Rutan Aircraft
4 used Rutan aircraft listings · $25,000–$61,739 · last refreshed 7 hours ago
About Rutan Aircraft Company
Burt Rutan is one of aviation's greatest designers, creating revolutionary aircraft including the VariEze, Long-EZ, Voyager (first nonstop around-the-world flight), and SpaceShipOne. Rutan designs are available as homebuilt plans and are known for their canard configurations.
Rutan Aircraft for Sale
Price $25,000–$61,739
Rutan Aircraft Price & Cost
How much does a Rutan aircraft cost? Current pricing for used Rutan aircraft (also known as Rutan choppers or Rutan helis) is broken down per model in the table below — covering acquisition price, hourly operating cost and overhaul cost.
The cost of a Rutan aircraft depends on model, year, hours flown, avionics and condition. See operating costs and pre-buy checklist in the About section, or open a specific model page for a detailed price guide.
Rutan Models
Frequently Asked Questions — Rutan
What Rutan aircraft designs are available?
Burt Rutan designed some of aviation's most revolutionary homebuilts: the VariEze (1976), Long-EZ, and twin-engine Defiant — all canard pushers with composite construction. The VariEze and Long-EZ were built in greater numbers than almost any other homebuilt type of their era. These designs were easier to build, performed better, and cost less than certified Cessnas, Beechcrafts, or Pipers of the time.
Is a Rutan Long-EZ practical to own?
The Long-EZ offers excellent cruise efficiency with a Lycoming engine in pusher configuration. The canard design is stall-resistant by nature — the canard stalls first, dropping the nose before the main wing can stall. However, canard pilots have higher rates of fuel starvation incidents and judgment errors than the general homebuilt population. Used Long-EZs and VariEzes are available through the Canard Owners and Builders Association (COBA).
Are Rutan canard designs safe?
Rutan's canard configuration provides inherent stall resistance — the aircraft pitches nose-down rather than departing into a spin. Pilot miscontrol rates are lower than the overall homebuilt population. However, the pusher engine location means a forced landing results in the engine impacting from behind. Fuel system management requires attention — fuel starvation is more common in canard fleet than average. Overall, these are among the safest homebuilt designs when flown by trained, attentive pilots.
Rutan Inventory by Country
| United States | 3 |
| Sweden | 1 |