Burt Rutan on Designing the World’s Largest Aircraft

In 1991, to address a requirement to launch a booster heavier than 500,000 pounds, I did the Model 205 and 206 preliminary designs. These configurations used engines, landing gear, and other systems from the Boeing 747. Later, to address other requirements, I did preliminary designs for other large aircraft, some that had rocket systems so that the space booster could be released in a steep, rocket-propelled climb.

However, the configuration revealed in December to meet the Paul Allen Stratolaunch requirement is not my design. About 10 years ago, to encourage innovation and design responsibility among the young engineers at Scaled, I took on the status of design advisor, while the title of Principal Configuration Designer went to a very talented team of designers, including Jim Tighe, Cory Bird, Bob Morgan and others. Except for the Bipod roadable aircraft, all the airplanes designed at Scaled after SpaceShipOne were not Burt Rutan designs.

About five to six years ago, Scaled hired many new engineers, most of them right out of college. This group of engineers includes several very talented configuration designers who will be the Principal Designers of the future Scaled aerospace platforms.

Source: http://www.popularmechanics.com/science/space/news/burt-rutan-on-designing-the-worlds-largest-airplane?src=rss

spongebob squarepants rafael nadal ellen acl doc martin doc martin ohio state university