Born 1939,
Loma Linda, California

Jeana Yeager

Born 1952,
Fort Worth, Texas

A fortunate coincidence brought Jeana Yeager and Dick Rutan to the same air show in California in 1980. They met, became friends, and soon began to work together. Eventually they shared a dream of piloting a plane around the world without stopping or refueling. In realizing that dream, they made history. Credit must also go to another member of the team, Dick’s brother Burt, who had a reputation as the most innovative airplane designer of his time.

Rutan has early interest in aviation

Dick Rutan was born in Loma Linda, California, near Los Angeles in 1939. Following World War II his father, a dentist, moved the family to the small town of Dinuba near Fresno, where Dick and his brother Burt became obsessed with flying and airplanes. Rutan started taking flying lessons at the age of...