Scaled Composites
Burt Rutan founded Scaled Composites in 1982. Burt Rutan designed several planes and aircrafts. The Rutan VariEze, the Voyager, and the Global Flyer were all Rutan’s handiwork. Voyager was flown around the world, and Global Flyer was flown to complete the longest flight ever. Scaled Composites started off as the Rutan Aircraft Factory, and is located in Mojave, California, United States. At one time in 1985 Scaled Composites was sold to Beech Aircraft Corporation, but later it was sold back to Rutan. The main purpose of the company was to develop experimental aircraft, but now Scaled Composites focuses on designing and developing concept craft and prototype fabrication processes for aircraft and other vehicles. Scaled Composites is know for their interesting designs, for their use of non- metal, composite materials, and for winning the Ansari X- Prize with SpaceShipOne. On October 4, 2004, SpaceShipOne sped through the sky and became the first private manned spacecraft to exceed an altitude of 328,000 twice within a fourteen-day period, winning the Ansari X-Prize.