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Author
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Topic: Dick Rutan, record-breaking aviator (1938-2024)
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Robert Pearlman
Editor Posts: 52379
From: Houston, TX
Registered: Nov 1999
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posted 05-04-2024 11:06 AM
   
Richard 'Dick' Rutan, 1938-2024Lt. Col. (Ret.) Richard Glenn Rutan flew west on Friday, May 3, 2024 at 7:08 PM PDT The last time Dick Rutan flew towards the western horizon was on Dec. 14, 1986 when he and copilot Jeana Yeager set the last great aviation record by flying around the world, nonstop and unrefueled, in nine days, three minutes and 44 seconds in an aircraft called "Voyager," designed by his younger brother, legendary aircraft designer Burt Rutan. A highly decorated Vietnam veteran, Dick Rutan flew 325 combat missions and was awarded the Silver Star, the Purple Heart, the Air Medal with three silver oak leaf clusters, the Collier Trophy and was also awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross – twice. During his time in the skies over Vietnam, Dick was a member of an elite group of Fast Forward Air Controllers, often loitering over enemy anti-aircraft positions for six hours or more in a single sortie. These extremely hazardous missions had the call sign "Misty"; Dick Rutan was, and will forever be, Misty Four-Zero. He spent his last day in the company of friends and family, including his brother, Burt, and passed away peacefully at Kootenai Health Hospital in Coeur d'Alene, Idaho, in the company of his loving wife of 25 years, Kris Rutan. He is survived by daughters Holly Hogan and Jill Hoffman, and his four grandchildren, Jack, Sean, Noelle, and Haley.  Above: On Dec. 3, 2005, Rutan set the point-to-point distance record for a ground-launched, rocket-powered aircraft, flying 16 kilometers from Mojave, California, to California City, California, in just under ten minutes. This flight aboard the XCOR Aerospace EZ-Rocket was also the first official delivery of U.S. Mail by a rocket-powered aircraft. (DickRutan.com) |
Kevin T. Randall
Member Posts: 1598
From: Chesham, Bucks UK
Registered: Dec 2008
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posted 05-04-2024 11:43 AM
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MartinAir
Member Posts: 369
From:
Registered: Oct 2020
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posted 05-04-2024 12:18 PM
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dom
Member Posts: 1079
From:
Registered: Aug 2001
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posted 05-04-2024 12:26 PM
I remember the excitement of that around the world flight in 1986. RIP |
thisismills
Member Posts: 545
From: Michigan
Registered: Mar 2012
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posted 05-04-2024 12:34 PM
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GACspaceguy
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From: Guyton, GA
Registered: Jan 2006
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posted 05-04-2024 01:01 PM
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Larry McGlynn
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From: Boston, MA
Registered: Jul 2003
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posted 05-04-2024 01:24 PM
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JohnPaul56
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From: Montclair, NJ, USA
Registered: Apr 2010
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posted 05-04-2024 01:58 PM
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Jeff
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From: Fayetteville, NC. USA
Registered: May 2009
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posted 05-04-2024 02:15 PM
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OV-105
Member Posts: 916
From: Ridgecrest, CA
Registered: Sep 2000
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posted 05-04-2024 02:18 PM
Went Mojave Airport to see Voyager in 1987. An impressive aircraft. Definitely not a plane to be in if you hate tiny spaces. |
Jurg Bolli
Member Posts: 1221
From: Albuquerque, NM
Registered: Nov 2000
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posted 05-04-2024 02:36 PM
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ejectr
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From: Killingly, CT
Registered: Mar 2002
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posted 05-04-2024 03:45 PM
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SpaceCadet1983
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From: Pacific NW, United States
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posted 05-04-2024 04:26 PM
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David C
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posted 05-04-2024 04:50 PM
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AstroCasey
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posted 05-04-2024 07:19 PM
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tedc
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From: Renton, WA USA
Registered: Mar 2002
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posted 05-04-2024 10:17 PM
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Philip
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From: Brussels, Belgium
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posted 05-05-2024 02:26 AM
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Starfighter1
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posted 05-05-2024 05:14 AM
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Kite
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From: Northampton UK
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posted 05-05-2024 06:27 AM
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gareth89
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From: Ireland
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posted 05-05-2024 09:26 AM
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cspg
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posted 05-05-2024 10:38 AM
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Paul78zephyr
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posted 05-05-2024 11:56 AM
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mach3valkyrie
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posted 05-05-2024 05:22 PM
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oly
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posted 05-05-2024 06:17 PM
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Marwin2
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posted 05-06-2024 04:10 AM
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Michael Davis
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posted 05-06-2024 05:35 AM
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Blackarrow
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posted 05-06-2024 11:29 AM
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capoetc
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From: McKinney TX (USA)
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posted 05-06-2024 02:11 PM
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SkyMan1958
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posted 05-06-2024 05:30 PM
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history in miniature
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From: Slatington, PA
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posted 05-06-2024 06:58 PM
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cddfspace
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From: Morris County, NJ, USA
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posted 05-07-2024 09:04 AM
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David Carey
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posted 05-07-2024 02:06 PM
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mode1charlie
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posted 05-07-2024 02:37 PM
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Grounded!
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From: Bennington, Vermont, USA
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posted 05-07-2024 07:14 PM
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hlbjr
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From: Delray Beach Florida USA
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posted 05-07-2024 09:52 PM
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dss65
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posted 05-09-2024 03:13 PM
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Greggy_D
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posted 05-09-2024 08:20 PM
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MCroft04
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From: Smithfield, Me, USA
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posted 05-16-2024 10:17 PM
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