Oct 23, 2019 romig says that the best book out there will be the one written by ben rich, second director of the skunk works, titled skunk works. Included in this effort was the successful flight testing of the innovative lift fan system on the x35b demonstrator. A team engineer named irv culver was a fan of al capps comic strip, lil abner, in which there was a running joke about a mysterious place deep in the forest called the skonk works. The most important skunk works rules for your success. There, a strong beverage was brewed from skunks, old shoes and other strange ingredients. The skonk works was a dilapidated factory located on the remote outskirts of dogpatch, in the backwoods of kentucky. Advanced development programs, better known as the skunk works. I believe one of the reasons i ultimately majored in aerospace engineering was due to this book and perhaps my unhealthy space obsession helped. Al romig, skunk works, advanced development program. In 2018, skunk works will celebrate 75 years of partnering. 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. Opening it, he asked if the contents could finally be shown to the public.
How alfa romeos skunk works plans to reset all autocar. Al romig is appointed vice president, adp engineering and. Despite that variety, all skunk works face similar issues. The author describes the varied events that occurred and projects that were undertaken at lockheeds aerospace development wing. Its success can be attributed to a very small set of ground rules religiously followed. This brought to mind al capps popular comic strip, lil abner and the hairy indian who regularly stirred up the brew, throwing in skunks, old shoes, and other likely material to make his kickapoo joy juice. All orders are custom made and most ship worldwide within 24 hours. Again, as mentioned before, skunk works is a famous tool for organizations to use to fight in the innovative market. A skunkworks is a place or sometimes the people who work in that place designed to encourage the employees of large organisations to come up with original ideas. A personal memoir of my years at lockheed by ben r. The skunk works was the birthplace of many tremendous aircraft, as well as the stompin grounds of characters right out of al capps comics. 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 lockheed martin skunk works hangar in palmdale, california. The lack of warning time and difficulty in intercepting an intruder at such speeds has led al romig, skunk works engineering and advanced.
Regarded as the father of stealth, rich was responsible for leading the development of the f117, the first production stealth aircraft. 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. May 20, 2016 long story short, smell played a role thereafter, because the lockheed facility was next to another plant that emitted fumeslike a skunk. 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. 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.
In the modern usage, a skunk works still seeks to depart from existing operational processes, but pursue a variety of goals. When an established firm aspires to experiment in a radical direction, management gurus recommend opening a skunk worksan organizational home for highpriority original thinking and projects. 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. Use features like bookmarks, note taking and highlighting while reading skunk works. Benjamin robert ben rich june 18, 1925 january 5, 1995 was the second director of lockheeds skunk works from 1975 to 1991. Download it once and read it on your kindle device, pc. Skunk works is an official pseudonym for lockheed martins advanced development programs adp, formerly called lockheed advanced development projects.
The book tells of his first experiences at lockheed during the 1950s. He was previously vice president and general manager of lockheed martin aeronautics company advanced development programs, better known as the skunk works. He was previously vice president and general manager of lockheed martin aeronautics. 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. It is housed away from the organizations main operations, sometimes in secret or with organizational barriers. Aug 16, 2016 lockheeds skunk works division is responsible for some of the most radical breakthroughs in aviation. Skunk works today aero centennial celebration university of michigan engineering. Typically the projects involve something of value to the future but are not. 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. The x59 aircraft will collect community response data on the acceptability of the quiet sonic boom generated by our design, helping nasa establish an acceptable commercial supersonic noise standard to overturn.
It ranges all the way past the first gulf war, and describes the many, varied events that occurred and projects that were undertaken at lockheeds. Its just as fascinating to me when i read it the 8th time as it was the first. Before joining the academy, he was vice president and general manager of lockheed martin aeronautics company advanced development programs, better known as the skunk works. Romig is the chief operating officer responsible for the program, financial and membership operations of the academy, reporting to the nae president. As recounted by ben rich, the operations brilliant boss for nearly two decades.
Less than a year following the publication of skunk works, dick abrams died. During yesterdays presentation alfa romeo revealed plans for its new skunk works. Nov 10, 2014 in the 20th century corporate skunk works were used to develop disruptive innovation separate from the rest of the company. Lockheed also appointed al romig, john larson and ron bessire as respective vps for engineering and advanced systems, operations and production. Dave munson, dean college of engineering, university of michigan.
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. Skunk works definition of skunk works by merriamwebster. The lockheed skunk works led by kelly johnson was responsible for its. A personal memoir of my years at lockheed, by ben r. The first and only official history of the worlds most famous advanced aircraft design bureau youve been waiting for. A personal memoir of my years of lockheed kindle edition by rich, ben r. 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. Skunk works is responsible for a number of famous aircraft designs, including the u2, the sr71, the f117, and the f22. Its largest current project is the f35 lightning ii, which will be used in the air forces of several countries around the world.
Frank cappuccio, its current vice president and general manager, started his lockheed martin career in the skunk works and is committed to keeping this national asset in the forefront of aeronautical technology and products. The projects of skunk works pdf books library land. Rob weiss named lead for aeronautics advanced development programs, a. Romig is the chief operating officer responsible for the program, financial, and membership operations of the academy, reporting to the nae president. A ship for the navy, and a drone program are briefly covered also. Download it once and read it on your kindle device, pc, phones or tablets. As recounted by ben rich, the operations brilliant boss for nearly. As executive officer of the national academy of engineering, al romig is the chief operating officer responsible for the program, financial, and membership operations of the academy, reporting to the president. Alton romig, vice president, engineering and advanced systems, lockheed martin. Skunk works today aero centennial celebration youtube. The official history, but doesnt try to write this off as the definitive work on the subject. 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. He also worked on the f104, u2, a12, sr71, and f22, among others. Romig says that the best book out there will be the one written by ben rich, second director of the skunk works, titled skunk works.
The skunk works unique unmanned products, desert hawk and fpass, recently saw action in both afghanistan and iraq. The term originated with lockheed s world war ii skunk works project. Skunk works is an official alias for lockheed martins advanced development programs adp, formerly called lockheed advanced development projects. Its success can be attributed to a very small set of. This book is written by the second director of this program, ben rich.
Ben rich may have been the last of the breed, with lockheed now just a part of a larger conglomerate. Skunk works is a personal memoir written by the chief engineer of lockheeds skunk works, ben rich. The book tells of his first experiences at lockheed during the 1950s at the height of the cold war. Inspired designs on tshirts, posters, stickers, home decor, and more by independent artists and designers from around the world. Inside was a 55yearold model of the a3, lockheeds first try at blending stealth with speedand. The four variables that led to the skunk works skylance. Skunk works is the true story, told for the first time, of americas most secret and successful aerospace operation.
A topflight aerospace engineers engrossing reminiscences of an eventful career in the service of the cia and us military at the height of the cold war. It ranges all the way past the first gulf war, and describes the many, varied events that occurred. 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. Our team of dedicated engineers and scientists assume it can be done. Skunk worksbound executive vp al romig, soon to leave. 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. He took one look at dick scherrers sketch of the hopeless diamond. Rob weiss named lead for aeronautics advanced development. Photos by jim wilson and lockheed martin skunk works. Skunk works pdf as i noted in the first edition of this book, skunk works was the result of. A personal memoir of my years of lockheed kindle edition by ben r. A personal memoir of my years at lockheed from the worlds largest community of readers.
The secret missions exposed, most of whats in this book will look familiar to you. Romig has served as vice president of adp engineering. These also provide people a better understanding of how innovation process work on skunk works projects. Al romig, vp, skunk works lmco for more lectures on demand, please visit our web site. Crickmore if youve read crickmores main work, sr71.
Skunk works definition is used for research and development services. In 2018, skunk works will celebrate 75 years of partnering with our customers to make the impossible possible. Al romig, vice president and general manager at lockheed martin aeronautics, started with a war. The term skunk works came from al capps satirical, hillbilly comic strip lil abner, which was immensely popular in the 1940s and 1950s. Many books were written to chronicle the legendary innovations of the original skunk works. He doesnt go into near as much detail as jay miller did in skunkworks. Mar 09, 2017 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. With a projected top speed of more than 2kms, the sr72 would be twice as fast as its predecessor.
As executive officer of the national academy of engineering, al romig is the chief. How skunk works got its name general aviation news. Ben richs skunk works is a fascinating read, its thoughtprovoking, funny, inspiring and thoroughly interesting throughout. The books primary focus is the u2, f117a, and last but not least the sr71. Skunk works is the popular moniker of lockheed martins top, top secret aircraft aircraft program for the us government. Interview with al romig, chief skunk, skunk works celebrates 70 years of innovation. Skunk works definition, engineering, technical, consulting, and advisory services with respect to designing, building, equipping, and testing commercial and military aircraft and related equipment at lockheed martin corporation. Now located in palmdale, calif, the skunk works has branched out to. Skunkworks or skunkworks project is a slang phrase commonly used to describe a small and loosely structured group of people who research and develop a project for the sake of innovation in technology a skunkworks project often operates independent of a companys normal research and development operations and therefore is subject to limitations in resources. Appendix i of millers book contains the entire text of kelly johnsons cl282. In a major pulling back of the veil of secrecy, official histories of such noteworthy products as the u2, a12, d21, sr71 and f117 are finally brought to light, authentically described by the company and the men who designed and built them. The lack of warning time and difficulty in intercepting an intruder at such speeds has led al romig, skunk works engineering and advanced systems vice president, to claim that speed is the new stealth. Nae website al romig national academy of engineers.
I agree, its an impressive memoir and full of stories that pulls you in from start to finish. Jul 30, 20 lockheed also appointed al romig, john larson and ron bessire as respective vps for engineering and advanced systems, operations and production programs and program and technology integration of. Skunk works is a personal memoir written by the chief engineer of lockheeds skunk works ben rick. 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. Skunk works on the path to 75 years of innovation youtube. In 2018, lockheed martin skunk works was selected for the design, build and flight test of the lowboom flight demonstrator lbfd. Lockheeds skunk works division is responsible for some of the most radical breakthroughs in aviation.