Remembering Dick Rutan

My friend Dick Rutan flew west on May 3rd, 2024. I wrote and edited this tribute video back in June, but was holding the release until now, having just shown it to 6000 people at the Theater in the Woods at Airventure in Oshkosh Wisconsin.

This is the kind of work. I did prior to doing political commentary, and I'm very, very proud of it. I had two ongoing thoughts while I was putting this together: one of them was that I can't believe that I actually knew this man, and the second was that I sure do wish he'd lived to see it.

All video footage was shamelessly downloaded from YouTube, and all copyrights belong to the respective owners.

[okstartitup]

All of us will, one day, take that flight west. I pray that your story, Bill Whittle, is told with the same passion, storytelling skills and oratory talent as you have put into this work as well as What We Saw and your many other ventures! Thank you Mr Whittle!

[AniwayasSong]

What an *OUTSTANDING* tribute to an unbelievably amazing Man!
Bravo Bill! BRAVO!!

[deansiracusa]

Thanks so much for putting this together! Dick was an amazing man! Blue skies and tailwinds, Dick!

[sibtainbukhari]

Hadnt realised Dick had passed away . RIP. Beautiful tribute

[ETRdotTV-ib]

I was fortunate to have met Dick and Jeana at Scaled Composites in Mojave a few months before their record setting Voyager non-stop unrefueled flight around the planet. That was 1986 and I remember it clear as day. I was there on a road trip from Toronto with my friend Liz, on our way to SF. Dick asked me for my recommendation for a video camera to take along on their flight, as I was just starting my video production company back then. I remember how Dick and Jeana were so friendly and eager to chat with us. I had no idea of Dick's storied history in Vietnam so thank you for putting together this awesome tribute Bill. Before we left Mojave that day, Dick and Jeana gave us some literature about the plane and the upcoming round-the-world project. We made a small financial contribution to the effort (under my company name Magnacom) and needless to say I eagerly followed the Voyager project and was thrilled that they succeeded so spectacularly. A life lived to the limit and beyond. Thank you again Bill for making this well crafted film.

[jimhorn]

Bill, thank you for an outstanding tribute! Having known Dick (and Burt and Mike and...) from the ten CAFE 400 Air Efficiency Races in which they participated (I did the data gathering, reduction, and Race chairman in '86) along with designing and building a computerized Engine Monitoring System (EMS) for the Voyager, I don't think there could be a better tribute shy of a full length film or even series. Having been a guest of his home, and he in mine; having him hand-prop my modified Cessna 152; borrowing his to visit my brother in Orange County; the memories go on and on. One of my favorite memories was that, at the end of the day in Mojave working on the Voyager with a number of other volunteers, we were sitting around chatting as old friends. It suddenly occurred to me that here we were, having gathered along with our varied collection of light aircraft, under the wing of the only airplane in history that could fly to any point on earth, take pictures, and return non stop and not refueled - as if it was just another day in America. What a country - and what a blessing. Thank you again!

[rammuchewicz]

Mr. Whittle, your excellent vocal cadence did not hide your passion for flight, or the aviators that brought flying to the otherwise earthbound masses. Thank you.

[StepAttitude]

I graduated from Texas A&m University in December of 1986 and my parents were living in Bakersfield. On the drive out to California from Texas I heard on the radio The Voyager was going to land at Edwards. I asked my brother" do you want to go see the Voyager land?" And so we headed out to the airport. To be one of those 50, 000 is something I'll always remember. Later, as I was working in Tucson, I had decided to build composite airplane so I headed out to California to attend a composites class being taught by Dick. After the class they play the video about the Voyager and as we were watching, I could see Dick looking at the screen with a far away expression. After the video played somebody asked Dick "What's next?". He replied " I just want to make it to Thursday". I've always remembered that. When you've achieved a milestone that will never be repeated in human history, how do you top that? What's next indeed. Rest in peace Dick.

[rcketplumber]

I was the engineer standing alongside the cockpit during the Ez-Rocket engine run at 28:24. The engine valve actuator jammed open, so I stepped *IN* to shut off the LOX press valve and vent its tank, starving the engine while maintaining cooling with the fuel flow so that the engine wouldn't melt and fail (we had done that experiment earlier on a test stand).

When it flamed out after 42 *very* long seconds, the _alcohol_ fuel kept flowing and puddled behind the aircraft, not under it. Dick commendably kept his feet on the brakes until then, though. I flipped the Fuel Press/Vent valve to vent also, but a small flame on the lip of the engine (never designed to be shut down so slowly without purges) ignited the puddle and at that point Dick pretty much left bootprints down my back, I can't blame him. We had a crash truck standing by and they doused it with plain water, not foam, which made the cleanup much easier. Water spots were the worst damage and we rebuilt the valve assembly and ran it again five days later; Dick did the 4th flight eight days later.

[marcondespaulo]

That's an eulogy. I admire you, Bill. Rutan was a name associated with adventure, but this account filled it with life and joy.

[motorTranz]

May God comfort the Rutan family. My sincerest condolences.

[codehound]

Such an amazing man deserves an amazing tribute. This video definitely qualifies.

[argee]

One of your greatest works to date. Thank you...

[cpawp]

There must be 2 - an outstanding man and an outstanding narrator.
Great tale, thx you both...

[ScottCarlson-czwj]

Great music. I have a copy of 'Bury Me Upside Down', I was hoping to get it signed by Dick Rutan; too late. One story that sticks in my mind was Dick Rutan flying the prototype Vari-eze with a VW engine, down the west coast, listening to old time radio tapes, setting a distance record. Our country needs more of these guys. RIP Mr. Rutan.

[smiller]

Wonderful tribute Bill to a man who had “the right stuff”. Sharing this with a new friend and fellow pilot here in Northern Idaho who knows the Rutans through his son’s aerospace company in Mojave. Thanks again for sharing this excellent video.

[Bsquared]

Brilliant. No one does aviation editing and narration like you do Bill. A fitting tribute to an aviation hero. Thank you!

[andyfletcher]

I can't express what a big deal this was for those of us who made that desert our home. So many historical flights and machines. I was blessed to have been involved in building the infrastructure those great people worked out of.

[skyserf]

His life would be a great basis for a film. RIP

[alpcns]

Bravo, Bill - a excellent tribute to a amazing man. Beautifully and tastefully done.