kelly johnson skunk works quotes kelly johnson skunk works quotes

Lockheed tasked Johnson with creating the perfect fighter-bomber that would decimate the German and Japanese forces. That was the credo of Clarence L. (Kelly) Johnson, the aeronautical innovator who founded Lockheed's supersecret "Skunk Works" where he designed the world's fastest and highest-flying aircraftthe SR-71 Blackbird. Whilst this works out at just over one a year for his entire career, naturally, some years were better than others. "The Skunk Works manager must be delegated practically complete control of his program in all aspects. Whilst at University, Johnson helped out on the wind tunnel testing of the Lockheed Model 10 Electra, Lockheeds answer to the Boeing 247. Rule Number 1. Thats all there is to it. More than my share of it all. He should report to a division president or higher. I can tell you personally that weve been working on them. If it looks ugly, it will fly the same. We couldnt figure out what in hell it was. We encouraged our people to work imaginatively, to improvise and try unconventional approaches to problem solving, and then got out of their way. The provisions of the Secrecy agreements these people must operate under may be so onerous that using the cancer cure device may have posed a threat to the secret getting out. 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! Children still haven't closed themselves off with fear of the unknown, fear of revolution, or the scramble for security. Many of the specialized sub-divisions in the Skunk Works that Johnson set up during the 1960s and 1970s are still going strong. CLARENCE LEONARD (KELLY) JOHNSON February 27, 1910-December 21, 1990 BY BEN R. RICH B E QUICK, be quiet, be on time. Johnsons work awarded him almost every major aviation award possible. 14. The beauty of a prototype is that it can be evaluated and its uses clarified before costly investments for large numbers are made., Overnight, however, he apparently had second thoughts, or did some textbook reading on his own, and at the next meeting he turned to me as the first order of business. How did he achieve such amazing success? Above, Kelly Johnson, who founded and run Skunk Works for decades, stands beside the F-104 Starfighter in a photo taken in 1958 Kelly Johnson was the larger-than-life figure that founded and ran . Our security people nabbed him just outside the plant and had him signing national security secrecy forms until he pleaded writers cramp., freedom to take risksand faildefine the heart of a Skunk Works operation., He told me later that he was surprised to learn that with flat surfaces the amount of radar energy returning to the sender is independent of the targets size. The contractor must be delegated the authority to test his final product in flight. Kelly Johnson's 14 Rules & Practices 1. February 27, 1910-December 21, 1990. 10. This also enabled the Constellation to fly higher, and therefore faster than most contemporary aircraft. Lockheed Martin's Advanced Development Projects (ADP), known officially as Skunk Works, was a secret aeronautical research facility in Burbank, California. Theirs is the official Lockheed Skunk Works story: . I didn`t see the craft, nor did I see the bodies, but I certainly know some of the people that did. These became known simply as Kellys Rules, which were basically operating laws for Johnson and those working on his projects. That's all there is to it. 2. The attack on Pearl Habour by the Japanese in 1941 took the US by surprise. 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. Although slight variations exist, they go something like this: Kelly's Rules 1. The final thing you need to know is don't half-heartedly wound problems - kill them dead. BY BEN R. RICH. Many of these people subsequently became executives at Lockheed Martin. Due to the P-38s incredible speed and maneuverability, one of these P-38s shot down the aircraft carrying Isoroku Yamamoto, killing him. 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. This airliner would go on to be one of Lockheeds most successful projects. 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." The Skunk Works manager must be delegated practically complete control of their program in all aspects. Funding a program must be timely so that the contractor doesnt have to keep running to the bank to support government projects. ""Well, I don't think any of the boyos have figured it out, but all of the coven knows. Another of our pilots got in engine trouble over Utah and flamed out. The Skunk Works manager must be delegated practically complete control of his program in all aspects. Enjoy reading and share 15 famous quotes about Kelly Johnson Skunkworks with everyone. 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 What he said might be new to many people today, but he revealed the information before his death in January 1995. Lockheed tasked Kelly Johnson with designing an aircraft that fit the specifications laid out by the US military. 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. 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. 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. After Ben completed the program and returned to Skunk Works, Kelly asked him for his appraisal of the Harvard Business School. Kelly: More Than My Share of It All by Clarence L. Johnson 605 ratings, 4.20 average rating, 56 reviews Open Preview Kelly Quotes Showing 1-26 of 26 "Listen; you'll never learn anything by talking. Although slight variations exist, they go something like this: 1. Upon introduction, the F-104 was used in large quantities, to supplement the North American F-100 in USAF service. He is an AIAA Fellow and recipient of the AIAA Aircraft Design Award, the SAE Clarence L. Kelly Johnson Aerospace Vehicle Design and Development Award, The Engineers Council Clarence L. Kelly Johnson Skunk Works Award, and the Lockheed Martin Aero Star Award. The Skunk Works practice of having a specification section stating clearly which important military specification items will not knowingly be complied with and reasons therefore is highly recommended. Here, the SR-71, F-117 and U-2 were all tested by the US military. Kelly Johnson was always fanatical about security. The contractor must be delegated and must assume more than normal responsibility to get good vendor bids for subcontract on the project. 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. The specifications applying to the hardware, including rationale for each point, must be agreed upon well in advance of contracting. 6. 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. How does ESP work? The questioner responded with, All points in time and space are connected? Rich then said, Thats how it works!, Ben Rich Lockheed Former CEO knew of extraterrestrial UFO visitors. The venerable U-2 'Dragon Lady' is a spy plane born from Cold War necessity that soldiered on. We need a bill that strengthens our borders and protects this nation, but that also makes it simpler for good people to become Americans. Clarence Kelly Johnson is the Babe Ruth of aerospace design. As a child, he was bullied due to his name being Clarence. Even his few dead-ends and failures had key technologies that would lead to wins or lessons learned down the road. Following Eisenhower becoming president, he chose two Lockheed Constellations to enter service as the first ever Air Force One. 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. These include: Kelly Johnson had spent his entire career working for Lockheed. 12. In the video, Speed Racer launches from a Beech 1900, a civilian aircraft the U.S. Air Force, Army, Navy, and Marine Corps fly as the C-12 Huron. Johnson worked on almost all of Lockheeds jet aircraft between the 1950s and 1970s. He worked on almost all of Lockheeds projects in this time, either as an engineer, consultant or was the lead engineer. No reports longer than 20 pages or meetings with more than 15 people. Access by outsiders to the project and its personnel must be strictly controlled by appropriate security measures. The ADP offices stank of plastic- due to the nearby plastic factory. Ben Rich may very well have asked for the device to cure him but They refused his request. In 1995, Lockheed merged with Martin Marietta to form Lockheed Martin, the present incarnation of the company. There is an error in the equations. Push more basic inspection responsibility back to subcontractors and vendors. 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. The ocean waves showed up on radar like a string of tracer bullets. And then, in August 1962, they hit pay dirt and came up with the pictures that showed the Russians were planting ballistic missiles right next door, SS-4s and SS-5s. We develop laser weapon systems, radio frequency and other directed energy technologies for air, ground and sea platforms to provide an affordable countermeasure alternative. Now that legendary Lockheed engineer and chief model kit designer for the Testor Corporation, John Andrews, is dead, I can announce that he personally confirmed the design connection between the Roswell Spacecraft and the Lockheed Martin Unmanned Combat Air Vehicles (UCAVs), spyplanes, Joint Strike Fighters, and Space Shuttles. "May the Darkness have mercy on me. Her lips curved in a wicked smile. It was a rare win. 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. Strong but small project offices must be provided both by the military and industry. Johnson found that most F-86 pilots believed that the MiG-15 was superior. Ben Rich and "Kelly" Johnson set the origin as June 1943 in Burbank, California; they relate essentially the same chronology in their autobiographies. No, it wont take someones lifetime to do it. Any workernot just a supervisor or a managercould send back a part that didnt meet his or her standards. 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. Taking action to help you protect what matters most. An historical documentary about Kelly Johnson and Skunk Works, a division of Lockheed and the makers of many American iconic aircraft, such as the SR-71 Blackbird, U-2 Dragonlady, F-104. 6. The majority of the F-86 pilots wanted an aircraft that was much simpler, smaller and was faster than contemporary Soviet jets. 1. Ill teach you all you need to know about running a company in one afternoon, and well both go home early to boot. He can and must test it in the initial stages. Now, go on home and pour yourself a drink., Everything about this project was dark alley, cloak and dagger. 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.. His work was instrumental in preventing a Soviet win during the Cold War. There are a number of lessons for technology entrepreneurs. 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. AND BE SURE TO JOIN OUR FORUM TOO! The young Kelly Johnson, a brilliant engineer, led a team of only 28 people into the top secret project. Both Imperial Japanese Navy and Luftwaffe pilots were afraid of this aircraft due to its incredible speed. The 14 Rules of Skunk Works according to Lockheed Martin 1. 8. Kelly Johnson left an impact on both Lockheed (now Lockheed Martin) and aircraft design. If they dont, they rapidly lose their competency to design other vehicles. 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. And, yes, we really did put it to work. Lockheed elected not to enter the jet airliner market following the introduction of the first jet airliners. . It is worth noting that Kelly's version of the phrase had no comma and was written "keep it . 'Secret Base' Being Built for 'Man-Eating Aliens' Revealed by US Official Records, The Brooklyn Bridge UFO - The Weirdest Story You'll Ever Hear, Two Suns Theory, Kali Yuga Cycle Completes 2025, Lockheed CEO Ben Rich Declared On His Death Bed: Extraterrestrial UFO Are Real. The Skunk Works manager must be delegated practically complete control of their program in all aspects. I often wonder what Kelly Johnson would think of Americas aerospace industry today, when we have airframe design and aeronautical performance have arguably devolved, but avionics and sensors are more advanced than ever. However, the US military was pressured into the sale by the CIA who preferred the aircraft for their own missions. When Kelly rolled up his sleeves, he became unstoppable, and the nay-sayers and doubters were simply ignored or bowled over. Whilst at Lockheed, Johnson pioneered stealth technology, with some claiming he invented it. What Was Barnstorming? It was built under complete secrecy at the Lockheed Skunk Works plant in Burbank California, and . Kelly Johnson was born on February 27 1910 in Ishpeming, Michigan, a remote mining town. During one of the wind tunnel tests, Johnson discovered a flaw with the Electras directional stability. The book Skunk Works: A Personal Memoir of My Years at Lockheed by Ben Rich and Leo Janos (1996, Little Brown & Company) covers their historic achievements in great detail. Tell me in the comments! This was because the F-86 was more complex and larger than the MiG-15, which made it harder to operate during dogfights. The Black Budget Anti-Gravity Craft You Are Not Supposed to Know About! 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 . In total, Johnson was awarded a whopping 52 awards! 5. There must be a monthly cost review covering not only what has been spent and committed but also projected costs to the conclusion of the program. Lord of the Skunk Works,, Oliver, Myrna. Lockheed's Skunk Works may be one of the earliest models for sustaining innovation inside an organization - never mind the nefarious mission of making flying machines to kill people. Although initially hesitant, the USAF grew to rely on the U-2, eventually becoming an almost indestructible tool. Friedrich Nietzsche, I'd like to say this was our worst game. There must be a minimum number of reports required, but important work must be recorded thoroughly. Lindemann added that Bill McDonald received the above information from Andrews from 1994 until their last phone call near Christmas in 1998. Lindemann also noted It should also be known that Dr. Ben R. Rich attended a public aerospace designers and engineers conference in 1993 before his illness overwhelmed him in which he stated in the presence of MUFON Orange County Section Director Jan Harzan and many others that We (i.e., the U.S. aerospace community/military industrial complex) had in its possession the technology to take us to the stars. Strong but small project offices must be provided both by the military and industry. This still involved illegally . Within 26 months, the Skunk Works had developed hundreds of revolutionary components and a 95-percent . 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. During this time, almost by accident, one of the Skunk Works mathematicians finds a copy of a Soviet . 13. In the end, Lockheeds Skunk Works demonstrated the awesome capabilities of American inventiveness when free to operate under near ideal working conditions. Designed to help the U.S. and allies leverage emerging technologies to create a resilient multi-domain network. When Johnson returned to the US, he began working on a jet to fit what the F-86 pilots wanted. On the black paint, he said, you were right about the advantages and I was wrong. He handed me a quarter. The Skunk Works manager must be delegated practically complete control of his program in all aspects. Lockheed contracted Johnson, then head of Lockheed Skunk Works, to develop the U-2s replacement. Lockheed prevailed. This taught Johnson to be hard working as well as to conserve cash- both things that would serve him well at Lockheed. The carrier task force people didnt like the stealth ship because it reminded everyone how vulnerable their hulking ships really were., One of the biggest problems we had to overcome was our own extreme invisibility! 3. Kelly also had a unofficial 15th, 16th, and 17th rules, which he is known to have stated repeatedly to his subordinates: 16. Strong but small project offices must be provided both by the military and industry. We became the most successful advanced projects company in the world by hiring talented people, paying them top dollar, and motivating them into believing that they could produce a Mach 3 airplane like the Blackbird a generation or two ahead of anybody else., Clarence Kelly Johnson was an authentic American genius. They are still familiar with the inborn vocabulary of myth Madeleine L'Engle, I wonder why people wanted someone very badly, I wonder why someone comes in your life and life begins to change, every good happens to you, and you just want that person to never go from your life, remain there for you" CHECK OUT OUR EDITOR'S LIST OF MUST READ ARTICLES. Regarded as the father of stealth,[1] Ben Rich was responsible for leading the development of the F-117, the first production stealth aircraft. 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.. Call it whatever you want., We completed our pass over Beirut and turned toward Malta, when I got a warning low-oil-pressure light on my right engine. Here, Johnson became the lead engineer on several of Skunk Works most successful and futuristic projects. In 1964, Johnson was awarded 6 awards, and five in 1965. IT WASNT. He told this boy that his was not Clara and if he persisted, he do it again.