Rutan SkiGull

The Rutan SkiGull is a light, amphibious aircraft conceived by legendary aerospace engineer Burt Rutan and his Scaled Composites team in the early 2010s. First revealed at the 2015 EAA AirVenture Oshkosh, the SkiGull combines Rutan’s signature canard configuration with a high‑efficiency composite airframe that can take off and land on water, snow, ice, or conventional runways. Powered by a single 150‑horsepower Rotax 915 iS engine driving a three‑blade pusher propeller, the aircraft cruises at 140 knots while burning less than four gallons per hour, giving it one of the best specific fuel consumptions in its class. Its retractable ski‑wheel landing gear and a sealed hull provide true amphibious capability, and the wing’s high‑aspect ratio yields a glide ratio of 20:1, allowing long‑duration cross‑country flights with minimal fuel. The SkiGull’s development marked a milestone in personal aviation, proving that a low‑cost, ultra‑efficient platform could operate in extreme environments without sacrificing performance. Today it inspires a new generation of designers to explore hybrid land‑water concepts and demonstrates Burt Rutan’s enduring impact on innovative aircraft design. Certification efforts continue, aiming for FAA approval by 2026, which would open the market to adventure pilots worldwide.

Burt Rutan

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