POTENTIAL COMPETITORS
![]() Burt Rutan Burt Rutan was raised in Dinuba, California. He received his Bachelor of Sciences degree in Aeronautical Engineering at California Polytechnic University in 1965. His course work also included classes at the Space Technology Institute, California Institute of Technology, marketing and personnel management courses in business administration from Golden Gate College, and classes in the Aerospace Research Pilot's School at Edwards Air Force Base. Mr. Rutan holds, in addition, the honorary degree of Doctor of Science from California Polytechnic State University, San Luis Obispo, dated 13 June 1987; Doctoral of Science, honoris causa, from Daniel Webster College, 17 May 1987; Doctoral of Humanities, honoris causa, from Lewis University, 22 May 1988 and Doctorate of Technology, honoris causa, from Delft University of Technology, 12 January 1990. Mr. Rutan worked for the U.S. Air Force from 1965 until 1972 as Flight Test Project Engineer at Edwards Air Force Base, California. Then in March 1972, he became director of the Bede Test Center for Bede Aircraft in Newton, Kansas. In June 1974 at Mojave, California, Mr. Rutan formed the Rutan Aircraft Factory (RAF) to develop light aircraft, and to market technical and educational documents. Through this company, the VariViggen, VariEze, NASA AD-1, Quickie, Defiant, Long-EZ, Grizzly, scaled NGT trainer, Solitaire, Catbird, and the world-flight Voyager aircraft were developed. In April 1982, Mr. Rutan founded Scaled Composites, Inc. to develop research aircraft. The company currently employs 95 people at the Mojave, California airport. For 14 years, Scaled has been the world's most productive aerospace prototype development company. Most of Scaled's current projects are proprietary to the customer. Past projects include the 85 percent scale Starship 1 for Beech Aircraft Corporation; the Scarab Model 324 reconnaissance drone for Teledyne Ryan Aeronautical; the Advanced Technology Tactical Transport (ATTT) for DARPA; the 1988 America's Cup wing sail; the Triumph light executive jet for Beechcraft; the Pegasus Space launch vehicle flying surfaces; the Model 191 general aviation single; a 40 percent scale B-2 bomber RCS model; General Motor's 1992 show car (the GM Ultralite); the Bell Eagle Eye prototype tilt rotor RPV; the McDonnell Douglas DC-X single stage rocket structure; the Raptor high altitude RPV for BMDO and NASA; the X-35 for NASA and a tilt-body UAV for Freewing. Scaled is currently developing new composite manufacturing processes for application to general aviation, fighters (JAST program) and new space launch vehicles. In June 1985, Scaled was sold to Beech Aircraft Corporation, then acquired by Wyman-Gordon Company in January 1989. Mr. Rutan was retained as President and CEO. A few of the awards which Mr. Rutan has received include:
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