Lockheed And Skunk Works. The History Of The Company That Gave Us The SR-71 Blackbird, and the F-22

Lockheed And Skunk Works. The History Of The Company That Gave Us The SR-71 Blackbird, The U-2 Dragonlady, F-22 Raptor, and many other amazing Aircraft. Learn about Kelly Johnson, Ben Rich, and witnesses of the birth of the California company.

The Lockheed Corporation was an American aerospace manufacturer. Lockheed was founded in 1926 and merged in 1995 with Martin Marietta to form Lockheed Martin. Its founder, Allan Lockheed, had earlier founded the similarly named but otherwise-unrelated Loughead Aircraft Manufacturing Company, which was operational from 1912 to 1920.

Allan Loughead and his brother Malcolm Loughead had operated an earlier aircraft company, Loughead Aircraft Manufacturing Company, which was operational from 1912 to 1920.The company built and operated aircraft for paying passengers on sightseeing tours in California and had developed a prototype for the civil market, but folded in 1920 due to the flood of surplus aircraft deflating the market after World War I. Allan went into the real estate market while Malcolm had meanwhile formed a successful company marketing brake systems for automobiles.

On December 13, 1926, Allan Lockheed, John Northrop, Kenneth Kay and Fred Keeler secured funding to form the Lockheed Aircraft Company in Hollywood (spelled phonetically to prevent mispronunciation). This new company utilized some of the same technology originally developed for the Model S-1 to design the Vega Model. In March 1928, the company relocated to Burbank, California, and by year's end reported sales exceeding one million dollars. From 1926 to 1928 the company produced over 80 aircraft and employed more than 300 workers who by April 1929 were building five aircraft per week. In July 1929, majority shareholder Fred Keeler sold 87% of the Lockheed Aircraft Company to Detroit Aircraft Corporation. In August 1929, Allan Loughead resigned.

The Great Depression ruined the aircraft market, and Detroit Aircraft went bankrupt. A group of investors headed by brothers Robert and Courtland Gross, and Walter Varney, bought the company out of receivership in 1932. The syndicate bought the company for a mere $40,000 ($660,000 in 2011). Ironically, Allan Loughead himself had planned to bid for his own company, but had raised only $50,000 ($824,000), which he felt was too small a sum for a serious bid.

In 1934, Robert E. Gross was named chairman of the new company, the Lockheed Aircraft Corporation, which was headquartered at what is now the airport in Burbank, California. His brother Courtlandt S. Gross was a co-founder and executive, succeeding Robert as chairman following his death in 1961. The company was named the Lockheed Corporation in 1977.

The first successful construction that was built in any number (141 aircraft) was the Vega first built in 1927, best known for its several first- and record-setting flights by, among others, Amelia Earhart, Wiley Post, and George Hubert Wilkins. In the 1930s, Lockheed spent $139,400 ($2.29 million) to develop the Model 10 Electra, a small twin-engined transport. The company sold 40 in the first year of production. Amelia Earhart and her navigator, Fred Noonan, flew it in their failed attempt to circumnavigate the world in 1937. Subsequent designs, the Lockheed Model 12 Electra Junior and the Lockheed Model 14 Super Electra expanded their market.

#sr71 #skunkworks #aircraft

[jollyjohnthepirate]

The greatest aviation story I heard was about Jack Northrop was when they showed him aged 90 a model of the B 2 stealth bomber. He had pioneered the flying wing concept in the 40's. Jack had suffered a stroke and could no longer speak but said volumes when he cried.

[billotto]

This is fantastic. Listen to the names he's naming off. The giants of American aviation. What an incredible life he lived, rubbing elbows with these people. Kids today have no idea how these men set the standards. And all done without so much as a calculator, much less computers. I wish I could have met any one of them. Thank-you for a truly wonderful video. What an educational & enjoyable video.

[ItsKing]

the SR-71 is the most beautiful and best airplane to ever be built

[stevefranklin]

Thanks for putting out this great, very informative documentary! Hopefully it will show and teach younger generations the pride and determination that their forefathers put into the workforce that helped tremendously to make America the great country it is !

[woodwaker]

My father worked for Howard Huges as the corporate controller - retired in the 1980's - many interesting stories he had

[ridermak]

Absolutely wonderful stories,
told by a wonderful first hand storyteller.

[buckchesterfield]

Talk about being in the right place at the right time! This extraordinary gentleman had just about the perfect seat from which to watch the 20th century, and what a memory he has to rattle off story after story with such erudite fluidity.

[vermasean]

Talk about visionary: @1:26:26
1) Telework/Video chat
2) UAV/Drones
Incredible documentary & thanks for posting! 🦨 🛩️

[roykiefer]

This superb history is important to me for two reasons. First, my 40+ year, post-undergraduate school, professional life was principally focused on state-of-the-art Naval aviation. Second, after retiring from the Navy, I immediately began a wonderful two decade career with Lockheed, eventually retiring as the Director of Navy TacAir Programs. I was truly blessed to join a company with a heritage of innovation and willingness to take intelligently managed risks to surmount current constraints in every phase of aviation design, development, test, production, modification, and sustainment.

[ChasOnErie]

WHAT A GREAT PART OF OUR COUNTRY HISTORY .. so much we have given away !!!
The Vega was a great plane …💪💪💪

[jamesrob]

My dad worked there for over 30 years. At burbank and then Palmdale. He needed a top secret security clearance.

[edwardmarriott]

Thank you Harvey for giving us a glimpse of what
The pioneers of Aviation had to do..God Bless you
Sir..

[AlanRoehrich]

Also the P-38 (the plane that founded the Skunk Works) the P-80 (the first jet fighter for the U.S.), the U-2 (the reconnaissance plane with the longest service history) the F-104, the F-117, and the F-35.

[SanFranciscoFatboy]

Very cool older gentlemen doing the explaining great doc :)

[charlesgraham]

my cousin childhood friend worked for Lockheed, the FBI actually came to my cousin house to interview her and my aunt who worked for the state at the time. this was 30+ years ago. i do remember my cousin's friend being all about schooling.

[davids]

To look back and think that I came so close to being somebody in this most fascinating business, and chose a wife instead, which lasted less than five years just breaks my heart. Not that I wanted money or status, but a deep feeling that I could have been somebody to myself, it's really just beyond words. I did end up in the area of making, testing, repairing, shipping, etc., fuel tanks for many different aircraft, from cutting patterns to loading finished product on the trucks was as far as I got. I really enjoyed my job and wish I was still there, but after about 35 years I retired due to too much red tape everywhere, security cameras everywhere, etc.. If you had an Idea, it was a race to see who could shoot it down and take credit for it first instead of the co-worker trying helping you run with it. It was so discouraging that you eventually just went to work, punched your clock, done what you were told, punched the clock again and went home only to do it all over again the next day. At the end of my career, it turns out I have several people that would have given me a fair interview and I didn't even know about it. Life could face been so much fun..

[claytonbouldin]

I love these old documentaries that let people talk in depth about history and their experiences. Today's documentaries with loud music and over the top narrators are a bit bland for me.

[trespire]

Why is it not supprising that Amelia donned the plant work overalls and joined in the manufacturing process ?
From the few pictures I've seen, she has a direct and to the point stance about her, a rare attribute even today.

[stephenrocks]

Lost my ability to understand 11 on Jay card like well. I love your songs.

[Leo-DaGreek]

Living in FT Worth when in the 70s the company was General Dynamic, where I would attend the Rec centers with my family’s friends it wasn’t till late 90 when Lockhead Martin, FT worth Staple Company, Thanks FDR, and Mr Amon Carter 🇨🇱💜