12 Facts About Dick Rutan

Richard Glenn Rutan was an American military aviator and officer, as well as a record-breaking test pilot who in 1986 piloted the Voyager aircraft on the first non-stop, non-refueled around-the-world flight with co-pilot Jeana Yeager.

Dick Rutan was born and raised in Loma Linda, California, where he gained an interest in aviation at a young age.

Dick Rutan learned to fly at age 15, taking his first solo flight on his 16th birthday, and later attended Reedley Junior College while waiting to report for the military.

Dick Rutan underwent Undergraduate Pilot Training, earning his Pilot Wings at Laughlin AFB, Texas, in December 1966.

Dick Rutan served during the Vietnam War as one of the founding members of the "Mistys" of Operation Commando Sabre, pioneering the use of tactical jets as a "FastFAC" for the FAC Airborne mission, which searched for and marked targets with white phosphorus rockets ahead of the strike package.

Dick Rutan flew 325 missions but had to eject one time, when his North American F-100 Super Sabre aircraft was hit.

Dick Rutan had to eject a second time in his Air Force career when his aircraft suffered an engine failure over England.

Dick Rutan then served as a Flight Test Maintenance Officer with the 3030th Support Squadron at Wright-Patterson AFB, Ohio, from April 1972 to May 1975, followed by service as an LTV A-7 Corsair II pilot and Commander of the 355th Field Maintenance Squadron at Davis-Monthan AFB, Arizona, from May 1975 to August 1976.

Dick Rutan retired from the Air Force in 1978 with the rank of lieutenant colonel.

Dick Rutan acted as a test pilot throughout his career, flying multiple designs such as the Fairchild T-46 in 1981 and the XCOR EZ-Rocket in 2001.

Dick Rutan died from pulmonary fibrosis as a complication of long COVID on May 3,2024, in Coeur d'Alene, Idaho.

Dick Rutan believed that by engaging in a program of breaking class records he could further fine-tune his brother's homebuilt aircraft designs.