In early 1981, Rutan founded Voyager Aircraft Inc. and prepared to complete the first around-the-world, nonstop, nonrefueled flight. On the morning of Dec. 14, 1986, a fuel-laden Voyager, with Rutan and Jeana Yeager onboard, took off on the history-making flight. Nine days, three minutes and 44 seconds later, Rutan set the storm-battered Voyager down at Edwards Air Force Base in California, successfully completing the six-year quest. Four days later, President Ronald Reagan awarded Rutan the Presidential Citizen's Medal of Honor at a special ceremony. To this day, no aircraft has flown more air miles than the Voyager's 26,358 statute miles.
The Voyager is now suspended in the Smithsonian Air and Space Museum's Milestones of Flight gallery in Washington, D.C., and Rutan was inducted into the National Aviation Hall of Fame in Dayton, Ohio, in July 2002.
In December 2005, Rutan set another world record in the EZ-Rocket for the longest distance in a ground-launched rocket-powered aircraft, flying from the Mojave Air and Space Port to the California City Airport. Touted as the "shortest long-distance flight," this record is recognized by the National Aeronautic Association. In April 2006, he was awarded the NAA's Most Memorable Flight of 2005 Award in Washington, D.C., after establishing another world record.
As a Tactical Air Command fighter pilot during most of his two decades in the Air Force, Rutan flew 325 combat missions in Vietnam, 105 of them as a member of a high-risk, classified operation commonly known as the MISTYs. Before retiring from the Air Force in 1978, Lt. Col. Rutan was awarded the Silver Star, five Distinguished Flying Crosses, 16 Air Medals and the Purple Heart.
For more information on Rutan, visit www.dickrutan.com.
Tucker flies hard-charging, power aerobatics in his highly
modified, one-of-a kind aerobatic dream machine sponsored
by Oracle. He has won numerous aerobatic competitions
and received more than 18 prestigious awards, including
induction into the National Aviation Hall of Fame. In his
performance, he flies the aircraft backwards, straight-down, tail-first at
more than 100 mph. More than half of Tucker’s maneuvers are original
and have never been duplicated by another aerobatic pilot.
In August 1982, he was promoted to avionics manager. During this time, Derby began attending AEA meetings and events, and he eventually served as a member of the AEA board of directors and served as vice chair of the board. He also was named the AEA Member of the Year in 2001.
In January 1987, Derby was promoted again, this time to vice president of line and avionics. After serving in this role for 10 years, Derby became vice president of service marketing in January 1997, where he was responsible for maintaining and expanding the company’s share of the technical services market.
Two years later in January 1999, he was named senior vice president of operations, where he was responsible for the management of the entire organization. In addition, he became a minority shareholder and was a member of the Atlantic Aero Holdings board of directors.
In August 2002, Derby became executive vice president and accountable manager for the repair station.
After his retirement in 2008, the AEA dedicated the Dan Derby Center for Professional Development on Sept. 24, 2008, at its new international headquarters in Lee’s Summit, Mo. Each year, hundreds of AEA members and industry professionals meet in the Derby Center to conduct technical training, industry events and professional development forums at this state-of-the-art facility.
8:30 a.m. 
