This firstperson narrative covers richs career from engineer to ceo and highlights work on the u2, sr71 blackbird, and the f117 stealth fighter. 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. Inside the skunk works this ebook list for those who looking for to read lockheed secret projects. This book is written by the second director of this program, ben rich. Skunk works is a personal memoir written by the chief engineer of lockheeds skunk works, ben rich. A personal memoir of my years of lockheed ebook written by ben r. 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. Seven decades of lockheed skunk works aircraft pictures.
The skunk works led development and flight testing of the lockheed martin, northrop grumman, bae systems x35 joint strike fighter jsf prototypes earned this team a collier trophy. It is also the history of the technology and business practice behind those projects. Skunk works is an official pseudonym for lockheed martins advanced development programs adp, formerly called lockheed advanced development projects. As recounted by ben rich, the operations brilliant boss for nearly two decades. It is a history of the famous lockheed skunk works and its military and spy aircraft. The skunk worksled development and flight testing of the lockheed martin, northrop grumman, bae systems x35 joint strike fighter jsf prototypes earned this team a collier trophy. From the development of the u2 to the stealth fighter, skunk works is.
Ben rich reflects on his life at the skunk works, a supersecret lockheed business unit that specialized in developing and building the worlds most advanced military and spy aircraft. A personal memoir of my years at lockheed from the worlds largest community of readers. Numerous and frequentlyupdated resource results are available from this search. It ranges all the way past the first gulf war, and describes the many, varied events that occurred. The book is an autobiography of author ben rich and a biography of the skunk works creator kelly johnson. In the years since, the term skunk works has come to refer. Rich of oxnard, who headed lockheeds fabled skunk works during development of the stealth fighter plane and wrote a book about his 40year career with the company, died thursday at. 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. Lockheeds skunk works the first fifty years by jay miller and a great selection of related books, art and collectibles available now at. Lockheeds advanced development project has set standards for the aerospace industry for half a century.
Opening it, he asked if the contents could finally be shown to the public. A personal memoir of my years of lockheed by ben r. Oct 01, 1994 skunk works is a personal memoir written by the chief engineer of lockheeds skunk works ben rick. Lockheed skunk works by steve pace 1993, paperback for sale. Lockheed s advanced development project has set standards for the aerospace industry for half a century. 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. 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. Seven decades of lockheed skunk works aircraft pictures cnet. Later, as johnsons successor as leader of the skunk works, rich championed and directed the early experimental prototypes of stealth technology and led the development of the f117 stealth fighter. Reliable information about the coronavirus covid19 is available from the world health organization current situation, international travel. 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 lockheed advanced development program. As recounted by ben rich, the operations brilliant boss for nearly. A personal memoir of my years at lockheed by ben r. The book tells of his first experiences at lockheed during the 1950s at the height of the cold war.
Skunk works 10 most amazing projects that we know about. 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 story of americas most secret and successful aerospace operation. 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 u. A personal memoir of my years at lockheed by ben rich and leo janos. Dec 18, 2017 several months ago i read the book skunk works. Skunk works is the true story, told for the first time, of americas most secret and successful aerospace operation. Jun 07, 2019 officially called advanced development research, skunk works was a classified subdivision of lockheed founded during world war ii to build a fighter jet, p80 it was a secret within lockheed and. Inside was a 55yearold model of the a3, lockheeds first try at blending stealth with speedand. A personal memoir of my years of lockheed by leo janos and ben r.
Skunk works is the popular moniker of lockheed martins top, top secret aircraft aircraft program for the us government. Rich 1996, paperback at the best online prices at ebay. The book tells of his first experiences at lockheed during. The book tells of his first experiences at lockheed during the 1950s. Inside the skunk works, you can read or download in pdf, epub or mobi. Rich, leo janos the onetime director of lockheed s skunk works, the topsecret facility that developed the u2 spy plane and the stealth fighter, reveals the behindthescenes drama involved in the development of the militarys aerial technology. Lockheeds skunk works the first fifty years abebooks. Regarded as the father of stealth, rich was responsible for leading the development of the f117, the first production stealth aircraft. Rich, leo janos the onetime director of lockheeds skunk works, the topsecret facility that developed the u2 spy plane and the stealth fighter, reveals the behindthescenes drama involved in the development of the militarys aerial technology.
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 story of americas most secret and successful aerospace operation. Bestsellers new arrivals coming soon autographed editions. 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. Skunk works is a personal memoir written by the chief engineer of lockheeds skunk works ben rick. Lockheed skunk works by steve pace 1993, paperback for. Officially called advanced development research, skunk works was a classified subdivision of lockheed founded during world war ii to build a fighter jet, p. 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. The sr71 evolved out of the skunk works aircraft that lockheed refers to as the a12 and the air force as the yf12. Our team of dedicated engineers and scientists assume it can be done. Skunk works was lockheeds dedicated organization which created many top secret projects at the time such as the lockheed u2, sr71 blackbird, and f. From the development of the u2 to the stealth fighter, skunk works is the true story of americas most secret and successful aerospace operation. With a visionary focus on the future, we partner with our customers to anticipate tomorrows capability gaps and technology needs to solve the most critical national security challenges today. The aircraft was designated a12, the 12th in a series of internal design efforts for archangel, the aircrafts internal code name. Download for offline reading, highlight, bookmark or take notes while you read skunk works.
The book s primary focus is the u2, f117a, and last but not least the sr71. As recounted by ben rich, the operations brilliant boss for nearly two decades, the chronicle of lockheed s legendary skunk works is a drama of cold war confrontations and gulf war air combat, of extraordinary feats of engineering and human. 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. As recounted by ben rich, the operations brilliant boss for nearly two decades, the chronicle of lockheed s legendary skunk works is a drama of cold war confrontations and gulf war air combat, of. From the development of the u2 to the stealth fighter, skunk works is the true story of americas most secret and successful aerospace. The work was acclaimed by ben rich late president of. 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. At lockheed martin skunk works, your mission defines our purpose. The work was acclaimed by ben rich late president of the skunk works and the crews that flew the sr71.
Filled with telling personal anecdotes and high adventure, with narratives from the cia and from air force pilots who flew the many classified, risky missions, this book is a riveting portrait of the most spectacular aviation triumphs of the twentieth century. I first picked this book up and started reading it because hey, skunkworks also, it probably helped that. A central challenge for the airframe designers was building something that. Skunk works a personal memoir of my years at lockheed ebook. Here are upclose portraits of the maverick band of scientists and engineers who made the skunk works so renowned. He also worked on the f104, u2, a12, sr71, and f22, among others. 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. Oclcs webjunction has pulled together information and resources to assist library staff as they consider how to handle coronavirus. Teaming up with osprey he produced the first detailed book ever to be published on the subject, and when additional information became available, crickmore produced a sequel, lockheed sr71 the secret missions.