7 May 2024
Aviation pioneer Dick Rutan and brother of Burt, the aircraft designer, died on 3 May. Burt once described his brother as someone who “played an airplane like someone plays a grand piano.”
Rutan’s family issued this statement over the weekend:
Lt. 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 December 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.
EAA is saddened to hear of the passing of renowned aviator Dick Rutan on Friday, May 3.
EAA CEO/Chairman Jack Pelton: “Dick Rutan is closely linked with EAA history for the past half-century. Whether it was the flights of canard aircraft to Oshkosh back in the 1970s, the… pic.twitter.com/QoHAiZ3AQV— EAA (@EAA) May 6, 2024
