History of the skunk works book

For the first time in its 75year history, lockheed martin is opening their hangar doors and pulling back the veil on skunk works, the secret program and subdivision long hidden from the public. The author describes the varied events that occurred and projects that were undertaken at lockheeds aerospace development wing. The term originated with lockheeds world war ii skunk works project. They were rule benders, chance takers, corner cutterspeople who believed that nothing was impossible.

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. Imagine having to lose government contracts because you could not use the c. Jun 09, 2019 the history of skunk works, the topsecret division of lockheed that specialised in extreme, highly classified military aircraft design. The untold story of skunk works reveals the incredible story of one small group of bootstrapping engineers and pilots whose innovative aircraft changed world history. At the skunk works, we have a rich history and an unmatched capability of using unconventional methods to achieve seemingly impossible breakthroughsand we do it ahead of schedule. A personal memoir of my years at lockheed from the worlds largest community of readers. Michigan alumnus kelly johnson, the skunk works has created the coolest planes of recent memory, including the. As recounted by ben rich, the operations brilliant boss for nearly two decades. The author of the book,ben rich led the skunk works design team after clarence kelly johnson retired in 1975. Skunk works is the true story behind the coolest, high tech, top secret, aerospace engineering division operated by the lockheed martin corporation.

The first and only official history of the worlds most famou. Sign up for history emails for the latest on your favorite shows and more. All content included on our site, such as text, images, digital downloads and other, is the property of its content suppliers and protected by us and international laws. Johnson is sometimes cited as the originator of the kiss principle, and his famed downtobrasstacks management style was summed up by his motto, be quick, be quiet, and be on time. The official history paperback december 18, 1995 by jay k. In 1960, when al capps publisher objected to lockheeds use of the name, rather than abandon it, they changed it to skunk works and registered both the name and the cartoon skunk logo as trademarks, thus becoming the official alias of the. Skunk works is a personal memoir written by the chief engineer of lockheeds skunk works ben rick. Skunk works is the true story, told for the first time, of americas most secret and successful aerospace operation. Apr 09, 2018 for more than 70 years, the skunk works has existed to create revolutionary aircraft and technologies that push the boundaries of what is possible. From the development of the u2 to the stealth fighter, skunk works is the true story of americas most secret. This book is a great read and i highly recommend it to anyone who is curious about the skunk works, its people and the aircraft it created. It an amazing place where incredible aircraft such blackbird, the stealth fighter, the u2 and the starfighter were created.

The book also talks about the u2 spy plane and its being shot down over the soviet union. Ben talks about the development of have blue which would later become the f117 nighthawk or the stealth fighter. 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. A skunkworks project is a project developed by a relatively small and loosely structured group of people who research and develop a project primarily for the sake of radical innovation. We discussed all the things wrong with history s project blue book, the uncanny parallels between the phantom airship flap of 18967 and the post1947 modern era, all thats spontaneously literary about the history of ufos, and the enduring, hard kernel of the mystery. Find show info, videos, and exclusive content on history. 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 complete illustrated history of the blackbird, the worlds highest, fastest plane by richard h.

As recounted by ben rich, the operations brilliant boss for nearly two decades, the chronicle. A personal memoir of my years at lockheed by ben r. It is also the history of the technology and business practice behind those projects. As recounted by ben rich, the operations brilliant boss for nearly two decades, the chronicle of lockheeds legendary skunk works is a drama of cold war confrontations and gulf war air combat, of extraordinary feats of engineering and human achievement. This site is like a library, use search box in the widget to get ebook that you want. Skunk works is an official pseudonym for lockheed martins advanced development programs adp, formerly called lockheed advanced development projects. 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. Considered by many insiders to be the definitive history of the skunkworks, millers book covers everything from the xp80 up to the f22 and doesnt skip over anything to get to the good stuff. 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.

Jan 24, 2019 history s new series, project blue book, has inspired among the ufophilic a range of reactions, from the tepid to the boiling, from interesting, give it a chance to outrage. F117 nighthawk mystery revealed, lockheed skunk works top. However, the history of the skunk works is more than just spyplanes and stealth aircraft. This classic history of americas highstakes quest to dominate the skies is a gripping technothriller in which the technology is real new york times book. As recounted by ben rich, the operations brilliant boss for nearly two decades, the chronicle of lockheeds legendary skunk works is a drama of cold war confrontations and gulf war air combat, of extraordinary feats of engineering and human achievement against fantastic odds. The history laid out in ben richs book shows both the positive and negative. Push more basic inspection responsibility back to subcontractors and vendors. The inspection system as currently used by the skunk works, which has been approved by both the air force and navy, meets the intent of existing military requirements and should be used on new projects. Lockheed martins babione on skunk works 75 years of. It tells of the problems this awesome company dealt with due to the secret nature of their business. The book has events in bens life like the passing of kelly johnson as well as the passing of bens wife faye. From the development of the u2 to the stealth fighter, skunk works is the true story of americas.

The skonk works was a dilapidated factory located on the remote outskirts of dogpatch, in the backwoods of kentucky. Mar 09, 2017 this generously illustrated history tackles skunk works programs ranging from jet fighters and jet engines to missiles and rockets, helicopters, research aircraft, airships, unmanned aerial vehicles and recon drones, and even the seagoing stealth ship sea shadow more than 50 in all. This book is a fantastic tour through the history and workings of the skunk works. It is a history of the famous lockheed skunk works and its military and spy aircraft. The skunk works in december 1954 rich was transferred to the skunk works, the secret research and development section run by lockheeds chief engineer, clarence kelly johnson. Lockheed martins skunk works the official history jay miller if you want the complete history of the skunk works, this is the book to get. The book tells of his first experiences at lockheed during the 1950s. It was the appearance of germanys first jet fighter planes in. The term skunk works came from al capp s satirical, hillbilly comic strip lil abner, which was immensely popular in the 1940s and 1950s. A personal memoir of my years of lockheed by ben r. Skunk works a personal memoir of my years at lockheed ebook. Oct 01, 1994 skunk works is a personal memoir written by the chief engineer of lockheeds skunk works ben rick. From the development of the u2 to the stealth fighter, skunk works is the true story of americas most secret and. It was the appearance of germanys first jet fighter planes in the skies over europe that prompted the u.

From the development of the u2 to the stealth fighter, skunk works is the true story of americas most secret and successful aerospace. Skunking is quick, risktolerant and most importantly, smart. Over the next 15 years, skonk works became part of the lockheed lexicon. The untold story of skunk works sunday october 19 at 8. Skunk works produced such revolutionary planes as the u2, sr71 blackbird and fb117 nighthawk. Kelly johnsons 14 rules and practices lockheed martin. The air tactical service command atsc of the army air force met with lockheed aircraft corporation to. One of several books describing the history and achievements of the special projects section of lockheed in burbank, l. Richs account of the skunk works history entirely satisfied my interest in this. The book also follows the careers of the two men who headed the skunk works team. 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. Ben rich died in 1995 of cancer but the skunk works still lives on today.

Skunk works origin story the origin story in 1943, the u. Over the years, the skunk works division in palmdale, california, was given a more official moniker, lockheeds advanced development programs, but its mission remained unchanged. The projects of skunk works pdf books library land. Memet my superkeen aviation obsessed 12 year old loved this book. 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. The book is an autobiography of author ben rich and a biography of the skunk works creator kelly johnson. Get the latest on your favorite shows, plus updates on. Skunk works is the true story, told for the first time, of americas most secret and. Click download or read online button to get skunk works book now.