Issue link: https://iconnect007.uberflip.com/i/1228683
60 SMT007 MAGAZINE I APRIL 2020 Interview by the I-Connect007 Editorial Team If you follow advancements in aerospace tech- nologies and expeditions, then you know the name "Burt Rutan." Described by Newsweek as "the man responsible for more innovations in modern aviation than any living engineer," Rutan is a bold visionary with a passion for the advancement of technology, who has designed 46 aircraft throughout his career. Rutan designed the legendary Voyager—the first aircraft to circle the world nonstop without refueling. He also created SpaceShipOne—the world's first privately-built manned spacecraft to reach space—which won the $10 million Ansari X Prize offered in an effort to spur the development of affordable space tourism. In addition, Rutan was named one of "the world's 100 most influential people" by TIME in 2005 and has received over 100 awards for aero- space design and development, including the Presidential Citizen's Medal, the Charles A. Lind- bergh Award, and two Collier Trophies. He also founded the aerospace research company Scaled Composites and retired on March 31, 2011. Rutan is currently working on two projects: the Stratolaunch—part airplane, part space- ship—and the SkiGull—an amphibious aircraft that runs on the same gas we use for cars and boats. In business, Rutan believes that the best ideas come from the collaborative efforts of small, closely-knit project teams, and an envi- ronment not limited by adversity to risk. In his IPC APEX EXPO 2020 keynote titled "SpaceShipOne: A New Era in Commercial Space Travel and Inspiration for Innovation and the New Race for Space," Rutan inspired attend- ees with his vision on creativity, innovation, and managers' tasks to motivate a creative team. Following his presentation, Rutan stopped by the I-Connect007 booth and shared his thoughts on a wide variety of topics, from early fixed-wing flight through Mars expeditions to his love of long sideburns as a tribute to Elvis Presley. I-Connect007 is pleased to share this exclusive interview. Exclusive Interview With Burt Rutan, Aerospace Legend