Rutan Defiant
Aircraft designed by Burt Rutan
title: "Rutan Defiant" type: doc version: 1 created: 2026-02-28 author: "Wikipedia contributors" status: active scope: public tags: ["rutan-aircraft", "1970s-united-states-civil-utility-aircraft", "twin-engined-push-pull-aircraft", "canard-aircraft", "mid-wing-aircraft", "aircraft-first-flown-in-1978"] description: "Aircraft designed by Burt Rutan" topic_path: "geography/united-states" source: "https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rutan_Defiant" license: "CC BY-SA 4.0" wikipedia_page_id: 0 wikipedia_revision_id: 0
::summary Aircraft designed by Burt Rutan ::
::data[format=table title="Infobox aircraft"]
| Field | Value |
|---|---|
| name | Defiant |
| image | Defiant-Landing.jpg |
| caption | Rutan Defiant |
| type | Homebuilt aircraft |
| national_origin | America |
| manufacturer | Rutan Aircraft Factory |
| designer | Burt Rutan |
| first_flight | 30 June 1978 |
| more_users | |
| produced | |
| program cost | |
| unit cost | |
| :: |
| name=Defiant | image=Defiant-Landing.jpg | caption=Rutan Defiant | type=Homebuilt aircraft | national_origin=America | manufacturer=Rutan Aircraft Factory | designer=Burt Rutan | first_flight=30 June 1978 | introduction= | retired= | status= | primary_user= | more_users= | produced= | number_built= | program cost= | unit cost= | developed_from= | variants=
The Rutan Model 40 Defiant is a four-seat, twin-engine homebuilt aircraft with the engines in a push-pull configuration. It was designed by aerospace engineer Burt Rutan for the Rutan Aircraft Factory.
::figure[src="https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/8/8d/Rutan-Defiant-N57KS.jpg" caption="Rutan Defiant" alt="Rutan Defiant N57KS."] ::
::figure[src="https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/0/09/Defiantpanel.jpg" caption="An updated Defiant instrument panel with [[Dynon Avionics]] Skyview Efis"] ::
::figure[src="https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/0/05/Defiant_Taxi.jpg" caption="Defiant Taxi"] ::
Development
The prototype Defiant, N78RA, was first flown on 30 June 1978. It had been intended as a proof-of-concept of a very safe light twin design, requiring little trim change and no pilot action in case of engine failure, and with good single engine performance. A comparison of the Defiant single engine climb rate with a Gulfstream Cougar had shown about 390 ft vs 280 ft per minute at low altitude with both aircraft in a clean, gear up and flaps up, configuration. The prototype is now owned by the Hiller Aviation Museum.
In 1979 the Rutan Aircraft Factory announced they would proceed with certification of a Defiant-based light twin. Adequate financing was not secured for this project, and the design was modified for homebuilt construction as the Model 74, with the second aircraft (built by Fred Keller) appearing at Oshkosh 1983. Plans were offered in mid-1984. 176 sets of plans were purchased before RAF discontinued selling plans in 1985. Nine examples were known to be flying as of mid-1987. Nineteen are registered with the FAA as of 2005.
Design
The Defiant is built using fiberglass layup over polymeric foam core shapes in the same manner as the Rutan VariEze. The main gear is fixed, and there are no flaps. The Propellers are fixed-pitch non-feathering, which is unusual in a twin-engine design. Cockpit entry is through a side hinged canopy. The winglets provide yaw stability. Unusually, the Defiant has a ventral, port offset, forward mounted rudder, as can be seen in pictures of the plane taxiing.
Specifications (Defiant)
|prime units?=kts
|crew=one, pilot |capacity=3 passengers |length ft= 22.8 |length m= 6.95 |span ft= 30 |span in= 9 |span m= 9.4 |height ft= 9.33 |wing area sqft= 139.4 |wing area sqm= 12.95 |empty weight lb= 1,701 |empty weight kg= 771.5 |gross weight lb= 2997 |gross weight kg= 1360 |fuel capacity = 120 gal |max takeoff weight lb= 2997 |max takeoff weight kg= 1360 |eng1 name= Lycoming O-320 |eng1 number=2 |eng1 hp= 160 |eng1 kw= 119 |max speed kts=188 |max speed mph= 216 |max speed kmh=342 |cruise speed mph=192 |range miles= 1130 |range km= 1808 |ceiling ft= 18000 |ceiling m= 5485 |climb rate ftmin= 1600
References
References
- Garrison, Peter. (January 1984). "Doing the Defiant". Ziff-Davis.
- Dan Linehan. (2011). "Burt Rutan's Race to Space: The Magician of Mojave and His Flying Innovations". Zenith Press.
- Garrison, Peter. (December 1978). "Rutan's Defiant". Ziff-Davis.
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