1985 RUTAN DEFIANT
Starts from the median asking price of 36 comparable Other listings ($161,887), then adjusts for:
- Year -5 vs comparable listings -8.2%
Shown as a range. An estimate from asking-price comparables and FAA supply data — not an appraisal.
Overview
| Make / Model | RUTAN DEFIANT |
|---|---|
| Type | Other |
| Airframe time | — |
Description
**RUTAN DEFIANT N38JM — PREMIUM UPDATED CENTERLINE-THRUST TWIN**For the buyer looking beyond the conventional piston twin, N38JM offers something genuinely different: Burt Rutan’s remarkably efficient Defiant architecture combined with the presentation and equipment expected of a modern premium aircraft.N38JM has undergone extensive updating and presents with **new exterior paint, a custom black leather interior with contrasting red stitching, modern glass avionics and distinctive carbon-fiber detailing**.Power is provided by **front and rear Lycoming O-360-series engines**, giving the Defiant true twin-engine redundancy in a centerline-thrust configuration without the large asymmetric-thrust characteristics associated with a conventional wing-mounted twin.A **fresh condition inspection was completed August 15, 2026 at tach 86.0**. Both engines received condition inspections including compression checks, spark-plug inspection, Aeroshell W100 service, filter, exhaust, hose and engine-control inspections, followed by satisfactory ground runs with temperatures, pressures and RPM within manufacturer specifications and no leaks found.The airframe inspection included flight-control inspection and lubrication, satisfactory landing-gear retraction testing, hydraulic-system service, wheel-bearing service, brake inspection, battery inspection and ELT function testing. New Airtrac 5x6-6 ply main tires were installed. The aircraft, both engines and both propellers were signed off for safe operation.Lycoming O-360-series engines.The result is a rare combination: an iconic Rutan design, twin-engine capability, excellent efficiency and a level of cosmetic and systems modernization that separates N38JM from the typical legacy experimental aircraft.**THE MISSION OF A CERTIFIED TWIN. WITH EXPERIMENTAL EFFICIENCY.****Asking $425,000.**Complete photo package, detailed firewall-forward photographs and maintenance documentation available to qualified prospective buyers.
Recommended avionics upgrades
No IFR GPS navigator is listed — a GTN 650Xi is the standard entry point for WAAS/LPV capability.
See prices & suppliers ›No autopilot is listed — a GFC 500 (or S-TEC 3100 / Trio Pro Pilot where the GFC isn't STC'd) adds a modern digital autopilot with envelope protection, subject to model approval.
See prices & suppliers ›No ADS-B is listed — a GTX 345 delivers required ADS-B Out plus In (traffic & weather) in one transponder.
See prices & suppliers ›Suggestions are based on the panel described in this listing; verify STC approval for this make/model before any installation.
Service Difficulty Reports (SDRs)
Checking FAA service difficulty reports…
Airworthiness Directives (ADs)
Checking airworthiness directives…
General
| Year | 1985 |
|---|---|
| Manufacturer | RUTAN |
| Model | DEFIANT |
| Condition | Used |
| Total Time | 700 |
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