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.
Prior to the Voyager flight, Mr. Rutan spent 20 years in the Air Force, including combat missions in Vietnam a member of a high-risk classified operation commonly known as the MISTYs.
Mr. Rutan was awarded the Collier Trophy and Presidential Citizen's Medal of Honor after the record-breaking Voyager flight.
Information as of 1988