| Proteus | |
|---|---|
 | |
| General information | |
| Type | Experimental aircraft |
| Manufacturer | Scaled Composites |
| Designer | |
| Status | In service |
| Number built | 1 |
| History | |
| First flight | July 28, 1998 |
| Developed into | Scaled Composites White Knight |
The Scaled Composites Model 281 Proteus is a tandem-wing high-altitude long-endurance aircraft designed by Burt Rutan to investigate the use of aircraft as high-altitude telecommunications relays. The Proteus is a multi-mission vehicle able to carry various payloads on a ventral pylon. The Proteus has an extremely efficient design and can orbit a point at over 19,800 m for more than 18 hours. It is currently owned by Northrop Grumman.