Secrets of the Skunk Works

[Star One]

Just a heads up for the current issue of Air & Space magazine all sorts of interesting bits and pieces apparently, and yes some is space related from the summaries I've read

http://www.airspacemag.com/military-aviation/secrets-skunk-works-180952122/

It really does show you what a genius Kelly Johnson was.

[Nomadd]

 I'd definitely suggest reading Ben Rich's Skunk Works if you'd like a real inside view.

[Star One]

Thanks. I've ordered this issue so I'll fill in more later when I receive it. Apparently there's a design in there for a Mach 25 spaceplane which sounds interesting.

[RanulfC]

Thanks. I've ordered this issue so I'll fill in more later when I receive it. Apparently there's a design in there for a Mach 25 spaceplane which sounds interesting.

Probably a nit but doesn't ANY spaceplane have to be capable of Mach-25 to BE a spaceplane?

Randy

[kevin-rf]

When did the X-15 fly Mach 25?

[Star One]

When did the X-15 fly Mach 25?

Who said anything about the X-15?

[kevin-rf]

Are you saying it wasn't a "space plane"?

[Star One]

Are you saying it wasn't a "space plane"?

It is by why are you assuming it's the X-15, these are projects that weren't built not ones that were.

[jacqmans]

If you want to read a good book about Skunk Works, I can recommend this book:


Skunk Works: A Personal Memoir of My Years at Lockheed Paperback – February 1, 1996
by Ben R. Rich   (Author),   Leo Janos   (Author)
Paperback: 372 pages
Publisher: Back Bay Books; 1st edition (February 1, 1996)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 0316743003
ISBN-13: 978-0316743006

[theebag]

If you want to read a good book about Skunk Works, I can recommend this book:


Skunk Works: A Personal Memoir of My Years at Lockheed Paperback – February 1, 1996
by Ben R. Rich   (Author),   Leo Janos   (Author)
Paperback: 372 pages
Publisher: Back Bay Books; 1st edition (February 1, 1996)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 0316743003
ISBN-13: 978-0316743006

Yup, fantastic insights into the corperate culture, the A-12/SR-72, Have Blue and the F-117. Highly recommended !

[catdlr]

bump for the SR71 and A-12 video from Scott Manely,

Faster, Higher And More Secret Than The SR-71 Blackbird - The A-12 Oxcart


Scott Manley
Published on Apr 4, 2019

At Palmdale Airport they have a display of a SR-71 and an A-12 next to each other, as well as a D-21 Drone and a U-2. This is the only place I know that has both aircraft next to each other, making the small differences much more obvious. The A-12 predates the SR-71 and wasn't made public until 1981, long after it stopped flying.

* Actual speeds and flight ceiling are classified, so, maybe the SR-71 can go higher and faster but they can't tell us.

[Jim]

Scott Manley
Published on Apr 4, 2019

At Palmdale Airport they have a display of a SR-71 and an A-12 next to each other, as well as a D-21 Drone and a U-2. This is the only place I know that has both aircraft next to each other, making the small differences much more obvious. The A-12 predates the SR-71 and wasn't made public until 1981, long after it stopped flying.

* Actual speeds and flight ceiling are classified, so, maybe the SR-71 can go higher and faster but they can't tell us.

A-12 outperformed the SR-71

[HDTVGuy]

I found a free E-book of Ben Rich's book on the web a couple of week ago.   Sorry, don't recall exactly where. 

[punder]

A-12 outperformed the SR-71

Prettier too.

[Vahe231991]

Thanks. I've ordered this issue so I'll fill in more later when I receive it. Apparently there's a design in there for a Mach 25 spaceplane which sounds interesting.

The Mach 25 spaceplane designs from Lockheed mentioned in the Air and Space magazine article about the Lockheed Skunk Works were envisaged to response to the USAF's Aerospaceplane program for a single-stage-to-orbit spaceplane, and the CL-510 company designation was applied to the Lockheed Aerospace design studies. Info about the Lockheed CL-510 can be found in one of the articles in Aerospace Projects Review:
https://www.aerospaceprojectsreview.com/ev2n5.htm

[Harry Cover]

A-12 outperformed the SR-71

Prettier too.

Smaller, sleeker, faster (sounds like that Daft Punk old hit - faster better stronger).