Proteus
Burt Rutan's one-off shape-shifting testbed, still working after nearly 30 years
Tail number N281PR
The story
A Burt Rutan design that looks like two gliders stacked in the wrong order — tandem wings, twin booms, and a cockpit that seems borrowed from something else entirely. Built in 1998 as a high-altitude testbed, she set world altitude records for her class in 2000 and is still flying research missions over the Mojave for Northrop Grumman almost thirty years later.
Proteus is named for the Greek sea god who could change shape — her center fuselage swaps whole payloads the way other aircraft swap cargo pallets.
Quick answers
What is the tail number of Proteus?
N281PR (Scaled Composites Model 281 Proteus).
What kind of aircraft is Proteus?
Scaled Composites Model 281 Proteus.
Is it still flying?
Yes, it is still active.
More space & science
Will Proteus cross your map?
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