few years, and continues to be flown to this day!
Due to the VariEze’s success, Rutan Aircraft Factory, with Burt Rutan at the helm, would design and produce a longer variant of the VariEze, known as the Rutan Long-EZ.
This aircraft would go on to be as popular as its predecessor, and net Burt Rutan a lot of money in the meantime.
Rutan Voyager
The Rutan Voyager is arguably the greatest aircraft ever designed by Burt Rutan. Of all the awards Rutan has received, many have been for him having designed the Voyager.
Originally, test pilots Jeana Yeager and Dick Rutan were discussing the feasibility of an aircraft that could fly all around the world without needing to land and refuel.
The pair were discussing this whilst at lunch in 1981, alongside Dick’s brother Burt. Using a napkin, the trio drew a rough sketch of the aircraft, which Burt took with him and improved upon it.
Over the course of the next five years, the aircraft would be meticulously put together by Rutan Aircraft Factory staff as well as Voyager Project volunteers.
Once it was completed, the aircraft performed a number of test flights for Rutan before he’d let it fly properly. Once these were complete, Jeana Yeager and Dick Rutan flew it around the world.
This flight has made history as the first aircraft to circumnavigate the globe without refueling. This flight has won all three people numerous awards, some individual and some as a group.
Adams A-500
In 2000, Adam Aircraft Industries (AAI) contracted Burt Rutan and Scaled Composites to build a new type of business jet. This aircraft would be reminiscent of the Beechcraft Starship but had a more intuitive design.
By July 2000, Scaled Composites had sent AAI their designs. One of these was the M-309 CarbonAero, designated as the M-309, as it was Burt’s 309th aircraft design.
The M-309 consisted of two propellers, one at the front and the other at the rear of the fuselage. The fuselage’s design is rather reminiscent of the Dornier Do 335 piston fighter from WWII, albeit enlarged on a much grander scale.
On top of the M-309’s odd fuselage and powerplant configuration, the M-309 also had a prominent T-tail design. This T-tail design was inspired by early Cold War fighter jets such as the de Havilland Mosquito.
Against all odds, AAI were impressed by the design, and purchased the design from Scaled Composites. AAI subsequently made a few minor adjustments before marketing it as the Adam A500.
The Great Recession of 2008/09 caused production to halt, and Adam Aircraft Industries subsequently sold on the design in order to stay afloat.
Scaled Composites Stratolaunch
The Stratolaunch is one of the largest aircraft ever built. In fact, due to this, the Stratolaunch has received quite a bit of media attention, bringing a lot of spotlight on its designer: Burt Rutan.
Prior to the Stratolaunch, several other companies had attempted, and failed, to make an aircraft that could travel to the upper limits of our atmosphere and almost into space.
However, these projects often failed due to a lack of funding. As such, Microsoft co-founder Paul Allen decided to fund the project after the third aircraft had failed.
In doing so, he contacted Burt Rutan, who he’d worked previously with on other projects. The resulting aircraft was called the Stratolaunch, and was designed by Burt Rutan, even though he was technically retired.
The aircraft first flew in August 2019, a mere ten months after Paul Allen died (in October 2018). It is planned to be introduced properly sometime this year, although, due to the coronavirus, is looking as though it may be 2021 instead.
Other Works
Despite the aforementioned aircraft being his most famous works, Burt Rutan has also worked on several other designs, including:
- Rutan Quickie
- Rutan Solitaire
- Scaled Composites ARES
- Rutan Grizzly
- Rutan/Lotus Microlight
- NASA AD-1
- Rutan Boomerang
- Scaled Composites BiPod
- AIMSOIL Racer
- Scaled Composites Catbird
- Scaled Composites Pond Racer
- Scaled Composites Proteus
- Virgin Atlantic GlobalFlyer
- Rutan SkiGull
- Scaled Composites Triumph
- Visionair Vantage
- Williams V-Jet II
- SpaceShipOne
- SpaceShipTwo Project
- White Knight One
- White Knight Two
Retirement and EVTOL Work
In November 2010, Scaled Composites released a press statement announcing Burt Rutan’s retirement from the company. The statement stated that in Rutan’s 28 years with the company, he had helped with some of their most intriguing designs.
However, he had chosen to retire, retiring to his country home in Coeur d’Alene, Idaho. The statement also said that Rutan would remain as the company’s largest shareholder, and would act as an adviser to the company.
Rutan’s retirement would come into effect in the new year. However, he continued to be one of the lead designers on many Scaled Composites designs, including the Scaled Composites BiPod flying car design.
Since helping to design the BiPod, Rutan has also helped to design the Rutan SkiGull, an amphibious aircraft that hopes to combine general aviation with amphibious aircraft with Rutan’s long range (without refueling) technology.
When Paul Allen funded Scale Composites’ Stratolaunch aircraft, Rutan semi-came out of retirement in order to help design it. In this, he drew on his experiences designing the White Knight One and Two heavy launch aircraft.
Recently in 2019, Rutan announced he would be working on a new eVTOL aircraft. As of the time of writing, nothing concrete has been released to the public regarding the aircraft’s development.
Awards
In his long career, Burt Rutan has received literally hundreds of awards from hundreds of different organizations and media outlets. Throughout his entire career, Rutan has earned 117 awards, more than any other aircraft designer!
As with other influential aircraft designers such as Kelly Johnson and Ben Rich, Burt Rutan has been called one of the most influential aircraft designers of all time.
Rutan is one of only a few people to have ever received the Collier Trophy twice. He was first awarded the trophy in 1986, for his work on the Voyager project. He was subsequently awarded it again in 2005 for his work on the SpaceShipOne project.
As well as being awarded the Collier Trophy for his work on the Voyager project, Rutan was also awarded the Presidential Citizens Medal. This medal was awarded to him by President Reagan in 1986.
Burt Rutan was the third person to be awarded with the National Air and Space Museum Trophy. He was first awarded this in 1987, before being awarded it twice more, once in 2005 and again in 2012.
On top of all this, Rutan has been inducted into the National Aviation Hall of Fame for his contribution to aircraft design. In 2015, Rutan received his most recent award- the Wright Brother’s Memorial Trophy as well.
Legacy
Despite having not yet finished his entire career, he is nearing the end of it now. As such, the vast majority of his legacy has already been laid…
Homebuilt Aircraft
Before making some of the craziest aircraft ever made, Rutan designed homebuilt aircraft kits for several different companies, including his own company.
Many of these aircraft has quite odd designs- not just their front canards but also with the fuselage themselves. Two passengers. Prior to Rutan, almost all homebuilt aircraft were one seat aircraft, not two.
Although Rutan was not the first to design two seat homebuilt aircraft, he made them large and cheap enough to become quite popular. Now, people no longer had to “share” aircraft, but could go flying together instead!
Many other companies saw this and subsequently designed their own two seat homebuilt aircraft. Many of these aircraft are still in production, even more will be rolled out in the coming years… almost 50 years on!
Future Aircraft
During his day, Rutan was known for taking some of the most far fetched ideas about aircraft design, and actually building them. During his time, he was mocked for many of his aircraft.
People often wondered why one Earth he would want to make an aircraft that could move its wings sideways during flight. They also somewhat mocked the idea of a small aircraft that can travel around the world with no passengers, without refueling.
Whilst many have laughed at his ideas, many of them now see that there was a method to his madness. The data collected from his designs have been used on several different prototypes, both civilian and military alike.
Within the next 20 years, you will likely be flying on airliners which use technology he pioneered on his “crazy” aircraft. Your general aviation aircraft will also utilize his long range tech as well!
Has the story of Burt Rutan inspired you? Tell me in the comments!