A true innovator in his field, Burt Rutan, of Estacada, Oregon has earned the nickname of “second true innovator”. Mr. Rutan became an aerospace engineer and his innovations in designing aircraft are what gave him his title. Burt Rutan came up with the idea to make the aircraft light and strong. They were not the stereotypical shape which made them energy efficient.
Burt Rutan worked for the Air Force from 1965 until 1972. He was a flight test project engineer. He worked on nine different projects while there. In 1974 Burt Rutan left his job in Kansas and began his own Rutan Aircraft Factory. This is when his innovative aircraft really took flight. The Rutan VariViggen design would be prominent in the aircraft that Burt Rutan designs. His second business Scaled Composites, LLC also builds prototypes of his designs.