Hero Civilian Astronaut Was Man Without Enemies

Late Mike Melvill recalled as a nice guy who can never be replaced.

Peter Garrison

Friday, August 21, 2026 at 08:00 AM ET

Verified

Edited By:

Travis Tingle

The author shares 50 years of memories with dear friend and great pilot Mike Melvill. [Credit: Peter Garrison]

Key Takeaways:

Mike Melvill's life took a pivotal turn in 1978 when his impressive homebuilt aircraft led Burt Rutan to hire him, initiating a long and influential career at Rutan Aircraft Factory.
He was an exceptionally skilled and brave "pilot's pilot," known for performing first flights on many Rutan designs, flying a vast array of aircraft, and achieving distinction as the "first civilian astronaut" aboard SpaceShipOne.
Melvill was characterized by his generous, helpful, modest, and loyal nature, consistently assisting friends and colleagues with aircraft construction, testing, and making innovative improvements, often without being asked.

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In May 1978, a 37-year-old machinist and his wife flew their odd-looking homebuilt airplane from Indiana to Mojave, California, to show it to its designer, Burt Rutan.

Rutan, who had founded the Rutan Aircraft Factory (RAF) several years earlier and was now selling plans for VariEzes, looked over the plane, an all-wood canard pusher called a VariViggen, and admired the workmanship. He promptly invited the visitor and his wife to join his little company. They accepted.