Burt Rutan’s SkiGull successfully took to the skies this week from the Coeur d’Alene Airport. The unusual airplane, which is designed to take off and land from water, snow and land, flew for 1.8 hours with test pilot Glenn Smith at the controls.
Burt Rutan’s SkiGull Takes to the Skies
Key Takeaways:
- Burt Rutan's innovative SkiGull, an aircraft designed for takeoffs and landings on water, snow, and land, successfully completed its 1.8-hour maiden flight.
- Initial flight tests revealed excellent stability, control, and impressive fuel efficiency, though an "unacceptable" stall characteristic with a roll drop-off was identified.
- The successful flight occurred just weeks after water testing and hours before the region's first snow, underscoring the timely completion of Rutan's "grueling" 20-month home-building project.
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