Customer Reviews

Lockheed Martin's Skunk Works: The Official History

5 star:		(3)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

I highly recommend you buy this book if you like a little bit of history and the future mixed together. This book tells about the XP-80 to the F-22 Raptor. It also tells a little bit about the future of stealth. From the very beginning of SKUNK WORKS and how it was founded to what SKUNK WORKS is doing today. Every chapter is dedicated to one of SKUNK WORKS planes. It has unlimited information on each plane in each chapter and has excellent pictures. Every thing that you would want to know on the SR-71 or the F-22 or any other plane that SKUNK WORKS has made is in this book. I highly recommend you buy this book.

The book had an excellent photographic review of Lockheed's history. The text was poor. There were several misspelled words and paragraphs that were hard to read. It could have used a better editor. Ben Rich's book is more entertaining and easier to read.

Truly an amazing story! Skunk Works has built the most advanced planes ever, in total secrecy.

From the U-2 thru the SR-71 and the F-117 up to the F-22, this book details the trials and tribulations of a small, focused division of a huge aerospace conglomerate. Fascinating insight into the shooting down of Gary Powers over the USSR, frank discussion of decision making in the U.S. Military, not-so-subtle snipes at the traditionalists in the U.S. Navy, behind the scenes wrangling, and the low down on the F-117 Stealth fighter.

I got this book as a gift when Lockheed and Martin merged, it's a shame that the entire company can't be as effective as this one small division.

By probably the best aviation writer in America (in a tie with Walter Boyne perhaps), everything you need to know about one of the U.S.A national treasures. A fine example of what fine engineers can achieve when not hobbled by myopic accountants/lawyers/politicians and managers who place a higher priority on office resources triva than on completing the real tasks and actually making something.
A fascinating history, and a well told story

I really like the skunk works. Even though he witheld information about Aurora. It is about the development of Top Secret aircraft. It is particularly interesting the development of the Stealth Fighter. I like the tribute to Kelly Johnson the creator of SR-71 despite that name was given by a policitian. It was Reconnaissance Strategic but the error stuck. It is good book aviation.