Voyager flew nonstop around the world without refueling

The Rutan Voyager looked barely able to fly: a long, fragile twin-boom aircraft built almost entirely of lightweight composites, with fuel packed into nearly every cavity. Designed by Burt Rutan, it was made to do something no plane had done — circle the Earth without landing or refueling.

Piloted by Dick Rutan and Jeana Yeager, it lifted off from Edwards Air Force Base in California on 14 December 1986. Nine days later, on 23 December 1986, it touched back down, having flown roughly 25,000 miles around the globe.

It landed with about 1.5% of its fuel left — a few gallons after nine days aloft.

The crew endured cramped quarters, storms and engine trouble, but completed aviation’s first nonstop, non-refueled circumnavigation. The record-setting Voyager now hangs in the Smithsonian’s National Air and Space Museum in Washington, D.C.