Burt Rutan
American aerospace engineer · United States · On the map · Scientists · Born 1943 · age 83
Elbert Leander "Burt" Rutan is an American retired aerospace engineer and entrepreneur noted for his originality in designing light, strong, unusual-looking, and energy-efficient air and space craft.
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Photos 12
1972 Rutan VariViggen
1976 Rutan VariEze
1979 Rutan Long-EZ
1986 Rutan Voyager on display in the National Air and Space Museum
Virgin Atlantic GlobalFlyer arriving at Kennedy Space Center in 2006, Steve Fossett piloting
Williams V-Jet II at EAA AirVenture Oshkosh in 2007
SpaceShipOne after its first flight into space on June 21, 2004Awards
About this person
He designed the record-breaking 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 and longest nonstop non-refueled circumnavigation flight in history. In 2004, Rutan's 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.
