to reach the rear engine, which also started, and the
pilots decided to continue toward Edwards Air Force
Base with both engines operating.
On December 23, 1986, theVoyagerreached Ed-
wards at around 7:30a.m.A crowd of approximately
twenty-three thousand people watched as Rutan flew
around the airfield while Yeager lowered the land-
ing gear. TheVoyagerlanded at 8:05a.m.Hansen ver-
ified that his seals were still in place and confirmed
the world record flight, which had covered 25,012
miles during nine days, three minutes, and forty-
four seconds aloft.
Impact International news reporters covered the
Voyager’s global flight, emphasizing the Rutans’ and
Yeager’s achievement as an aviation milestone. On
December 29, 1986, Yeager and both Rutan brothers
accepted the Presidential Citizens Medal from Presi-
dent Ronald Reagan. They also received aviation’s
prestigious Robert Collier Trophy. Pilots Rutan and
Yeager discussed their flight at a February 3, 1987,
hearing of the U.S. House of Representatives Com-
mittee on Science, Space, and Technology, encour-
aging expanded research and application of com-
posites to military and commercial aircraft. During
the summer of 1987, theVoyagerwas transported for
inclusion in the National Air and Space Museum at
Washington, D.C.
TheVoyagerrepresented the emerging field of
aerospace development without government sup-
port, foreshadowing later private space exploration
that would not be controlled by governmental bu-
reaucracy and restrictions. The Rutans and Yeager
retained interest in designing experimental com-
posite aircraft for the remainder of the 1980’s. Their
Voyager experiences influenced designs by Burt
Rutan’s company, Scaled Composites.Further Reading
Fink, Donald E. “Salute toVoyager.”Aviation Week and
Space Technology126, no. 1 (January 5, 1987): 13.
Editorial examines theVoyager’s possible influ-
ence on governmental and civilian aerospace in
this issue, which provides thorough coverage.
Marbach, William D., and Peter McAlevey. “Up, Up,
and Around.”Newsweek108, no. 26 (December
29, 1986): 34-36, 41-44. Account supplemented
with maps, diagrams, and information profiling
significant aviation records.
Mordoff, Keith F. “VoyagerCrew Faces Turbulence,
Fatigue on World Flight Attempt.”Aviation Week
and Space Technology125, no. 25 (December 22,
1986): 18-21. DescribesVoyager’s original flight
plan, preparations, and conditions en route.
Schatzberg, Eric.Wings of Wood, Wings of Metal: Cul-
ture and Technical Choice in Airplane Materials, 1914-
1945. Princeton, N.J.: Princeton University Press,- Considers theVoyager’s composite materials
in context with predecessors using similar strate-
gies.
Yeager, Jeana, and Dick Rutan, with Phil Patton.Voy-
ager. New York: Alfred A. Knopf, 1987. Compre-
hensive pilots’ account discussing all aspects of
Voyager. Includes unique photographs.
Elizabeth D. Schafer
See also Gimli Glider; Inventions; Science and
technology.1028 Voyagerglobal flight The Eighties in America