Menu Close

WELCOME.
We are innovators and hands-on problem solvers.
Our joy is finding answers. We work hard because our work
isn't just a job. It's a passion.
We are Scaled Composites.

What we do.

Everything.

We perform all steps involved in developing something new, preferably with airplanes because they're cool. Whether it's pitching an idea, building and installing a new hydraulic system, testing an airfoil, or crunching some numbers, we do it all.

What that translates into is designing, building, and testing concepts to prove an idea, developing vehicles to mark a new milestone in aerospace history, or participating in an iterative process to help get to the next mile marker.

Founded by legendary aerospace designer Burt Rutan, Scaled Composites' focus was building scaled-down prototype aircraft.
Realizing this approach was not always practical, Burt expanded the definition of the business. The flexibility demonstrated with that decision trickled through the years, allowing Scaled to continually reinvent its approach to aerospace pioneering.
This is our legacy..

1982

SCALED Founded

1982

Herb Iversen, Burt Rutan, and Pat Storch founded Scaled Composites: the Advanced Link to Efficient Development (SCALED for short) to focus on aerospace research work.

1985

Change of Ownership

1985

Two years after the successful design, build, and test of the 85% proof-of-concept Starship, Beech Aircraft bought Scaled. For 3 years Scaled operated as a subsidiary of Beech Aircraft.

1989

Company Transitioned

1989

Beech sold Scaled to Wyman-Gordon. Scaled brought composite knowledge and research to the table, where W-G brought mass production and marketing know-how. This partnership intended to access the aerospace composite structure and manufacturing market.

1993

Colorado Relocation Goals

1993

With rising costs to run businesses in California, Burt sought a new home for Scaled. Although long-term plans to move the entire company didn't pan out, Scaled Technology Works was set up in Montrose, Colorado.

1998

Advanced Composites Initiative

1998

Always on the lookout for the next project, Scaled began marketing the wonders of composites. Although many meetings were had discussing the merits of fabric and glue, interest was low. A new idea formed - a modifiable flying platform - which we now know as Proteus.

2001

Scaled Becomes an LLC

2001

Burt and 10 investors buy back Scaled Composites after Precision Castparts moved to sell the company. With this transfer Scaled was renamed Scaled Composites, LLC.

2004

Put On The Map

2004

X-prizes provide motivation and competition for breakthroughs. The Ansari X-prize pushed Scaled to develop a cost-effective system to put man in space.

2007

A New Transition

2007

Scaled's rapid prototyping capabilities caught the eye of Northrop Grumman and was sold for the fifth time.

2011

A Legend Retires

2011

After 29 years at Scaled and 46 years in Southern California, Burt Rutan retires.

2018

Setting Our Pace

2018

We are continuing our legacy of pursuing interesting work. With so many fun projects behind us, we're constantly looking forward to the next.