SpaceShipOne & White Knight Ansari X PRIZE Version 1/48 Scale Mahogany Model Signed by Rutan, Melvill, Binnie & Shane Very Rare. Highly detailed and finely crafted 1:48 display model of the revolutionary White Knight launch aircraft and SpaceShipOne, the first privately funded spacecraft to reach the edge of space. This landmark aviation pairing was developed by Scaled Composites under the leadership of legendary aerospace designer Burt Rutan, whose pioneering work helped usher in a new era of private space exploration. The model is signed by four central figures in the SpaceShipOne program:
Burt Rutan, founder of Scaled Composites and visionary engineer whose innovative aircraft designs reshaped both experimental aviation and commercial spaceflight;
Mike Melvill, the first licensed commercial astronaut, who piloted SpaceShipOne on its inaugural suborbital spaceflight;
Brian Binnie, who flew SpaceShipOne to an altitude of 367,442 feet, securing the Ansari X Prize for Scaled Composites; and
Doug Shane, a test pilot and longtime director of flight operations at Scaled Composites, who later became its president and played a key role in the company's continued success. The White Knight aircraft served as the high-altitude mothership for SpaceShipOne, carrying it to approximately 50,000 feet before release. This innovative air-launch system was a groundbreaking approach that significantly reduced launch costs and risks—laying the foundation for future developments in reusable spaceflight systems.
The model is 11" in length with a 20" wingspan, is in near-mint condition, and includes the original manufacturer's box. Please note we have never seen another model signed by all four aeronauts.
Estimated Value $800 - 1,200
Aviation
