On December 23, 1986, piloted by Richard "Dick" Rutan and Jeana Yeager, the Voyager completed the first nonstop, non-refueled flight around the world. Designed by Rutan's brother Burt, the Voyager is a unique aircraft constructed almost entirely of lightweight graphite-honeycomb composite materials. The Voyager lifted off from Edwards Air Force Base, California, at 8:01 a.m. on December 14, 1986 and returned nine days later at 8:05 a.m.
Jeana Yeager was born in Fort Worth, Texas in 1952. By 1978, she had earned her pilot's license. During her early aviation career, Yeager's primary interest was learning to fly helicopters, but she broadened her scope and turned her attention to high-performance aircraft, such as the Voyager.
Ms. Yeager was awarded the Collier Trophy and Presidential Citizen's Medal of Honor after the record-breaking Voyager flight.
Information as of 1988