Johnson also helped on the construction of several air bases during his time at the Skunk Works, most notably, the one atGroom Lake, Nevada, now known asArea 51. A future commander resented having only a four-man crew to boss around on a ship that was so secret that the Navy could not even admit it existed. 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. There are a number of lessons for technology entrepreneurs. We have lost something in the aerospace engineering world. Johnson is perhaps best known for his contributions to aircraft design. Kelly Johnson: The Man Behind Lockheed Skunk Works Kelly Johnson's 14 Rules and Practices. How did he achieve such amazing success? Lockheed CEO Ben Rich Declared On His Death Bed: Extraterrestrial UFO When I was working with the Skunkworks with Kelly Johnson, we signed an agreement with the government to keep very quiet about this. One of the main specifications for the aircraft was its height. I doubt it would be pretty, as i seems to go against almost every single one of his commandments and it definitely is not quick, quiet and quality.. Kelly Johnson's 14 Rules and Practices. These are the basic operations rules enunciated by founder Kelly Johnson in 1954, as cited in his successor Ben Rich's book: 4. , , , , . One of the guys boomed Kellys ranch in Santa Barbara as a joke that backfired because he knocked out Kellys picture window. We know what it is. The main tenants of his management are: efficiency; reliability and cost-effectiveness. When Johnson returned to the US, he began working on a jet to fit what the F-86 pilots wanted. I marvel more and more at what enterprising engineers were able to do with slide rules and drafting tables so long ago. 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. Documentary History War The history of Skunk Works, the top-secret division of Lockheed that specialised in extreme, highly classified military aircraft design. Following the success of the P-38, Lockheed tasked Kelly Johnson with working on a family of airliners that could replace the earlier Lockheed Model 18 Lodestars. There was hell to pay., Another weird thing was that after a flight the windshields often were pitted with tiny black dots, like burn specks. In 1940, the Society of American Engineers (now SAE) awarded Johnson theWright Brothers Medal. He asked only for hard work, good communication, and unwavering honesty. That's not a bad thing, its just going to take a while before we refocus. Well, if they were hostile, with their weaponry they could have destroyed us a long time ago. Within 26 months, the Skunk Works had developed hundreds of revolutionary components and a 95-percent . Due to Johnson designing the F-104 to be better than any other aircraft, many other countries were interested in the F-104. Although it was a commercial failure, it was a technological marvel. View the profiles of people named 'Kelly Johnson on Facebook. Lead by the legendary Clarence "Kelly" Johnson, a titan of the aircraft industry, Skunk Works produced such revolutionary planes as the U-2, SR-71 Blackbird and FB-117 Nighthawk. While in Lockheed's case the reason was the national security nature of the projects, in . He told this boy that his was not Clara and if he persisted, he do it again. He has received the Collier Trophy twice, for his works on the YF-12 (a variant of the SR-71) and the F-117 Nighthawk. The only true wisdom is in knowing you know nothing. One of our colleagues named our walled-in compound Fort Robertson because the guy and the place seemed perfectly mated, and the name stuck. What Is 'Skunking?' How This Company Uses A Radical Design - WayUp We had the specks lab tested, and they turned out to be organic materialinsects that had been injected into the stratosphere and were circling in orbit around the earth with dust and debris at seventy-five thousand feet in the jet stream. 95. The game changing F-117, which quickly gave the U.S. air superiority in the Gulf War, wouldn't have been possible without Ben Rich, the second director of Lockheed's secretive Skunk Works. Following his graduation from Flint Junior College, Johnson enrolled at the University of Michigan. Countless medals and honors followed, including Collier Trophies, the Medal of Freedom, National Medal of Science and National Security Medal. They are working on over 500 projects, from radar coatings to war . Father Of Stealth Ben Rich Found Success In The 'Hopeless Diamond' These became known simply as Kellys Rules, which were basically operating laws for Johnson and those working on his projects. Don't duplicate so much inspection. However, the 1960 U-2 incident highlighted to the USAF and CIA that the U-2 wasnt invincible and needed something to prevent that. The Korean War saw first generation F-86 Sabres and MiG-15s fighting one another. No reports longer than 20 pages or meetings with more than 15 people. One of these designs won him a prize of several hundred dollars. 1. Whilst at University, Johnson helped out on the wind tunnel testing of the Lockheed Model 10 Electra, Lockheeds answer to the Boeing 247. Hall Hibbard told the Lockheed management about Johnsons contributions. Secrets in the Sky: The Untold Story of Skunk Works - IMDb Skunk Works produced such revolutionary planes as the U-2, SR-71 Blackbird and FB-117 Nighthawk. The Air Tactical Service Command (ATSC) of the Army Air Force met with Lockheed Aircraft Corporation to express its need for . Learn how we are strengthening the economies, industries and communities of our global partner nations. Kelly Johnson: How one man changed aviation forever - Sandboxx Push more basic inspection responsibility back to subcontractors and vendors. Our Multi-Domain Operations/Joint All-Domain Operations solutions provide a complete picture of the battlespace and empowers warfighters to quickly make decisions that drive action. The Skunk Works manager must be delegated practically complete control of his program in all aspects. In 1970 Johnson was awarded theSpirit of St. LouisMedal by theAmerican Society of Mechanical Engineers. "The Ship that Never Was" from "Skunk Works" by Ben R. Rich Dont come with this it was UFO technology all this time. Strong but small project offices must be provided both by the military and industry. The Blackbird's technology though built in the 1960s is still leading edge in the twenty-first century. Johnson has been awarded the Theodore von Karman Award, twice, for his aircraft designs. Some Navy brass who saw her clenched their teeth in disgust at the sight of the most futuristic ship ever to ply the seas. Instead, Johnson was tasked with developing new military aircraft. . Skunk Works Projects: The Super Secret Approach To Innovation Business Cards View All Business Cards Compare Cards Corporate Card Programs For Startups For Large Companies Payment Solutions International Payments Employee Spending Vendor Payments Automated Payments View All Payment Solutions Business Class Business Class The young Kelly Johnson, a brilliant engineer, led a team of only 28 people into the top secret project. During World War II, he designed the speedyP-38 Lightning, which pummeled destroyers and intercepted enemy fighters and bombers from Berlin to Tokyo; late in the war his team developed Americas first operational jet fighter, the P-80, in less than six months. . You dont need Harvard to teach you that its more important to listen than to talk. Instead of giving the SR-71 weapons, Johnson designed the SR-71 to travel at Mach 3.32, making it the fastest aircraft ever. Strong but small project offices must be provided both by the military and industry. The article was written by Tom Keller, an aerospace engineer who has worked as a computer systems analyst for NASAs Jet Propulsion Laboratory. I shall use my time. Many of these designs later influenced Johnsons designs at Lockheed. Lockheed prevailed. 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. This certainly helped Johnsons career and reputation in the industry. Inside Skunk Works: The classified Lockheed division that designed The contractor must be delegated and must assume more than normal responsibility to get good vendor bids for subcontract on the project. As Tony LaVier, Lockheeds former chief test pilot and a frequent Kelly arm-wrestling opponent, said, it was Johnsons planes that kept us out of World War III.. He should report to a division president or higher. 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! Today, Lockheed Martin is still at the forefront of stealth technology, mostly due to Johnsons earlier work. He was one of seven children, as well as the child of an immigrant, finances were naturally quite tight. From that day on, the boy and his friends stopped calling him Clara, instead calling him Kelly after a popular song at the time. His work was instrumental in preventing a Soviet win during the Cold War. The picture was so clear you could see that guy reading a newspaper., I said, 'General, I believe in the well-known golden rule. International Aviation HQ. Clarence Leonard Kelly Johnson 19101990, National Academy of Sciences, accessed 8 September 2012. I, Skunk Works: A Personal Memoir of My Years at Lockheed, Skunk Works: A Personal Memoir of My Years of Lockheed. As such, the CIA contracted Lockheed to develop a new, undetectable spy plane. We knew each other from what we call an unseen industry. Skunk Works: A Personal Memoir of My Years of Lockheed Refresh and try again. Skunk Works: 14 rules to live and die by | Reda Sadki Shortly after Johnson implemented a first variant of its Skunk Works idea, an experimental shop where a small team of engineers, mechanics and business people was co-located to solve a problem . I'm going to press on. We made it almost across, when I looked out the left window and saw a French Mirage III sitting ten feet off my left wing. 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. Our forte was building technologically advanced airplanes of small number and of high class for highly secret missions., 2 : We already have the means to travel among the stars, but these technologies are locked up in black projects, and it would take an act of God to ever get them out to benefit humanity. But some complaints were for real. Designed to help the U.S. and allies leverage emerging technologies to create a resilient multi-domain network. Kelly Johnson's 14 Rules and Practices | Lockheed Martin Now, go home and pour yourself a drink. 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. McDonald said: Well Hal, you asked for it! Kelly Johnson's 14 Rules & Practices 1. They can and must test it in the initial stages. That's what a Congressman or a Senator is for to see that too much money don't accumulate in the national Treasury. 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). How The de Havilland Dove Became a British Aviation Icon. In total, Johnson shepherded some forty military and civilian aircraft into production. 5. 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. Skunkworks reckons its anniversary to the June day in 1943 that Clarence "Kelly" Johnson, then chief of engineering for Lockheed, signed a contract with the Army Air Corps to develop, within 180 days, a jet fighter. This airliner would go on to be one of Lockheeds most successful projects. It is worth noting that Kelly's version of the phrase had no comma and was written "keep it . Bullshit. Another of our pilots got in engine trouble over Utah and flamed out. Despite his volatile approach, Johnson earned unparalleled loyalty from his highly skilled team. In the pursuit of breakthrough designs, he tolerated errorswith the caveat that they were made just once. As such, they sent Johnson to South Korea to ask. He was the lead designer on several of Lockheed's greatest aircraft in the Cold War, as well as being the first leader of Lockheed's infamous Skunk Works division. Many of the specialized sub-divisions in the Skunk Works that Johnson set up during the 1960s and 1970s are still going strong. FOLLOW US ON FACEBOOK, TWITTER , OR SUBSCRIBE TO OUR BLOG SO YOU NEVER MISS NEWLY POSTED ARTICLES OR IMPORTANT ALERTS! Kelly Johnson's Skunk Work Rules | Secret Projects Forum Head Skunk | Air & Space Magazine| Smithsonian Magazine Due to the P-38s incredible speed and maneuverability, one of these P-38s shot down the aircraft carrying Isoroku Yamamoto, killing him. 2. Ben Rich, Lockheed Martin and UFOs - Gaia First, you have to understand that we will not get to the stars using chemical propulsion. Skunk Works: A Personal Memoir of My Years at Lockheed by Ben Rich and Leo Janos. Kelly Johnson: Architect of Air | Lockheed Martin By the end of it, Johnson and his team had designed the aircraft that would become the U-2. 10. That's all there is to it. Shortly after being hired by Lockheed six years earlier, Johnson had walked into his new bosss office, pointed to the companys promising new aircraft, the Electra, revealed a critical instability and then proceeded to correct the errors to the companys amazement. 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. Ursula K. Le Guin, She looked at him. He was the lead designer on several of Lockheeds greatest aircraft in the Cold War, as well as being the first leader of Lockheeds infamous Skunk Works division. IF YOU ENJOY THIS SITE PLEASE TELL OTHERS ABOUT USSHARING IS CARING. Its criminal to not have video proof of any deathbed confession at this point. 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. The Black Budget Anti-Gravity Craft You Are Not Supposed to Know About! Air Force New Fighter Jet: Who Built the Secret Plane? - Popular Mechanics Aircraft programs under Johnson were so cutting edge and historically influential, and his cult of personality and management strategy so effective, that he and Lockheeds Skunk Works (which he also founded) are forever enshrined in mankinds technological hall of fame. Steve Blank - The Lockheed Skunk Works, led by Kelly He should report to a division president or higher. Kelly Johnson left an impact on both Lockheed (now Lockheed Martin) and aircraft design. So Kelly approved my idea of painting the airplane black, and by the time our first prototype rolled out the airplane became known as the Blackbird. Access by outsiders to the project and its personnel must be strictly controlled by appropriate security measures. During the 1964 Presidential Election, Republican Barry Goldwater and Democrat Lyndon B. Johnson were having a televised debate. Despite this, Johnson spent a lot of his free time consulting on new Lockheed aircraft, until his death in 1990. We know that there were some captured craft from 1947 in Roswell, they were real. Now you can run this goddamn place. The late Ben Robert Rich was the second director of Lockheed Corp.'s top-secret research and development unit known as the "Skunk Works." Founder and . 3. The Skunk Works manager must be delegated practically complete control of their program in all aspects. Another opponent was Ed Martin, who thought that anyone who hadnt been building airplanes since the propeller-driven days wasnt worth talking to, much less listening to. 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). Kelly Johnson In Skunk Works Studio Cliffano We cannot evangelize until we have been evangelized. All rights reserved. 14. Kelly Johnson - Bio, Age, Net Worth, Married, Facts, Career, Wiki We encouraged our people to work imaginatively, to improvise and try unconventional approaches to problem solving, and then got out of their way. 4.7 out of 5 stars 455. Kelly Johnson, Design Pioneer of Lockheed Aircraft, Dies His professor told him it was negligible and chose to only report the positives to Lockheed. Commercial bid procedures are often better than military ones. 'Kelly Johnson Profiles - Facebook There is an error in the equations. In an e-mail, dated July 29, 1999, apparently addressed to Lindemann, McDonald referenced an excerpt of a discussion with Harold Puthoff, founder of the highly classified U.S. remote viewing program. The specifications applying to the hardware must be agreed to well in advance of contracting. Designed to help the U.S. and allies leverage emerging technologies to create a resilient multi-domain network. His work was instrumental in preventing a Soviet win during the Cold War. TIMES STAFF WRITER. CHECK OUT OUR EDITOR'S LIST OF MUST READ ARTICLES. | Privacy Policy Alya Kulikova is a Russian avgeek who loves nothing more than learning about new aircraft, and sharing that with her fellow avgeeks! All Rights Reserved. The Blackbird was designed by the genius of Lockheed Skunk Works, Kelly Johnston who would lead its development team for over four decades. Lockheed built the plane at Skunk Works headquarters in Burbank, California, in just eight months, then sent it for testing at Area 51, which Johnson nicknamed "Paradise Ranch." Unfortunately, I can't. 5 Best Aviation Games You Can Download Today! The specifications applying to the hardware, including rationale for each point, must be agreed upon well in advance of contracting. According to article published in May 2010 issue of the Mufon UFO Journal - Ben Rich, the Father of the Stealth Fighter-Bomber and former head of Lockheed Skunk Works,had once let out information about Extraterrestrial UFO Visitors Are Real And U.S. Military Travel To Stars "Kelly Johnson and the products of his famous Skunk Works epitomize the highest and finest goal of our society, the goal of excellence. Kelly Johnson and Lockheed Story - YouTube However, this wasnt easy, especially given the role and the other specifications the P-38 needed to have. Upon introduction, the F-104 was used in large quantities, to supplement the North American F-100 in USAF service. One of the purposes I had for founding my technology corporation in 1998 was to bring forth these technologies that can clean the air and can help get rid of the toxins, and help reduce the need for so much fossil fuel. All Rights Reserved. Directors Jeff Cvitkovic Rory Karpf Writer Rory Karpf Stars George Bush (archive footage) Beyond his moniker quick, quiet, and quality, he did this by operating by a code that was unique to himself and his subordinates: a living mental set of commandments of sorts that pulled from both his experience and his vision. After their first success, they applied the Skunk Works method again to create the world's first spy plane in 1954 that could take crystal clear pictures at 70,000 feet. The team (and its leader) must earn this trust. 13. In 1964, Johnson was awarded 6 awards, and five in 1965. Dec. 22, 1990 12 AM PT. February 27, 1910-December 21, 1990. When Kelly rolled up his sleeves, he became unstoppable, and the nay-sayers and doubters were simply ignored or bowled over. 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. And, yes, we really did put it to work. He has tied the knot with Althea Louise Young in 1937. Although initially hesitant, the USAF grew to rely on the U-2, eventually becoming an almost indestructible tool. Ben Rich, Lockheed Martin and UFOs - Era of Light I do not know but the Major Pharmaceutical companies would lose a lot of money if there was a cure. Although slight variations exist, they go something like this: 1. Has the story of Kelly Johnson inspired you? 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. Too few to do anyones career much good in terms of power or prestige. I had no idea what he was talking about, so I told him to stand by. , Skunk Works, , . I was catching up on the KC-46 Pegasus program when I read this story and this story, among others. I pushed out to Mach 3.3., Over the years we had developed the concept of using existing hardware developed and paid for by other programs to save time and money and reduce the risks of failures in prototype projects., My years inside the Skunk Works, for example, convinced me of the tremendous value of building prototypes. Rule Number 2. Error rating book. His three principles: First, it's more important to. Barack Obama All Rights Reserved. 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. 2. The result was an airliner better than Howard Hughes couldve asked for. See the complete letter in May, 2010 MUFON UFO Journal from John Andrews and the hand written reply from Dr. Ben Rich. 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.