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With Burt Rutan’s Race to Space, Dan Linehan tells the dramatic story of Burt Rutan’s pioneering aviation work that has included building a racing biplane, the X Prize–winning SpaceShipOne and Voyager, the first airplane to fly around the world. Linehan gives Rutan the credit he is due as one of the architects of twenty-first century private space travel. As he did with his earlier book, SpaceShipOne: An Illustrated History, Linehan also shows himself to be an engaging writer who combines scientific know-how with behind-the- scenes reporting that makes this book read like an adventure story. —Paul G. Allen, co-winner of the Ansari X Prize Dan has done a fabulous job of describing the incredible journey of one of the most accomplished aircraft designers of all time, Burt Rutan. If you weren’t impressed by Burt before now, you certainly will be after reading this absolutely fascinating story of the incredible journey of Burt Rutan—from a young model airplane champion to legendaryCOPY aircraft designer among the ranks of Douglas, Heinemann, Lockheed, and Kelly Johnson. I personally read it from one end to the other and loved it. This is a book you will read from cover to cover without being able to put it down. What a fascinating story of the aircraft designer of our time, Burt Rutan. His accomplishments as an aircraft designer and builder revolutionized the way airplanes are made. Way to go Dan Linehan for creating a mesmerizing collection of stories! —Robert “Hoot” Gibson, Space Shuttle Commander REVIEW Burt Rutan Page v4.indd 1 2/3/11 2:30:17 PM burt rutan’s COPY race to space THE MAGICIAN OF MOJAVE AND HIS FLYING INNOVATIONS dan linehan REVIEW Burt Rutan Page v4.indd 2-3 2/3/11 2:30:18 PM First published in 2011 by Zenith Press, an imprint of MBI Publishing Company, 400 1st Avenue North, Suite 300, Minneapolis, MN 55401 USA. Copyright © 2011 by Dan Linehan All rights reserved. With the exception of quoting brief passages for the purposes of review, no part of this publication may be reproduced without prior written permission from the Publisher. In our modern world, everywhere we look, The information in this book is true and complete to the best of our knowledge. we see the influence science has on our daily lives. All recommendations are made without any guarantee on the part of the author or Publisher, who also disclaim any liability incurred in connection with the use of this Discoveries that were miracles a few short years ago data or specific details. are accepted of as commonplace today. This publication has been prepared solely by MBI Publishing Company and is not Many of the things that seem impossible now approved or licensed by any other entity. We recognize that some words, model will become realities tomorrow. names, and designations mentioned herein are the property of the trademark holder. We use them for identification purposes only. This is not an official publication. —Walt Disney, Man in Space Zenith Press titles are also available at discounts in bulk quantity for industrial or sales-promotional use. For details write to Special Sales Manager at MBI Publishing COPY Company, 400 1st Avenue North, Minneapolis, MN 55401 USA. To find out more about our books, join us online at www.zenithpress.com. In developing aviation, in making it a form of commerce, in replacing the wild freedom of danger Editor: Steve Gansen with the civilized bonds of safety, Designer: Simon Larkin must we give up this miracle of air? Front cover: Top photo by Robyn Beck/AFP/Getty Images; bottom photo by James A. Will men fly through the sky in the future Sugar/National Geographic/Getty Images without seeing what I have seen, Back cover: Painting by Stan Stokes without feeling what I have felt? Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data Is that true of all things we call human progress— do the gods retire as commerce and science advance? Linehan, Dan, 1969- Burt Rutan’s race to space : the Magician of Mojave and his flying innovations / Dan —Charles Lindbergh, The Spirit of St. Louis Linehan. p. cm. Includes index. ISBN-13: 978-0-7603-3815-5 ISBN-10: 0-7603-3815-9 1. Rutan, Burt. 2. Aeronautical engineers--United States--Biography. 3. Private planes--United States--Design and construction . 4. Space vehicles--United States. I. Title. TL540.R875L56 2011 629.130092--dc22 [B] 2010048870 PrintedREVIEW in China Burt Rutan Page v4.indd 4-5 2/3/11 2:30:18 PM Contents COPY PAGE 9 PREFACE PAGE 10 PAGE 18 FOREWORD CHAPTER 1: PAGE 80 Rutan Lifts off the Ground CHAPTER 3: PAGE 12 The Scaled PAGE 136 INTRODUCTION: PAGE 92 CHAPTER 5: 22 The Stall PAGE 50 Composites Years Burt Rutan, from Boyhood CHAPTER 4: 23 The Canard CHAPTER 2: SpaceShipTwo and Dreamer to Aerospace SpaceShipOne and White 27 VariViggen Rutan Aircraft Factory 82 Plans End and Plans Begin WhiteKnightTwo: Visionary 34 MiniViggen Continues to Soar 83 Vehicles in all Shapes and Scales Knight: The Ascension The Next Generation 35 Building with Composites 84 Manned Vehicles: An Overview 37 Winglets 90 The Unmanned and Nonflying 92 SpaceShipOne 138 Sir Richard on Space and Spaceships 38 VariEze POC 52 Quickie 102 Adapting on the Fly 139 SpaceShipTwo 42 VariViggen SP 54 Defiant 108 Construction of the Feather 142 WhiteKnightTwo 45 VariEze Homebuilt 56 Long-EZ 126 White Knight 58 AD-1 147 Rocket Engine Accident 128 Flights and Spaceflights 60 AMSOIL Biplane Racer 148 A Stellar Enterprise 62 Next Generation Trainer 151 Spaceport America 64 Grizzly 66 Solitaire PAGE 156 68 Voyager AFTERWORD 70 Pusher Engines are Pushed Aside 74 Catbird PAGE 157 76 Boomerang GLOssARY PAGE 158 AppENDIX REVIEW PAGE 160 INDEX Burt Rutan Page v4.indd 6-7 2/3/11 2:30:20 PM Rutan p 8.tif 100% Prepress correct Preface colour To cover every detail about every vehicle Burt Rutan The design of SpaceShipOne, a true example of had a hand in designing in one book would be simply elegance in engineering, is analyzed in chapter 4. The impossible. As of 2010, a total of forty-four different final chapter culminates with SpaceShipTwo, the vehicle manned vehicles have been flight-tested between the that will realize Burt’s childhood dream of someday two companies he founded, Rutan Aircraft Factory reaching space. (RAF) and Scaled Composites. This figure does not even include unmanned and nonflying vehicles. I was born halfway between the time when humans first This book is not meant to be a biography or a orbited the Moon and the time when humans first landed catalog of airplane and vehicle data. It explores how on the Moon. I grew up in an aviation household, with Burt evolved as one of the most remarkable aerospace my dad flying for the navy and then for United Airlines. COPY designers of all time. How did he go from a boy And I was a kid when Burt’s designs first hit the air. A carving his first model airplanes out of balsa wood to combination of these and maybe a few other factors really designing a spacecraft that opened a whole new realm led me to identify with Burt. I know I am not alone in this. of space travel? The short answer is that he worked I had the amazing fortune to work closely with Burt very hard and kept his mind open to innovation. And on this book. I was lucky to let my inner child loose he was guided by the view that some things may a bit. I can’t thank him enough for all his time and sound impossible, but really they just haven’t been patience. Thank you, Tonya, for your hospitality. It also made possible yet. Burt was not afraid to try to make was wonderful getting to know Brian, Mike, Dan, and things possible. the rest of the Scaled Composites crew over the course The first two chapters of this book discuss Rutan’s of two books, and I very much appreciate the time they early career and the aircraft he developed for RAF. could give me. This period marked the greatest leaps in growth as an I am grateful for the assistance I received from aerospace designer for him. Chapter 3 deals with a great people while writing this book, including those transition point for Burt as RAF closed its hangar doors for from Virgin Galactic, Vulcan, the Experimental Aircraft good and Scaled Composites closed its hangar doors to Association (EAA), the X Prize Foundation, NASA, the the public. It was during this period that his technological Monterey Navy Flying Club, Mojave Air & Space Port, achievements made the greatest gains. However, it is and many more. This book wouldn’t be possible if it simply not possible to cover all the designs by Scaled weren’t for the enthusiasm and support given my first Composites in detail for two reasons. First, the large book. I’d like to specially thank Ray at the National number of projects done by Scaled Composites would Space Society and Kristin at the EAA. Aarzoo, you live Author Dan Linehan gets the hot seat during this interview (and others) with Burt Rutan in his office at Scaled Composites. Dan Linehan require many books to adequately cover them, not just up to your name, and I can’t express my thankfulness part of a single book. And second, Scaled Composites enough to you. And to my family and friends, your has a policy of being very tight-lipped about the firm’s understanding kept me going.
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