California's "Mojave Air and Space Port" is now "Mojave Air and Space Port at Rutan Field" , Rutan Brothers - the experimental aviation pioneers honoured !

Mojave Air and Space Port is now  "Mojave Air and Space Port at Rutan Field"  !

When you hear the name "Mojave Air and Space Port" , things that come to mind are 'imagination' and 'experimentation' , these terms not only symolize the place , innovation of that level happen there as well, and rightly termed as  Mojave Air & Space Port - "Imagination Flies Here" !

Major part of the credit  to the innovations and experiementations happening here goes to two pioneers of experimental aviation and space - "Burt and Dick Rutan", and a recent resolution by Board of directors of the facility is honouring the duo , happier part was , the resolution was unanimously approved !

The Mojave Air and Space Port has decided to rename the facility to honor aviation and space pioneers Burt and Dick Rutan. The facility in California’s High Desert is now known as the Mojave Air and Space Port at Rutan Field.

A  January 18th , 2022 ,  Mojave Air and Space Port  Board of Directors action item highlighted the resolution to rename the Airfield as Mojave Air and Space Port at Rutan,

The resolution to rename the Airfield as Mojave Air and Space Port at Rutan Field was discussed. Upon motion by Director Balentine, seconded by Director Morgan, the resolution was unanimously approved. Chair Barney appointed an Ad Hoc committee comprised of Director Morgan and Director Coleman to consider the redesigning of the current logo to include the Rutan name.

Courtesy : Mojave Air and Space Port .

Dick and Burt Rutan Achievements !

Among the many aviation and aerospace feats undertaken at Mojave Air & Space Port are those accomplished by Dick and Burt Rutan. The aerodynamic advances realized and perfected by Dick and Burt Rutan at Mojave Air & Space Port have played a key role in the evolution of the aerospace industry and the success of the Mojave Air & Space Port organization.

Both the brothers have significant contribution towards aviation ! Dick Rutan is a famous U.S. Air Force fighter pilot and test pilot who holds multiple aviation records , including one for the first non-stop, round-the-world flight aboard an aircraft designed by his brother.

Dick’s flying skills made him part of  the US Air Force’s secretive MISTYs, where he flew the F-100 Super Sabre ahead of strike packages and marked targets with white phosphorous rockets for the strike aircraft to hit. He flew a total of 325 missions in Vietnam with 105 of those missions with MISTY.

Dick had the dream of completing aviation’s last big milestone – a circumnavigation of the globe, non-stop and unrefueled. From napkin sketch to reality within a few years, the aircraft - Voyager made its maiden flight on June 22, 1984 and  on December 14, 1986 morning , Dick Rutan and Jeana Yeager did the history , flight lasted almost exactly 9 days (216 hours) and covered 26,366 miles !

Of greatest significance was the design and construction of the Voyager Aircraft by Burt Rutan, and then flown around the world by Dick Rutan and Jeanna Yeager in December 1986 without stopping for fuel.

Born in 1943 in Estacada, Oregon , Rutan has designed 46 aircraft throughout his career, been included in the Time 100 Most Influential People in the World list for the year 2004, been the co-recipient of both the Collier and National Air and Space Museum trophies on two occasions (each for his accomplishments with Voyager in 1986 and SpaceShipOne in 2004) , received six honorary doctoral degrees, and has won over 100 different awards for aerospace design and development.

Year 1974, Burt Rutan founded 'Rutan Aircraft Factory' at the Mojave Airport. The company, which operated until 1985, developed a series of innovative homebuilt aircraft that buyers could assemble. Dick joined the company after retiring from the Air Force, taking over as Production Manager and Chief Test Pilot.

Year 1982, Burt Rutan founded Scaled Composites to conduct research and development in advanced aircraft. As its name implies, the company produced a number of vehicles built with composite materials instead of the aluminum that went into most airplanes.

Year 1996, Peter Diamandis’ XPRIZE Foundation launches a $10 million prize for the first privately-built crewed vehicle to fly to suborbital space twice within two weeks. Burt Rutan and a team at Scaled Composites developed SpaceShipOne with $24 million in funding from Microsoft cofounder Paul Allen.

On June 21, 2004, Mike Melvill flew SpaceShipOne above the Karman line at 100 km (62.1 miles) after being air launched from its White Knight mothership. The Federal Aviation Administration awarded Melvill with astronaut wings for the historic flight.

Year 1995, he was inducted into the National Aviation Hall of Fame. Rutan has five aircraft on display in the National Air and Space Museum in Washington, D.C.: the VariEze,  Quickie,  Voyager,  SpaceShipOne, and the Virgin Atlantic GlobalFlyer.

British billionaire Richard Branson licensed the technology and teamed with Scaled Composites to develop a larger suborbital spacecraft named SpaceShipTwo flown by two pilots with up to six passengers in the cabin.

Mojave Air & Space Port management says,

Whereas, Burt Rutan and Dick Rutan have made significant contributions in experimental aviation design, fabrication, and flight test at Mojave Air and Space Port, with their combined contributions resulting in first flights of over sixty unique experimental aircraft, including one twenty-year period with an average of a first flight of a new manned research type every eight and a half months

The Staff, Management and Board of Directors are now considering the modification of the facility’s name from “Mojave Air & Space Port” to “Mojave Air & Space Port at Rutan Field”. While there are multiple candidates deserving of the name’s sake, Dick and Burt Rutan are recognized for being the first to accomplish many of the modern aerodynamic innovations applied to today’s industry and among the first to recognize the significance of the geographic and demographic characteristics associated with Mojave, California and the Air & Space Port.

The Name Change Process !

There are multiple steps associated with the name modification of an organization including, but not limited to legal documentation, marketing, branding and the alteration of visual effects.

Modification of the legal documentation maintains two distinct steps, which includes changing the name of the Airport District according to California (State) Statutes and Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) (Federal) protocol.

For the purposes of meeting the State of California requirements, in accordance with Chapter 4 of the Public Utilities Code for Airport Districts,

“The board may by resolution change the name of the district. Certified copies of such resolution shall be recorded in each county within which some portion of the territory of the district is situated and shall be transmitted to the Secretary of State and to the clerk of each such county.”

In order to meet the FAA (Federal) requirements, all airport name or ownership changes must now be submitted electronically via the Airport Data and Information Portal.

While there are no direct financial implications associated with the administrative change of the organization’s name, the completion of additional documents and forms to address requirements by financial institutions, insurance companies and various vendors may be arduous and time consuming.

Budget Allocation !

Branding quotes received to this point range in price from $24,000 to $45,000. Most of these programs may be tailored in a manner to allow implementation as the organization desires. Visual mediums such as entry signs, billboards, vehicle markings and other visible elements representative of the organization serve as a foundation for marketing and branding.

In addition to the “Mojave Air & Space Port” two signs attached to the administration building and Air Traffic Control Tower, there are no less than three entry way signs located near the various entries welcoming patrons to the facility.

Mojave Air & Space Port wants take it step by step respecting the budgetary obligations !

Mojave Air & Space Port was provided a conservative estimate of approximately $56,000 to $60,000 to modify these signs. Recommendation: Should the Board of Directors of Mojave Air & Space Port with the modification of the existing organization name, it is recommended the changes and alterations be implemented in a manner which is incremental and as resources will allow as warranted.

It is neither financially feasible nor viable to implement the needed modifications unless budgeted in accordance with the standard budgeting practice of the Mojave Air & Space Port District organization.

Info and Picture Courtesy : Mojave Air & Space Port