Page 7 - Aerotech News and Review, December 3, 2021

VOYAGER, from 6
ing them radio messages of congratulations.
Just south of Los Angeles, Burt Rutan and
the Melvill’s in the Duchess, met up with Voy-
ager. As they entered into the airspace over
the Antelope Valley, Rutan called Edwards
tower and was shocked to learn that the Air
Force had cancelled all operations just waiting
for their return. “I couldn’t believe that they
would cancel all flight operations for us little
‘homebuilders’ from Mojave,” Rutan said.
On Dec. 23, 1986, at 7:32 a.m., Voyager
entered the edge of the restricted airspace and
saw the dry lake where they would be landing.
They flew over the thousands of people who
came to witness the landing, making several
circuits in the sky with chase planes before
landing at 8:05 a.m.
The impressive round the world flight
marked the 69th flight of Voyager and led
Dick Rutan and Jeana Yeager into aviation
history forever. The absolute world distance
records set during that flight remains unchal-
lenged today. The flight was sanctioned by
FAI (Fédération Aéronautique Internationale).
Four days after landing, President Ronald
Reagan presented the Voyager crew and its
designer with the Presidential Citizenship
Medal. Awarded only 16 times previously in
history.
For their record-breaking flight, the pilots,
Dick Rutan and Jeana Yeager, the designer,
Burt Rutan, and the crew chief, Bruce Evans, Courtesy photograph
earned the Collier Trophy in 1986, aviation’s Dick Rutan and Jeana Yeager inside the cramped Voyager cockpit.
most prestigious award.

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