Armys air tactical service command atsc met with lockheed aircraft corporation to express its dire need for a jet fighter to counter a rapidly growing german jet threat. Search for library items search for lists search for contacts search for a library. The stories behind more than 50 secret projects undertaken by the famed lockheed martin skunk works on behalf of the us armed forces, darpa, and the cia all illustrated with official skunk works. The cspan school bus crew visited the skunk works division of lockheed martin corporation.
Skunk works is an official pseudonym for lockheed martins advanced development programs, formerly called lockheed advanced development projects. The skunk works manager must be delegated practically complete control of his program in all aspects. Skunk works produced such revolutionary planes as the u2, sr71 blackbird and fb117 nighthawk. Skunk works is the popular moniker of lockheed martins top, top secret aircraft. Press button download or read online below and wait 20 seconds. Richs account of the skunk works history entirely satisfied my interest in this. Since then, its brought you the u2, the sr71, and the f117, and its still going strong. With george bush, buz carpenter, amelia earhart, dwight d. However, the history of the skunk works is more than just spyplanes and stealth aircraft. Various subassemblies are produced at locations in florida, mississippi, pennsylvania, and west virginia the company draws upon the history of the former lockheed and martin marietta corporations. Download skunk works or read skunk works online books in pdf, epub and mobi format. Cannibalization, thy name is skunk works the answer is that taking a risk on the f35 is both essential for lockheed martin to remain at the top of.
From the development of the u2 to the stealth fighter, the neverbeforetold story behind americas highstakes quest to dominate the skies skunk works is the true. Were at our best when were working to make the world a better place through technology. The projects of skunk works and millions of other books are available for. Our history over one hundred years ago, on august 16, 1912, glenn l. The untold story of skunk works sunday october 19 at 8. Its name was taken from the moonshine factory in the comic strip lil abner. Skunk works is a term first coined in 1943 by lockheed, currently trademarked by lockheed martin and widely used in business, engineering, and technical fields to describe a group within an organization given a high degree of autonomy and unhampered by bureaucracy, tasked with working on advanced or secret projects. Skunk works is the true story, told for the first time, of americas most secret and successful aerospace operation. Ben rich worked at lockheed martins skunk works from 19541991, and spent. In the 1970s, area 51 saw the development of the nations first stealth bomber, the f117 nighthawk, designed by lockheeds skunk works and developed under the code name have blue. The projects of skunk works pdf books library land. He started the company after building his first plane in a rented church, where he took a leap of faith on his risky but innovative new aircraft design at the urging of none other than orville wright.
When the lockheed martin skunk works began marking its 70th birthday this year, media specialist bob driver dragged an old suitcase into a company directors office. The stories behind more than 50 secret projects undertaken by the famed lockheed martin skunk works on behalf of the us armed forces, darpa, and the cia all illustrated with official skunk works photography and commissioned artworks hatched in june 1943 after a special request of the us army air forces to develop a turbojetpowered fighter to counter growing german threats. From the development of the u2 to the stealth fighter, skunk works is the true story of americas most secret and successful aerospace operation. The history of skunk works, the topsecret division of lockheed that specialised in extreme, highly classified military aircraft design. He should report to a division president or higher. This site is like a library, use search box in the widget to get ebook that you want. Download for offline reading, highlight, bookmark or take notes while you read the projects of skunk works. From the development of the u2 to the stealth fighter, skunk works is the true story of americas.
See my photographs 3 of this book on main listing page. As recounted by ben rich, the operations brilliant boss for nearly two decades, the story of lockheeds legendary skunk works is a highstakes drama of cold war confrontations and gulf war air combat, of extraordinary feats of engineering and human achievement against fantastic. It is also the history of the technology and business practice behind those projects. The 14 rules of skunk works according to lockheed martin. It was the wartime year of 1943 when kelly johnson brought together a handpicked team of lockheed aircraft corporation engineers and manufacturing people to rapidly and secretly complete the xp80 project. It is responsible for a number of aircraft designs, including the u2, the lockheed sr71 blackbird, the lockheed f117 nighthawk, lockheed martin f22 raptor, and the lockheed martin f35 lightning ii, which are used in the air forces of several countries. Lockheed martins renowned skunk works officially marks its 60th anniversary today. Skunk works is an official pseudonym for lockheed martins advanced development programs adp.
As recounted by ben rich, the operations brilliant boss for nearly two decades. Skunk works, how it began story, lockheed martin kelly. Michigan alumnus kelly johnson, the skunk works has created the coolest planes of recent memory, including the. How skunk works turned lockheed martin into the worlds. Lockheed f104 starfighter climbing into the upper atmosphere with the aid of an auxiliary rocket engine during astronaut training at edwards air force base. The official history paperback december 18, 1995 by jay k.
Memet my superkeen aviation obsessed 12 year old loved this book. Kelly johnson ran lockheeds innovative entity for nearly 45 years. Uncle sam needed a counterpunch, and johnson got a call. Skunk works is the popular moniker of lockheed martins top, top secret aircraft aircraft program for the us government. The untold story of skunk works pulls back the veil of secrecy on lockheed martins enigmatic skunk works program. Skunk works is the true story behind the coolest, high tech, top secret, aerospace engineering division operated by the lockheed martin corporation. Skunk works 10 most amazing projects that we know about. Lockheed martin aeronautics is based in marietta, georgia and palmdale, california. For more than 70 years, the skunk works has existed to create revolutionary aircraft and technologies that push the boundaries of what is possible.
A personal memoir of my years at lockheed by ben r. Skunk works simple english wikipedia, the free encyclopedia. Apply to aeronautical engineer, structural designer, writereditor and more. If innovation is our companys beating heart, purpose is our soul.
To view this book, you must have an ipad with ibooks 3 or later and ios 5. The books primary focus is the u2, f117a, and last but not least the sr71. The first and only official history of the worlds most famou. The author describes the varied events that occurred and projects that were undertaken at lockheeds aerospace development wing. This book is written by the second director of this program, ben rich. Lockheed martin declares fourth quarter 2019 dividend. Palmdale is home to the advanced development programs adp, informally known as the skunk works. In 1991 adp became a separate company within lockheed, and, after the merger of lockheed with martin marietta in 1995, its official name was changed to lockheed martin skunk works. The official history by jay miller 1995, paperback, revised at the best online prices at ebay. Lockheed have blue lockheed have blue was the code name for lockheeds demonstrator i.
Click download or read online button to get skunk works book now. Lockheed martin skunk works advanced development programs. Seven decades of lockheed skunk works aircraft pictures. The program was formerly called lockheed advanced development projects. In partnership with nasa, the lockheed martin skunk works team is solving one of the most persistent challenges of supersonic flight the sonic boom.
A ship for the navy, and a drone program are briefly covered also. Inside was a 55yearold model of the a3, lockheeds first try at blending stealth with speedand. The book tells of his first experiences at lockheed during the 1950s. Conceived in 1943, the skunk works divisiona name inspired by a mysterious locale from the comic strip lil abner was formed by johnson to build americas first jet fighter.
Read by pete larkin ben rich, director of lockheeds skunk works, reveals the. The book is available for download as an apple ibook or pdf. Skunk works origin story the origin story in 1943, the u. Pdf download skunk works free download pdf book or read. The legendary skunk works got its start on an early jet fighter design 70 years ago this month. Kelly johnson that produced many of americas most technologically advanced aircraft, the skunk works has made an indelible mark on aviation history. These includes the u2, the lockheed sr71 blackbird, the lockheed f117 nighthawk, lockheed martin f22 raptor, and the lockheed martin f35 lightning ii. Rich, known as ben dover, helped develop more than 25 airplanes, notably. Once the informal name for the lockheed organization led by clarence l.
The book is an autobiography of author ben rich and a biography of the skunk works creator kelly johnson. Rich 1996, paperback at the best online prices at ebay. The book s primary focus is the u2, f117a, and last but not least the sr71. Lockheed martin public relations office, you will not get inside. Opening it, he asked if the contents could finally be shown to the public. Skunk works is a personal memoir written by the chief engineer of lockheeds skunk works ben rick. This time is necessary for searching and sorting links. Skunk works is an official alias for lockheed martins advanced development programs adp, formerly called lockheed advanced development projects and this is our list of their top 10 most amazing projects. It is a history of the famous lockheed skunk works and its military and spy aircraft. Lacefield talked about their development of the venturestar space craft. Skunk works is an official pseudonym for lockheed martins advanced development programs adp, formerly called lockheed advanced development. The skunk works is one of the big names in us aerospace development, and we always associate the skunk works with the u2 and sr71 spyplanes, but also the f22 raptor, f117 nighthawk, f80 shooting star, f104 starfighter, and the f35 lightning ii. Skunk works is, and has been since its inception under kelly during world ii, lockheeds topsecret advanced development program.