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Skunk Works: A Personal Memoir of My Years at Lockheed Paperback – February 1, 1996

by Ben R. Rich (Author)

475 customer reviews

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From the development of the U-2 to the Stealth fighter, the never-before-told story behind America's high-stakes quest to dominate the skies Skunk Works is the true story of America's most secret and successful aerospace operation. As recounted by Ben Rich, the operation's brilliant boss for nearly two decades, the chronicle of Lockheed's legendary Skunk Works is a drama of cold war confrontations and Gulf War air combat, of extraordinary feats of engineering and human achievement against fantastic odds. Here are up-close portraits of the maverick band of scientists and engineers who made the Skunk Works so renowned. Filled with telling personal anecdotes and high adventure, with narratives from the CIA and from Air Force pilots who flew the many classified, risky missions, this book is a riveting portrait of the most spectacular aviation triumphs of the twentieth century.

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Paperback: 372 pages
Publisher: Back Bay Books; 1st edition (February 1, 1996)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 0316743003
ISBN-13: 978-0316743006
Product Dimensions: 5.8 x 1.2 x 8.5 inches
Shipping Weight: 12.8 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
Average Customer Review: 475 customer reviews
Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #18,692 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
- #31 in Books > Engineering & Transportation > Engineering > Aerospace
- #38 in Books > Business & Money > Management & Leadership > Strategy & Competition
- #43 in Books > History > Military > Strategy

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Brian Johnson

Behind-the-Scenes look at Incredible Technological Leaps

February 21, 2017

Format: HardcoverVerified Purchase

A fabulous accounting of, not only the development of the F-117 Stealth fighter, but also the extensive history and details surrounding the U-2 high Altitude photo recon flyer, as well as the SR-71 Blackbird. Lots of anecdotes, as well as personal observations by actual pilots and high government officials, regarding the efficacy and impact of these revolutionary aircraft. If you have any interest in the behind-the-scenes development of bleeding-edge technology, this book is a gem. I read it when it first came out, and finally realized I could no longer locate my original copy, so, I purchased this replacement. It was everything I remembered. Contains some good black and white photos, as well as enough numbers to be impressive. (SR-71 on it's final Record-setting flight, covered the entire the continental US with a single, continuous, sonic boom).
Primarily focusing on the F-117 Stealth, it has sizable portions devoted to the U-2, and the SR-71 Mach 3 Spy Planes. Truly incredible developments in the World of Aviation.
A great read.

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Mugizi R. Rwebangira

Practical Management Tips

April 29, 2016

Format: Kindle EditionVerified Purchase

Mr. Rich gives a unique perspective on the legendary Lockheed Martin Skunkworks and it's equally legendary manager. From the narrative you get a really good feel for the culture of the place and why it was so successful. My goal in reading this book was to get practical tips for building successful teams and I think I got some ideas:
(1) Eliminate bureaucracy
(2) Prefer having a small with high average talent to a larger less talented team
(3) Make sure different functions are physically next to each and communicate incessantly
(4) Shield the team from external pressure
(5) Challenge the team with "impossible" problems that get talented people excited.

These are all things that can help a small talented team far outperform a larger team with a much bigger budget.

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Drew

If you're an engineer you'll love this.

April 3, 2015

Format: HardcoverVerified Purchase

SO. GOOD. As an engineer, I found this book to be fascinating. It's basically a narrative about several skunk works projects like the U-2 and F117 interspersed with tons of insane and interesting side stories by people involved (mostly test pilots).

Here's one example. One engineer was formulating a new fuel for the U-2 that would work in the high altitude engine. The fuel was called LF something or other, and there was a running joke that that stood for "Lighter Fluid" due to it's awful smell. Chemically it was actually more similar to one of the main ingredients in the bug spray "Flit", which was popular at the time. The year they put the (still very top-secret) U2 into service, there was an unexplained nationwide shortage of bug-spray.

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K. L.

Good book, a must read!

July 3, 2017

Format: HardcoverVerified Purchase

I read this book when it first came out in the mid 90's. I was in my early teens & couldn't put the book down. I am now in my mid 30's & I still love reading it. My father owns the copy I first read & loves reading it over & over as well. The book is an easy read. Ben Rick & Leo Janos keep the reader enthralled with a well written & intriguing true story of one of America's best de-classified military developments during my lifespan.

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Jeffery A. Whitaker

Top secret and stealth technology. The "Skunk Works" did it all.

September 23, 2016

Format: Kindle EditionVerified Purchase

"Skunk Works" is the popular moniker of Lockheed Martin's top, top secret aircraft aircraft program for the US government. This book is written by the second director of this program, Ben Rich. The book's primary focus is the U-2, F-117A, and last but not least the SR-71. A ship for the Navy, and a drone program are briefly covered also. Ben Rich is credited for developing and building "stealth" into military assets. Primarily aircraft. After Francis Gary Powers was shot down piloting a U-2 over Soviet Russia, it quickly became apparent that a faster, higher flying and stealthy aircraft was needed. Hence the SR-71. It can travel in the atmosphere at a height of nearly 90,000 feet. It can cruise at well over Mach 3, and has a Radar profile of about a ball-bearing (thus "Stealthy"). This book is fascinating and gives you a first-person account of these extraordinary aircraft. The F-117 flew over the center of Baghdad, without fighter escorts; and dropped 2,000 lb. bombs during the Iraq war. The U-2 is the only one out of the three that is still flying missions. As a matter of fact, a U-2 just recently crashed in California.

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YeahSoMaybe?

Concept! and Can Do.

April 10, 2014

Format: HardcoverVerified Purchase

I had no idea of how far the sacrifices that were made went to gain an awareness of enemy plans during The Cold War. The challenges this team took on to come up with and implement near-impossible inventions to stay on the bleeding edge of surveillance boggles the mind. From 10w-400 oil, cameras that can resolve license plates at high altitudes, fabricating your own titanium screws, variable intake ramjet engine nacelles, zero radar signature cross-section airframes, and on and on. We have a SR-71 blackbird in the Evergreen Aviation museum not too far from where I live. I have walked around it a several times. It's just mind boggling to be in it's presence. Hats off to real innovation. When I read this book, I feel that anything is possible sometimes if you can just conceive of it and persist. Highly recommended.

Favorite story in the book is when the French Mirage plane pulls up alongside the Blackbird and demands their "clearance code" to overfly France. The SR-71 crew accelerates leaves the Mirage standing still after giving the French pilot his, um... "clearance code". hahaha

Addendum: If any of you are into project management, this book is a good lesson on what it is possible to achieve when you hire a small sized team of smart people, give them the right resources and keep the bureaucracy out of the way.

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Most recent customer reviews

Everyone needs to read this about our Country's "Black Ops"

Best read EVER. If you have not heard (or even if you have) of the SHUNK WORKS get this book, After you read it I know you will let your friend read it. They will thank you.

Published 8 hours ago

Douglas Marolla

Says it is the best book I've gotten him so far

I bought this for my brother and he LOVES it. Says it is the best book I've gotten him so far. He is a 'mechanically inclined' HVAC expert mechanic, and a pilot.Read more

Published 2 days ago

Gary R.

Life within skunk works.

Very interesting account of life in the Skunk Works. Enjoyable read. Details not only aircraft but the politics going into this industry. Highly recommend.

Published 9 days ago

Amazon Customer

Four Stars

Great mix of technology and personalities.

Published 16 days ago

Bayard B.

Great book! 5 Star rating back in 1994, 4 Star rating today (2018).

Great book! When this book was initially published back in 1994, it was easily a 5 Star rating. I give it a 4 Star rating today (2018) only because there is now more information...Read more

Published 21 days ago

This books is such a great read. If you are an engineering

This books is such a great read. If you are an engineering, you will find this book very inspiring.

Published 23 days ago

Alex Gasparini

Five Stars

Good job. No complaints.

Published 28 days ago

Dana & Mike

This book was awesome! This is for anybody who self identifies as ...

This book was awesome! This is for anybody who self identifies as a tech or aviation buff.

Published 1 month ago

NerdyGuy

Learned some new things about the Skunk Works

Great book if you love engineering and great airplanes

Published 1 month ago

Five Stars

Good read if you are a fan of Skunk Works

Published 1 month ago

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