On December 22, 1990 Kelly Johnson, the founder of Skunk Works died at the age of 80. KISSKeep It Simple, Stupid. Initially the USAF didnt like the design (mostly because Lockheed submitted it without asking for it). Our design engineers had the keen experience to conceive the whole airplane in their minds-eye, doing the trade-offs in their heads between aerodynamic needs and weapons requirements. As such, they sent Johnson to South Korea to ask. Clarence L. "Kelly" Johnson led the design of such crucial aircraft as the P-38 and Constellation, but he will be more remembered for the U-2 and SR-71 spy planes. We finally figured it out: they were hoisted aloft from the atomic test explosions in Russia and China., The biggest bang, which knocked us four feet backwards, came when we mixed liquid oxygen with an equal amount of liquid hydrogen. Today, these are commonplace on almost all airliners, including those designed by both Airbus and Boeing. FOLLOW US ON FACEBOOK, TWITTER , OR SUBSCRIBE TO OUR BLOG SO YOU NEVER MISS NEWLY POSTED ARTICLES OR IMPORTANT ALERTS! As such, the CIA contracted Lockheed to develop a new, undetectable spy plane. Kelly: More Than My Share of It All. If we have the alien technology to cure cancer- as stated above-why did Ben Rich die of cancer? We got these things that are handhold scanners that scan the body and determine what the condition is. From that day on, the boy and his friends stopped calling him Clara, instead calling him Kelly after a popular song at the time. I'm going to press on. The knowledge I have of these technologies came from the craft that were captured here. "Kelly Johnson and the products of his famous Skunk Works epitomize the highest and finest goal of our society, the goal of excellence. We have invested in developing and demonstrating hypersonic technology for over 30 years. Kelly Johnson is known for a lot of things. Barack Obama Unfortunately, I can't. The only true wisdom is in knowing you know nothing. Kelly Johnson's 14 Rules and Practices. The phrase; "keep it simple, stupid" is thought to have been coined by the late Kelly Johnson, who was the lead engineer at the Lockheed Skunk Works (a place responsible for the S-71 Blackbird spy plane amongst many other notable achievements). Rule Number 2. 13. There must be mutual trust between the military project organization and the contractor, the very close cooperation and liaison on a day-to-day basis. One of these designs won him a prize of several hundred dollars. 12. Almost all major US aircraft manufacturers submitted designs to the US military. Learn how we are strengthening the economies, industries and communities of our global partner nations. We all know you wouldn't do that to a book that was truly ancient and fragile. Andrews was a close personal friend of "Skunk Works" CEO Ben Rich the hand-picked successor of Skunk Works founder Kelly Johnson and the man famous for the F-117 Nighthawk "Stealth" fighter, its "half-pint" prototype the "HAVE BLUE", and the top-secret F-19 Stealth Interceptor. Alya Kulikova is a Russian avgeek who loves nothing more than learning about new aircraft, and sharing that with her fellow avgeeks! 3. You can get straight As from all your Harvard profs, but youll never make the grade unless you are decisive: even a timely wrong decision is better than no decision. Nearly all biomorphic aerospace designs were inspired by the Roswell spacecraft from Kellys SR-71 Blackbird onward to todays drones, UCAVs, and aerospace craft, 3. Are these ET people hostile? I asked my backseater, who said, Dont worry about it. Johnson resigned from the corporate board of directors in 1980, but continued on as a senior advisor until his death. Kelly Johnson worked on several of Lockheeds projects between the 1930s and the 1980s. Shortly following this, Kelly Johnson met Hall Hibbard. Strong but small project offices must be provided both by the military and industry. Johnson also pushed the limits of service ceilings at the time, giving it a service ceiling of 44,000 ft, one of the highest for any aircraft. Taking action to help you protect what matters most. The Skunk Works manager must be delegated practically complete control of his program in all aspects. We decided to cross France without clearance instead of going the roundabout way. This aircraft later became one of the best aircraft of WWII, flying the longest sortie in the entire war. 9. 4. SIGNING UP IS FAST, EASY AND FREE (TAKES LESS THAN A MINUTE AND IT'S A FREE FORUM), CLICK IMAGE FOR VIDEO, MAP & ARTICLE LINKS. Open, casual and free forum where you can: post and share news events, discuss, debate, learn, or share your knowledge with others or just observe quietlyyou're in control! Both Imperial Japanese Navy and Luftwaffe pilots were afraid of this aircraft due to its incredible speed. . Lockheed tasked Kelly Johnson with designing an aircraft that fit the specifications laid out by the US military. He had just seventy-two hours to design a new aircraft, one that the British Air Ministry needed to prepare for a war that looked more likely with each passing day. Due to Johnsons previous experiences pushing how high an aircraft could fly, Johnson worked extensively on pushing the aircrafts service ceiling. Lockheed Skunk Works former CEO knew the Roswell extraterrestrial UFO influenced designs of Testor model kits for Roswell UFO models, and U.S. top secret aircraft. Ill teach you all you need to know about running a company in one afternoon, and well both go home early to boot. He was so powerful that simply by going along on his plans and schemes, the rest of us helped to produce miracles too. 5. This also enabled the Constellation to fly higher, and therefore faster than most contemporary aircraft. "The Skunk Works manager must be delegated practically complete control of his program in all aspects. The picture was so clear you could see that guy reading a newspaper., I said, 'General, I believe in the well-known golden rule. , , , , . Now, go home and pour yourself a drink. Top Kelly Johnson Skunk Works Quotes It would be nice to redefine ourselves - at the moment we are drowning in diversity. I was catching up on the KC-46 Pegasus program when I read this story and this story, among others. The number of people having any connection with the project must be restricted in an almost vicious manner. Too few to do anyones career much good in terms of power or prestige. The final thing you need to know is don't half-heartedly wound problems - kill them dead. 2. But some complaints were for real. In 1952, Johnson became the chief engineer of Lockheeds plant in Burbank, California. Print length 224 pages Language English Created by Ben Rich and Clarence "Kelly" Johnson, Skunk Works takes its name from the . Why did Ben Rich die of cancer if they had a device that could cure it? Because only a few people will be used in engineering and most other areas, ways must be provided to reward good performance by pay not based on the number of personnel supervised. Lockheed contracted Johnson, then head of Lockheed Skunk Works, to develop the U-2s replacement. Copyright 2023 Famous Quotes & Sayings. He declared his intention, then pushed through while his subordinates followed in his wake. Rule Number 3. Kelly Johnson's 14 Rules & Practices 1. All Rights Reserved. Following his graduation from Flint Junior College, Johnson enrolled at the University of Michigan. McDonald said: Well Hal, you asked for it! The local postmaster got curious about all the crates and boxes piling up in his bins and looked up C & J in the phone book and, of course, found nothing. I lit the afterburners and left that Mirage standing still. Clare Boothe Luce, The history of our spiritual life is a continuing search for the unity between ourselves and the world. Johnson contributed much to the early stealth designs of the F-117 and SR-71, as well as the high altitude spy plane, the U-2. Kelly Johnson, Design Pioneer of Lockheed Aircraft, Dies,. 95. Johnson lived by the simple motto: Be quick, be quiet, and be on time. This influenced his management style at Lockheed, which was subsequently adopted by several other members of the Lockheed management. By 1955, Johnson and his secret division of engineersdubbedSkunk Workslaunched the worlds first dedicated spy plane, theU-2, just nine months after receiving an official contract. On one of these sorties, a P-38 attacked a Japanese Navy air convoy. Following the introduction of the U-2, both the USAF and CIA loved the aircraft. Our stealth ship might be able to blast out of the sky a sizable Soviet attack force, but in terms of an officers future status and promotion prospects, it was about as glamorous as commanding a tugboat. Despite his volatile approach, Johnson earned unparalleled loyalty from his highly skilled team. This certainly helped Johnsons career and reputation in the industry. Then she looked at the table stacked with books. Although amazed by the new designs precision, Air Ministry officials asked if they could entrust the future of their air force to someone so young. The Lockheed Skunk Works, led by Kelly Johnson, was responsible for its Advanced Development Projects - everything from the P-80, the first U.S. jet fighter plane, to the U-2 and A-12 spy planes. Skunk Works: A Personal Memoir of My Years at Lockheed by Ben Rich and Leo Janos. The design for the fighter was submitted on the 26th of June, only 30 days into the project, and the first prototype was delivered to Muroc Army Airfield on the 16th of November, just 143 days later. I marvel more and more at what enterprising engineers were able to do with slide rules and drafting tables so long ago. Lockheed Martin's Advanced Development Projects (ADP), known officially as Skunk Works, was a secret aeronautical research facility in Burbank, California. In 1964, Johnson was awarded 6 awards, and five in 1965. The F-104 was first introduced in 1958, and served until 2008, one of the longest of any aircraft! , Skunk Works, , . We have lost something in the aerospace engineering world. Dont try to diminish the accomplishment of these people. Pope John Paul II, If I have something I want to say that is too difficult for adults to swallow, then I write it in a book for children. 2. We need a bill that strengthens our borders and protects this nation, but that also makes it simpler for good people to become Americans. ""Well, I don't think any of the boyos have figured it out, but all of the coven knows. Use a small number of good people (10% to 25% compared to the so-called normal systems). He told this boy that his was not Clara and if he persisted, he do it again. My God in heaven, he exclaimed, youre gonna blow up Burbank., The CIA had been covering Cuba with U-2 flights for years. In 1975, Kelly Johnson retired from Lockheed as a corporate vice president, leaving his personal understudy Ben Rich to head the Skunk Works. And, yes, we really did get some technology from them. From the development of the U-2 to the Stealth fighter, Skunk Works is the true story of America's most secret and successful aerospace operation. There must be a minimum number of reports required, but important work must be recorded thoroughly. He should report to a division president or higher. Explore Skunk Quotes by authors including Abraham Lincoln, G-Dragon, and Michael Paterniti at BrainyQuote. Many of the systems Johnson pioneered on the Constellation were refined on the L-1011. Dont come with this it was UFO technology all this time. No reports longer than 20 pages or meetings with more than 15 people. Clarence "Kelly" Johnson would have celebrated his 100th birthday three days ago if he still was with us, his name is pretty well known to anyone with an interest in aviation. Two minutes later, we were crossing the Channel.. I don't have time to feel sorry for myself. These became known simply as Kellys Rules, which were basically operating laws for Johnson and those working on his projects. They should report to a division president or higher. Any workernot just a supervisor or a managercould send back a part that didnt meet his or her standards. How in hell did they get lifted up there? Directors Jeff Cvitkovic Rory Karpf Writer Rory Karpf Stars George Bush (archive footage) BE NOTIFIED BY EMAIL WHEN A NEW ARTICLE IS POSTED - ENTER YOUR EMAIL ADDRESS IN THE BOX BELOW AND HIT SUBSCRIBE! There are 2 types of UFOs the ones we build and ones they build. The Skunk Works. 16 results for "kelly johnson skunk works" RESULTS. That was the credo of Clarence L. (Kelly) Johnson, the aeronautical innovator who founded Lockheed's superse-cret "Skunk Works" where he designed the world's fastest and highest-flying aircraftthe SR-71 Blackbird. The founder and first director of Skunk Works was Clarence "Kelly" Johnson, who was the designer of a U.S. spy plane called the U-2. In 1983, Lockheed formally recognized Johnsons 50 years of service to the company. And thus, revolutionary aircraft after revolutionary aircraftincluding perhaps Johnsons greatest achievement, the SR-71 Blackbird, still the worlds fastest aircraft fifty years after its first flightrolled off the Lockheed line under Johnsons watch. In 1958, Kelly Johnson was appointed the Vice President of Advanced Development Projects (ADP). And if the ship was totally invisible, it looked like a blank spotlike a hole in the doughnutthat was a dead giveaway, Kelly began receiving all kinds of complaints and threats of lawsuits from communities claiming the Blackbird had shattered windows for miles around. Upon introduction, the F-104 was used in large quantities, to supplement the North American F-100 in USAF service. 6. The oil and gas companies would not like a little device in anyones home that would provide ample energy thus eliminating the need for fossil fuels, electric grids, distribution systems and monthly income for them. Clarence Leonard Kelly Johnson 19101990, National Academy of Sciences, accessed 8 September 2012. That. The phrase; "keep it simple, stupid" is thought to have been coined by the late Kelly Johnson, who was the lead engineer at the Lockheed Skunk Works (a place responsible for the S-71 Blackbird spy plane amongst many other notable achievements). The Blackbird was designed by the genius of Lockheed Skunk Works, Kelly Johnston who would lead its development team for over four decades. A few times we announced a bogus flight plan and then sat back and watched the phony complaints pour in. The young engineers name was Clarence Johnson, but ever since hed trounced a local bully in grade school, he went by the more defiant nickname: Kelly, which suited his fierce and pugnacious personality. The contractor must be delegated the authority to test his final product in flight. They are working on over 500 projects, from radar coatings to war . Post was not sent - check your email addresses! One of the main specifications for the aircraft was its height. " Skunk Works " by Ben R. Rich is a worthy sequel to Kelly Johnson's " Kelly: More Than My Share of It All ." It brings the story of the Lockheed Skunkworks, founded by Johnson, up to 1995. Whilst at University, Johnson helped out on the wind tunnel testing of the Lockheed Model 10 Electra, Lockheeds answer to the Boeing 247. However, this wasnt easy, especially given the role and the other specifications the P-38 needed to have. AND BE SURE TO JOIN OUR FORUM TOO! His take on the F-35 program in particular, which the Skunk Works has had its hands in, would be amazing to hear. You dont need Harvard to teach you that its more important to listen than to talk. He worked on almost all of Lockheeds projects in this time, either as an engineer, consultant or was the lead engineer. The History of Barnstorming Explained! Following his graduation in 1933, Johnson was offered and subsequently took a job at Lockheed. | About Us Theirs is the official Lockheed Skunk Works story: . There is also the Secrecy aspect. "You all know ? 4. Outlets that have called him this include: International Aviation HQ, Aviation Week and Flying Magazine. Here, Johnson became the lead engineer on several of Skunk Works most successful and futuristic projects. Despite this, Johnson spent a lot of his free time consulting on new Lockheed aircraft, until his death in 1990. After a 1969 Nixon purge, administration was handled by an international board of directors in the private sector Anti-gravitational research was going on. Anything you can imagine, we already know how to do.. Lockheed wanted to find out what pilots wanted for a second generation jet fighter. The final thing youll need to know is dont half-heartedly wound problemskill them dead. The 14 Rules of Skunk Works according to Lockheed Martin 1. In 1995, Lockheed merged with Martin Marietta to form Lockheed Martin, the present incarnation of the company. The Air Tactical Service Command (ATSC) of the Army Air Force met with Lockheed Aircraft Corporation to express its need for . The Skunk Works manager must be delegated near complete control of his program in all aspects. 1. 3. Johnson officially retired from Lockheed in 1975, where he was succeeded by his close friend, Ben Rich. We encouraged our people to work imaginatively, to improvise and try unconventional approaches to problem solving, and then got out of their way. Ben Rich Lockheed Skunk Works CEO had admitted in his Deathbed Confession that Extraterrestrial UFO visitors are real and the U.S. Military travel among stars. Strong but small project offices must be provided both by the military and industry. The specifications applying to the hardware, including rationale for each point, must be agreed upon well in advance of contracting. In total, Johnson shepherded some forty military and civilian aircraft into production. The project was highly secret, very high priority, and time was of the essence., Inside the Skunk Works, we were a small, intensely cohesive group consisting of about fifty veteran engineers and designers and a hundred or so expert machinists and shop workers., I enjoyed the goodwill of my colleagues because most of us had worked together intimately under tremendous pressures for more than a quarter century. CLARENCE LEONARD (KELLY) JOHNSON February 27, 1910-December 21, 1990 BY BEN R. RICH B E QUICK, be quiet, be on time. Rudolf Steiner, One person is always too many around me. Below stretched hundreds of miles of California coastline in the early morning light. Clarence L. (Kelly) Johnson, creator of Lockheed's secret "Skunk Works" research and development division and legendary designer of aircraft, died . If you've got the gold, you make the rules. We develop laser weapon systems, radio frequency and other directed energy technologies for air, ground and sea platforms to provide an affordable countermeasure alternative. His work was instrumental in preventing a Soviet win during the Cold War. The result was an airliner better than Howard Hughes couldve asked for. This cuts down misunderstanding and correspondence to an absolute minimum. , . There must be a minimum number of reports required, but important work must be recorded thoroughly. A very simple drawing and drawing release system with great flexibility for making changes must be provided. The contractor must be delegated and must assume more than normal responsibility to get good vendor bids for subcontract on the project. Whilst at Lockheed, Johnson pioneered stealth technology, with some claiming he invented it. I didn`t see the craft, nor did I see the bodies, but I certainly know some of the people that did. With its premium plus plan, youll be able to browse flight deals going for up to 90% off in business, premium economy, and economy class. Kelly Johnson's Skunk Works responded with a design that they claimed could fly as high as 73,000 feet with a range of 1,600 miles, based on the Lockheed XF-104 Starfighter, a slender and supersonic intercept fighter.