In the darkness of early Saturday morning my phone buzzed. I was not ready to get out of bed that early, but wasn’t fast asleep either. Reluctantly I picked the phone up and saw the message that now everyone knows. Rest in Peace Dick Rutan.
Certainly, all types of enthusiasts gather to enjoy the camaraderie of their special interest. Airplanes, motorcycles, classic cars, you name it, there are events small and large that band these people together. Rutan aircraft designs are so unique, however, that even in the small world of aviation people have a hard time understanding what makes the canard community so tight. The connection we all have with the Rutan brothers is something difficult to describe. To us “Canardians” the connection is about sharing our passion and love of aviation, and specifically, canard aviation while in the shadow of such great achievers as the Rutan brothers.
As the old saying goes, Leadership starts at the top. We are unique because our leaders are unique. Dick Rutan touched the souls of so many people, especially Pilots, because he was a Pilots pilot. Even though Dick was one of those legendary aviators that I viewed like he was ten feet tall, whenever I had a chance to chat with Dick, not once did I ever feel any other feeling than we were just two Pilots talking about flying. When a person who has achieved greatness can still interact with others as if they were just another person, that unique quality, is what makes great men, great.
Sincerely,
Ryszard Zadow
President, RAFE