Popular Science is reporting that Burt Rutan’s latest design, the SkiGull, had its first flight recently. Rutan’s 47th aircraft design, the seaplane’s first flight lasted about two hours. [Read more…]
Picture of the day: SkiGull testing continues
Mike Kincaid sent us this photo taken during the initial water-taxi tests of Burt Rutan’s latest creation, the SkiGull. It’s now back in the hangar for modifications and then flight-testing this winter, he reports. [Read more…]
Judges named for EAA Founder’s Innovation Prize
EAA AVIATION CENTER, OSHKOSH, Wisconsin — Some very well-known names from the aviation world will be the judges as the Experimental Aircraft Association invites innovators to enhance aviation safety for amateur-built aircraft through its Founder’s Innovation Prize competition.
The competition will begin accepting entries Oct. 1. [Read more…]
Development continues on Burt Rutan’s SkiGull
Burt Rutan always draws a crowd at his AirVenture forums, especially when introducing a new aircraft design.
And since his current project, the SkiGull amphibian, may be the “retired” 72-year-old designer’s last homebuilt, the standing-room-only crowd at this year’s Oshkosh was all ears as he broke his long-standing rule of keeping a new design under wraps until it has flown. [Read more…]
Burt Rutan’s latest project: The SkiGull
Legendary aircraft designer Burt Rutan’s latest project is the SkiGull, a seaplane that’s currently undergoing initial hydro testing.
Mike Kincaid, a seaplane expert who has written often for General Aviation News and happens to live near Burt’s retirement home in Couer d’Alene, Idaho, reports that the SkiGull “will land very slowly, takeoff quickly, cruise fast, and have an almost forever range. Like all of Burt’s creations, this seaplane will be very unique and could change the way we fly water planes.”
The latest design will also be featured in a new documentary, “Looking Up, Way Up! The Burt Rutan Story.” [Read more…]
Burt Rutan returns to AirVenture for VariEze’s 40th anniversary
OSHKOSH, Wisconsin — Burt Rutan, the visionary aircraft designer, will be back at EAA AirVenture Oshkosh in 2015 to commemorate the 40th anniversary of his iconic VariEze aircraft. [Read more…]
Burt Rutan’s Boomerang flies with UAV Navigation avionics
OSHKOSH — UAV Navigation reports that Burt Rutan’s Boomerang twin-engine, asymmetric plane has been fitted with an Electronic Flight Instrument System (EFIS) which runs on the company’s AP04OEM2 Attitude and Heading Reference System (AHRS)/Inertial Navigation System (INS).
Burt Rutan launches new website
Aviation icon Burt Rutan has launched a website, www.BurtRutan.com, which will include details of his career, awards, hobbies, and the development of many of his aircraft designs. Rutan will “continuously update the site with a ‘treasure trove of photographs’ and considerable autobiographical information,” according to a report at EAA.org