Boeing phantom works is the advanced prototyping arm of the defense and security side of the boeing company. He was raised in seattle, washington, where his father worked at the boeing. Skunk works is an official pseudonym for lockheed martins advanced development programs. If you are qualified you can start with the jobs website.
Lockheed skunk works, which has made its reputation on doing some pretty amazing things on a limited budget and timeline, ran with the project. In the 20th century corporate skunk works were used to develop disruptive. This site is like a library, use search box in the widget to get ebook that you want. The illustrated profile of every aircraft, crew, and breakthrough of the worlds fastest stealth jet.
I have always been amazed at the cold war technological race of the 50s60s and especially the sr71 but this is such an in depth behind the scenes look at one of the groundbreaking organizations of that era. Download skunk works or read skunk works online books in pdf, epub and mobi format. I did work for northrop, raytheon, and another aerospace company. A personal memoir of my years at lockheed by ben r. Darpa skunks works and phantom works projects business. Planned supersonic business jet gets a lift from lockheed.
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. Jay miller is the author of lockheed martins skunk works 4. How to get a job in skunk works, lockheed martin quora. As recounted by ben rich, the operations brilliant boss for nearly two decades. When the lockheed martin skunk works began marking its 70th birthday this year, media specialist bob driver dragged an old suitcase into a company. Skunk works is an official pseudonym for lockheed martins advanced development programs, formerly called lockheed advanced development projects. Although its process or arguments are usually hidden form the public, its still possible to explore skunk works and its outcomes for successful innovations. From early on at pfizer i got myself into all kinds of offthebooks activity. Its logo is similar to one used for the mcdonnell douglas f4 phantom fighter. Boeings skunk works cargo drone is a heavy lifter wired. A personal memoir of my years at lockheed from the worlds largest community of readers. The former head of lockheeds skunk works reveals the nowitcanbetold story of the secret airplanes and deep black missions that changed the course of historyfrom u2 to the stealth fighter accessrestricteditem true addeddate.
The book tells of his first experiences at lockheed during the 1950s. In partnership with nasa, the lockheed martin skunk works team is solving one of the most persistent challenges of supersonic flight the sonic boom. Lets talk about the supposed sighting of a skunk works. The author describes the varied events that occurred and projects that were undertaken at lockheeds aerospace development wing. 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. Seven decades of lockheed skunk works aircraft pictures. Skunk works is the true story, told for the first time, of americas most secret and successful aerospace operation. Nasa awarded lockheed martin skunk works a contract in february 2016 for the preliminary design of x59, designed to reduce a sonic boom to a gentle thump. Lockheed martin topped earnings views and said its adding more capacity in palmdale, calif.
Regarded as the father of stealth, rich was responsible for leading the development of the f117, the first production stealth aircraft. This time is necessary for searching and sorting links. A ship for the navy, and a drone program are briefly covered also. Air force and navy, our skunk works team has been exploring ways to. Boeing is a company of contiguous development and continuous improvement. Many books were written to chronicle the legendary innovations of the original skunk works. This obscure skunk works jet may help team win new stealth. Benjamin robert rich june 18, 1925 january 5, 1995 was an american engineer and the second director of lockheeds skunk works from 1975 to 1991, succeeding its founder, kelly johnson. From the development of the u2 to the stealth fighter, skunk works is the true story of americas most secret and successful aerospace operation. Whats next maybe someone could use this as a title for a book. Kelly johnson like bill boeing, jack northrop, howard hughes, et al. The lockheed martin compact fusion reactor cfr is a proposed nuclear fusion reactor project at lockheed martins skunk works. Click download or read online button to get skunk works book now. Lets talk about the supposed sighting of a skunk works hypersonic test aircraft the report on the advanced state of the hypersonic aircraft program seems credible, but.
Area 51 boeing phantom works swamp works advanced propulsion physics laboratory. We lead the companys modeling and simulation efforts so our customers can analyze future needs and technology gaps in a measurable environment. Skunk works is the popular moniker of lockheed martins top, top secret aircraft aircraft program for the us government. How skunk works turned lockheed martin into the worlds. Rich is a 372page book about lockheeds research facility in burbank, ca, that is affectionately called, the skunk works.
Inside the skunk works colortech the complete book of the sr71 blackbird. 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. From the development of the u2 to the stealth fighter, skunk works is the true story of americas most. Darpa, along with boeing s underground phantom works unit and lockheed martins skunk works, all make it their business to cook up designs from the pentagons wildest dreams. 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 the fighter jet game and built into the company. The darkstar was a creation of the skunk works and boeing, as part of a darpa effort to develop drones for intelligence, reconnaissance, and surveillance missions and to. The books primary focus is the u2, f117a, and last but not least the sr71. Its primary focus is developing advanced military products and technologies, many of them highly classified. However, the history of the skunk works is more than just spyplanes and stealth aircraft. I did not work for lockheed or boeing, though i got a job offer from the latter. Lockheed martins skunk works division has become a model for.
Ben rich was the second boss over the skunk works, mentored under the legendary and formidable clarence kelly johnson. Press button download or read online below and wait 20 seconds. A personal memoir of my years of lockheed by ben r. 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. Rich, leo janos janos yeager does it again with this absolutely fascinating account of the development of such aviation landmarks as the u2, the blackbird sr71 and stealth technology. Founded by mcdonnell douglas, the research and development group continued after boeing acquired the company. You can also call the human resources department directly at the skunk works. Books have been written detailing other skunk works.
He also worked on the f104, u2, a12, sr71, and f22, among others. The four variables that led to the skunk works skylance. 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 a large company, so you just need to follow the process. His book recounts stories behind more than 50 secret projects many of them involving aircraft which the famous lockheed martin skunk works program undertook for. An engrossing history of the scientific discoveries, political maneuverings, and coldwar espionage leading to the creation of mankinds most destructive weapon. Google x, boeing phantom works, amazons lab126 and a9, apple design lab and nikes innovation kitchen. Skunk works is a personal memoir written by the chief engineer of lockheeds skunk works ben rick. Its name was taken from the moonshine factory in the comic strip lil abner. Books on sikorsky aircraft and biographies on the designer from broughs books online igor sikorsky. Besides, skunk works projects also usually provide the opportunities to. The term skunk works was ostensibly coined at lockheed, and defined a project that was under wraps and otherwise autonomous and isolated from.
Fusion nuclear fusion is an ambitious goal if there ever was one, but thats exactly what the company is working on at its secretive skunk works facility in california. In partnership with the defense advanced research projects agency darpa, u. Its a concurrent exploration of a nascent market and nascent technology, says pete kunz, the chief technologist for horizonx, the boeing skunk works venture capital arm hybrid division. Skunk works has to be one of the best books i have ever read. This book is written by the second director of this program, ben rich. The origin of this name is explained to be, the skonk works spelled with letter o, not with letter u, which is the name of a moonshine still in the lil abner cartoon see, pages 111111.
I know a lot of you out there can attest to this claim having read it yourselves. Houbolt, an unsung hero of apollo 11 and the man who showed nasa how to put america on the moon. Skunk works is, and has been since its inception under kelly during world ii, lockheeds topsecret advanced development program. The lockheed skunk works led by kelly johnson was responsible for its. The term originated with lockheeds world war ii skunk works project. Five great books for aviation fans puget sound business. Find lists of books and links to other useful web sites on the joint strike fighter program, lockheed martin, boeing, and airplane design. Its highbeta configuration, which implies that the ratio of plasma pressure to magnetic pressure is greater than or equal to 1 compared to tokamak designs 0. This book is the story of the original skunk works, a top secret operation with lockheed responsible for building some of the most cuttingedge and innovative military aircraft. Ben rich was the boss of the skunk works for nearly two decades and his book recounts the brilliant stories of the group, which inevitably tells countless stories of extraordinary engineering achievements, including the production of the f117 stealth aircraft, which rich oversaw. Militaryaviation giant lockheed martin is adding the expertise and reputation of its famed skunk works research unit to a commercialairplane project, the aerion as2 supersonic business jet. Kelly johnson ran lockheeds innovative entity for nearly 45 years, from its inception in 1943 to 1975, when he turned the reins. Lockheed skunk works unveils plan for highflying recon drone. The success factors for successful skunk worksby gu jing.