The Projects of Skunk Works: 75 Years of Lockheed Martin's Advanced Development Programs

by Steve Pace

The stories behind more than 50 secret projects undertaken by the famed Lockheed Martin Skunk Works on behalf of the US Armed Forces, DARPA, and the CIA - all illustrated with official Skunk Works photography and commissioned artworks. Hatched in June 1943 after a special request of the US Army Air Forces to develop a turbojet-powered fighter to counter growing German threats, Lockheed Martin's Skunk Works has gone on to develop remarkable aeronautical and space technologies, including stealth. Some have made it into production, while others never quite made it off drafting boards and computer screens, but proved fascinating nonetheless. This generously illustrated history tackles Skunk Works programs ranging from jet fighters and jet engines to missiles and rockets, helicopters, research aircraft, airships, unmanned aerial vehicles and recon drones, and even the seagoing stealth ship Sea Shadow - more than 50 in all. Author Steve Pace examines the historical context which led government organizations to approach the Skunk Works, as well as the technologies and projects developed there (often on a handshake and unburdened by bureaucracies), and the anecdotes and legends associated with each program. Pace includes official Skunk Works photography of the projects taken both at its headquarters and at test facilities such as Area 51. In addition, commissioned color artworks help further illustrate many of these projects featured herein. In addition to profiling legendary aircraft like the F-80, F-94, F-104, U-2, SR-71, F-117, and F-35, Pace takes on more obscure projects from the past as well as those still to come, such as the hypersonic SR-72 and High Speed Strike Weapon, and even offers a peak into what the future might hold with the proposed TR-X.

Genres: Aviation, Nonfiction, Space

256 pages, Hardcover

Published December 1, 2016

Reviews

[Brandon Fosdick · Rating 3 out of 5]

Could be better

A lot of good information crying out for a decent editor. Several pictures are out of order, or in the wrong section entirely. The formatting changes part way through the book.

[Anders Blixt · Rating 4 out of 5]

Sold on technical details. Enjoyable for aerospace nerds.

[Norbert · Rating 5 out of 5]

All that can be known (sometimes very little) about a lot of (once) secret projects

[Riley McKenzie · Rating 3 out of 5]

A long book but a really good one for learning engine designations, model designations and also unbelievable statistical figures (as far as performance and price goes.) geeking

[Mike Toth]

Quite an enjoyable book, even for a long time student of aviation. Format is attractive and is filled with information. However, like the two other titles I have purchased, the books are horrendously edited and poorly fact checked. One minor example is the US did not have F-15's in 1968. Another is the same picture occuring twice in the book within pages of each other. Nice book, but could have been really good.