kelly johnson skunk works quotes

Following his graduation in 1933, Johnson was offered and subsequently took a job at Lockheed. It is worth noting that Kelly's version of the phrase had no comma and was written "keep it . 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. He called the Hopeless Diamond Richs Folly. Some said that Eds bark was worse than his bite, but those were guys who didnt know him., That primitive Skunk Works operation set the standards for what followed. 9. The Black Budget Anti-Gravity Craft You Are Not Supposed to Know About! Paperback. 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. Due to the P-38s incredible speed and maneuverability, one of these P-38s shot down the aircraft carrying Isoroku Yamamoto, killing him. He founded the legendary 'Skunk Works' department for Lockheed that designed under his command innovative and revolutionary aircraft like the U-2, F-104, SR-71 (photo . Many of these sub-divisions are working on Lockheed Martins next generation fighters! Funding a program must be timely so that the contractor doesnt have to keep running to the bank to support government projects. On December 22, 1990 Kelly Johnson, the founder of Skunk Works died at the age of 80. First, you have to understand that we will not get to the stars using chemical propulsion. 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. Bullshit. 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. I marvel more and more at what enterprising engineers were able to do with slide rules and drafting tables so long ago. The Constellation was the first aircraft with pressurization, which made the cabin much quieter. We have invested in developing and demonstrating hypersonic technology for over 30 years. Sorry, your blog cannot share posts by email. Personal life Moving to their anticntic and private life he married three times. Now you can run this goddam place. John Michael Talbot I can tell you personally that weve been working on them. Instead of giving the SR-71 weapons, Johnson designed the SR-71 to travel at Mach 3.32, making it the fastest aircraft ever. Clarence "Kelly" Johnson When a young engineer named Kelly Johnson came to Lockheed in 1933, one of the first things he told his new employers was that their new airplane design, the Electra, was inherently unstable. That includes both domestic and international flights. All Rights Reserved. These include: Kelly Johnson had spent his entire career working for Lockheed. Clare Boothe Luce, The history of our spiritual life is a continuing search for the unity between ourselves and the world. Johnson designed the F-104 to be both faster and simpler than the previous generation of jet fighters. Although slight variations exist, they go something like this: Kelly's Rules 1. 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. This also enabled the Constellation to fly higher, and therefore faster than most contemporary aircraft. To overcome these defenses, Lockheed engineer Kelly Johnson proposed a glide-liker spy plane that would simply fly too high to be intercepted at over 70,000 feet. 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. Johnson could have absconded with the dough and taken off on a one-way ticket to Tahiti. Enjoy reading and share 15 famous quotes about Kelly Johnson Skunkworks with everyone. He worked on almost all of Lockheeds projects in this time, either as an engineer, consultant or was the lead engineer. '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. Print length 224 pages Language English Many of these people subsequently became executives at Lockheed Martin. "Kelly Johnson and the products of his famous Skunk Works epitomize the highest and finest goal of our society, the goal of excellence. 2. . That way we reduced rework and scrap waste. 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. In 1995, Lockheed merged with Martin Marietta to form Lockheed Martin, the present incarnation of the company. February 27, 1910-December 21, 1990. 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. There are 2 types of UFOs the ones we build and ones they build. We made every shop worker who designed or handled a part responsible for quality control. 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. NASA can not deny secrets discovered by UK hacker Gary McKinnon and many astronauts if it expects full funding from the Obama White House administration. Designed to help the U.S. and allies leverage emerging technologies to create a resilient multi-domain network. Too few to do anyones career much good in terms of power or prestige. 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. 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. It was a throwback to a time when airplanes were created by small teams who all broke for lunch together. 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. This aircraft also flew higher than any other jet before it. He banked the funds through a phony company called C & J Engineering, the C & J standing for Clarence Johnson. Harvey Fierstein There's biology in everything, even when you're feeling spiritual. This airliner would go on to be one of Lockheeds most successful projects. 5. 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. The attack on Pearl Habour by the Japanese in 1941 took the US by surprise. Strong but small project offices must be provided both by the military and industry. , : , . 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. 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 Air Force rejected his design but it caught the attention of America's secretive spy agency, the CIA. More than my share of it all. 2. He can and must test it in the initial stages. 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. It is worth noting that Kelly's version of the phrase had no comma and was written "keep it . A small airplane, a bomber, an aircraft carrier, all with the same shape, will have identical radar cross sections., Frankly, I don't think you could have driven a needle up my sphincter using a sledgehammer., Viewed from head-on the ship looked like Darth Vaders helmet. "He closed his eyes and promised himself that he would not whimper. During the 1964 Presidential Election, Republican Barry Goldwater and Democrat Lyndon B. Johnson were having a televised debate. Now, go home and pour yourself a drink. The history of Skunk Works, the top-secret division of Lockheed that specialised in extreme, highly classified military aircraft design. Due to this, the Model 10 was a major success. Almost all major US aircraft manufacturers submitted designs to the US military. Barred from identifying the facility officially, insiders referred to the workplace as the "Skonk Works"after the fabled Kickapoo Joy Juice . 5 Best Aviation Games You Can Download Today! Helen Fisher Today, these are commonplace on almost all airliners, including those designed by both Airbus and Boeing. He has tied the knot with Althea Louise Young in 1937. 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. 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. 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. He received a Bachelors degree in Aeronautical Engineering and later a Masters degree in Aeronautical Engineering. The Korean War saw first generation F-86 Sabres and MiG-15s fighting one another. Robertson hated having anyone look over his shoulder at his drawing and reacted by grabbing a culprits tie and cutting it off with scissors. You could argue, that without Kelly Johnson, there might not have been stealth aircraft, and if there were, at least not to the level available today. Due to Johnson designing the F-104 to be better than any other aircraft, many other countries were interested in the F-104. 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. Johnson hand-picked a small team to attack the problem and delivered the XP-80 in only 143 days. WE ENCOURAGE YOU TO REGISTER, LET'S BUILD A GREAT COMMUNITY TOGETHER 2023 Lockheed Martin Corporation. Kelly Johnson left an impact on both Lockheed (now Lockheed Martin) and aircraft design. And the first time Dr. Scott paid us a visit and saw the three tanks of liquid hydrogen holding hundreds of gallons under storage, his knees began to shake. Below stretched hundreds of miles of California coastline in the early morning light. 6. 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. , , , . In their wisdom, Lockheed officials said they had complete faith in Clarence Kelly Johnson. Anything you can imagine, we already know how to do., 3 : We now have the technology to take ET home. 3. But it was Hall Hibbard, Kellys boss, who summed up his abilities best. All Rights Reserved. And, yes, we really did get some technology from them. Kelly Johnson, the legendary founder of the Skunk Works, sought to recruit only the best person in each specialty the project required (Disney tried to do the same). 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. , , , , . The Blackbird was designed by the genius of Lockheed Skunk Works, Kelly Johnston who would lead its development team for over four decades. If it looks ugly, it will fly the same. Lockheed prevailed. Lockheed tasked Kelly Johnson with designing an aircraft that fit the specifications laid out by the US military. This was because the F-86 was more complex and larger than the MiG-15, which made it harder to operate during dogfights. 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. Why did Ben Rich die of cancer if they had a device that could cure it? The contractor must be delegated and must assume more than normal responsibility to get good vendor bids for subcontract on the project. As recounted by Ben Rich, the operation's brilliant boss for nearly two decades . Has the story of Kelly Johnson inspired you? . Johnsons work on the Constellation was stored for several years, until Lockheed decided to develop the L-1011 TriStar. Two minutes later, we were crossing the Channel.. Strong but small project offices . 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. During the Apollo landing, Neil Armstrong says, Theyre here.They are right over there and looking at the size of those ships., it is obvious they dont like us being here. The Blackbird had as much gliding capacity as a manhole cover, and it came barreling in over Salt Lake, just as our pilot got a restart and hit those afterburners right above the Mormon Tabernacle. 2. 3. This aircraft later became one of the best aircraft of WWII, flying the longest sortie in the entire war. 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. Even the way they financed the operation was highly unconventional: using secret contingency funds, they back-doored payment to Lockheed by writing personal checks to Kelly for more than a million bucks as start-up costs. Customers who viewed this item also viewed 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. Although it was a commercial failure, it was a technological marvel. The term "skunk works" comes from a tiny Lockheed Martin facility run by chief engineer Kelly Johnson in the 1940s, which started in a tent next to a malodorous manufacturing plant. He asked only for hard work, good communication, and unwavering honesty. Although, he contributed the most to: During the 1930s, Lockheed, as with most other aircraft manufacturers, strived to make faster and more agile aircraft. Designed to help the U.S. and allies leverage emerging technologies to create a resilient multi-domain network. On the black paint, he said, you were right about the advantages and I was wrong. He handed me a quarter. Theirs is the official Lockheed Skunk Works story: . 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. 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. 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. Skunk Works Quotes Showing 1-27 of 27 "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." These were based on Johnsons personal work ethics and experiences. Yes, it is time. To this day, Kelly Johnsons resume of accomplishments reads like a list of the most iconic airplanes in aviation history. Using what Johnson had pioneered on the P-38, especially speed, Johnson led a group of engineers, including the famous Hall Hibbard and Willis Hawkins. Here, the SR-71, F-117 and U-2 were all tested by the US military. Then she looked at the table stacked with books. | About Us 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! Within 26 months, the Skunk Works had developed hundreds of revolutionary components and a 95-percent . But some complaints were for real. A moment later we were directly over central California, with the Blackbirds continual sonic boom serving as an early wake-up call to the millions sleeping below on this special day. 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. Even his few dead-ends and failures had key technologies that would lead to wins or lessons learned down the road. And, yes, we really did put it to work. Help me out here. Taking action to help you protect what matters most. His work was instrumental in preventing a Soviet win during the Cold War. During one of the wind tunnel tests, Johnson discovered a flaw with the Electras directional stability. Kelly Johnson and Lockheed Story The Film Gate 72.1K subscribers Subscribe 3.4K Share Save 259K views 3 years ago #stockfootage #lockheed #history https://www.thefilmgate.com/. Anything you can imagine, we already know how to do.. We may earn a commission from links on this page. 1. However, the 1960 U-2 incident highlighted to the USAF and CIA that the U-2 wasnt invincible and needed something to prevent that. 11. I just gave it to him. What he had given him was the bird with his middle finger. The final thing you need to know is don't half-heartedly wound problems - kill them dead. A lot of Lockheed Martins company slang has its origins with Johnson, or are about his impeccable skills. You cannot mandate it. 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.. In total, Johnson was awarded a whopping 52 awards! The number of people having any connection with the project must be restricted in an almost vicious manner. 10. We created a practical and open work environment for engineers and shop workers, forcing the guys behind the drawing boards onto the shop floor to see how their ideas were being translated into actual parts and to make any necessary changes on the spot. 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. The majority of the F-86 pilots wanted an aircraft that was much simpler, smaller and was faster than contemporary Soviet jets. Many of the specialized sub-divisions in the Skunk Works that Johnson set up during the 1960s and 1970s are still going strong. The specifications applying to the hardware must be agreed to well in advance of contracting. 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. KISSKeep It Simple, Stupid. He was so powerful that simply by going along on his plans and schemes, the rest of us helped to produce miracles too. . International Aviation HQ. The knowledge I have of these technologies came from the craft that were captured here. We have lost something in the aerospace engineering world. CLARENCE LEONARD (KELLY) JOHNSON. I shall not waste my days in trying to prolong them. He should report to a division president or higher. He did this in the hopes of earning a little money as well as a job after university. Thats all there is to it. 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). Whilst at University, Johnson helped out on the wind tunnel testing of the Lockheed Model 10 Electra, Lockheeds answer to the Boeing 247. CLARENCE LEONARD (KELLY) JOHNSON February 27, 1910-December 21, 1990 BY BEN R. RICH B E QUICK, be quiet, be on time. Learn how we are strengthening the economies, industries and communities of our global partner nations. The Skunk Works manager must be delegated practically complete control of their program in all aspects. 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. That's all there is to it. He should report to a division president or higher. A very simple drawing and drawing release system with great flexibility for making changes must be provided. Dr. Ben R. Rich former Lockheed Skunk Works CEO confirmed: 1. Dont try to diminish the accomplishment of these people. , . They can and must test it in the initial stages. Kelly also had a unofficial 15th, 16th, and 17th rules, which he is known to have stated repeatedly to his subordinates: 16. We learned from both crash retrievals and actual hand-me-downs. The Government knew and until 1969 took an active hand in the administration of that information. Taking action to help you protect what matters most. 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! View the profiles of people named 'Kelly Johnson on Facebook. AND BE SURE TO JOIN OUR FORUM TOO! His parents were Swedish immigrants from Malmo. The Reptilian Alien Race: Living Among Humans For Centuries. 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. He was one of seven children, as well as the child of an immigrant, finances were naturally quite tight. Johnson delivered an aircraft that could travel faster than 400 km/h, with a superior range. Kelly: More Than My Share of It All. Clarence L. (Kelly) Johnson, creator of Lockheed's secret "Skunk Works" research and development division and legendary designer of aircraft, died . As a child, he was bullied due to his name being Clarence. Privacy Terms of Use EU and UK Data Protection Notice Cookies. Since his death, Johnson has frequently been called one of the most influential aviators of the 20th century. Kelly Johnson's 14 Rules & Practices 1. Thanks to the fame and fortune he has earned from his work. Hall Hibbard told the Lockheed management about Johnsons contributions. He also worked on the F-104, U-2, SR-71, A-12, and F-22 among others, many of which are still classified. 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. Imperious, passionate, and demanding, Johnson was just as likely to deliver a kick to someones pants as a compliment to his face. The specifications applying to the hardware, including rationale for each point, must be agreed upon well in advance of contracting. In the summer of 1938, a twenty-eight-year-old farm boy from the Upper Peninsula of Michigan found himself holed up in a London hotel room. 14. Between 1933 and 1975, Johnson worked on most of Lockheeds aircraft. The article was written by Tom Keller, an aerospace engineer who has worked as a computer systems analyst for NASAs Jet Propulsion Laboratory. Jack London The future rewards those who press on. Other boys used to gang up on him and call him Clara. Unfortunately, I can't. His father, ran a construction company and his mother was a homemaker. Kelly johnson, the founder of the lockheed skunk works, established fourteen basic operating principles to govern his talented personnel and top secret projects. While in Lockheed's case the reason was the national security nature of the projects, in . Due to Johnsons previous experiences pushing how high an aircraft could fly, Johnson worked extensively on pushing the aircrafts service ceiling.

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