kelly johnson skunk works quotes

How does ESP work? The questioner responded with, All points in time and space are connected? Rich then said, Thats how it works!, Ben Rich Lockheed Former CEO knew of extraterrestrial UFO visitors. Clarence Leonard "Kelly" Johnson (February 27, 1910 - December 21, 1990) was an American aeronautical and systems engineer.He is recognized for his contributions to a series of important aircraft designs, most notably the Lockheed U-2 and SR-71 Blackbird.Besides the first production aircraft to exceed Mach 3, he also produced the first fighter capable of Mach 2, the United States' first . The Skunk Works. He was the kind of enthusiastic visionary that bulled his way past vast odds to achieve great successes, in much the same way as Edison, Ford, and other immortal tinkerers of the past. Secrets of the Skunk Works - Smithsonian Magazine I took off with my backseat navigator, Lt. Col. Joe Vida, at 4:30 in the morning from Palmdale, just outside L.A., and despite the early hour, a huge crowd cheered us off. The founder and first director of Skunk Works was Clarence "Kelly" Johnson, who was the designer of a U.S. spy plane called the U-2. I often wonder what Kelly Johnson would think of Americas aerospace industry today, when we have airframe design and aeronautical performance have arguably devolved, but avionics and sensors are more advanced than ever. This item: Skunk Works: A Personal Memoir of My Years of Lockheed $2375 Kelly: More Than My Share of It All $2495 Failure Is Not an Option: Mission Control From Mercury to Apollo 13 and Beyond $2178 Total price: $70.48 Add all three to Cart Some of these items ship sooner than the others. And then, in August 1962, they hit pay dirt and came up with the pictures that showed the Russians were planting ballistic missiles right next door, SS-4s and SS-5s. He lived by the motto Be quick, be quiet, be on time. So, while in London to finalize the sale of the new Hudson bomber, the British Air Ministry requested numerous design changes, and Johnson took on the challenge over three nearly sleepless days. "The Ship that Never Was" from "Skunk Works" by Ben R. Rich Although slight variations exist, they go something like this: Kelly's Rules 1. Privacy Terms of Use EU and UK Data Protection Notice Cookies, Boyne, Walter J. The ocean waves showed up on radar like a string of tracer bullets. Instead, Johnson was tasked with developing new military aircraft. Before Rich died of cancer, Andrews took my questions to him. What we have to do is find out where Einstein went wrong., 4 : When Rich was asked how UFO propulsion worked, he said, Let me ask you. TIMES STAFF WRITER. Here, the SR-71, F-117 and U-2 were all tested by the US military. Initially the USAF didnt like the design (mostly because Lockheed submitted it without asking for it). The Skunk Works manager must be delegated practically complete control of their program in all aspects. The team (and its leader) must earn this trust. Commercial bid procedures are often better than military ones. Inside Skunk Works: The classified Lockheed division that designed As such, by the end of 1933, Lockheed promoted Johnson to Aeronautical Engineer, before becoming the chief research engineer in 1938. . 35 years later, in 1975, Johnson was awarded the Wright Brothers Memorial Trophy for his service to military aircraft design. He was one of seven children, as well as the child of an immigrant, finances were naturally quite tight. The Skunk Works' program manager must be delegated practically complete control of his program in all aspects. 16 results for "kelly johnson skunk works" RESULTS. Has the story of Kelly Johnson inspired you? Lisa Norato, I certainly wasn't happy. Linda Thompson, It's a blessing not to be alone in your grief but it's also painful to see your parents and siblings in pain. Price and other details may vary based on product size and color. The attack on Pearl Habour by the Japanese in 1941 took the US by surprise. I am a true believer. You dont need Harvard to teach you that its more important to listen than to talk. There are conflicting observations about the birth of Skunk Works. 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. Copyright 2023 Famous Quotes & Sayings. 8. "There must be a minimum number of reports required, but important work must be recorded thoroughly," Johnson wrote. By applying the most commonsense methods to develop new technologies, we saved tremendous amounts of time and money, while operating in an atmosphere of trust and cooperation both with our government customers and between our white-collar and blue-collar employees. He received a Bachelors degree in Aeronautical Engineering and later a Masters degree in Aeronautical Engineering. His take on the F-35 program in particular, which the Skunk Works has had its hands in, would be amazing to hear. Johnson could have absconded with the dough and taken off on a one-way ticket to Tahiti. In 1983, Lockheed formally recognized Johnsons 50 years of service to the company. Anything you can imagine, we already know how to do., 3 : We now have the technology to take ET home. I just gave it to him. What he had given him was the bird with his middle finger. He was so powerful that simply by going along on his plans and schemes, the rest of us helped to produce miracles too. The history of Skunk Works, the top-secret division of Lockheed that specialised in extreme, highly classified military aircraft design. Whilst at University, Johnson helped out on the wind tunnel testing of the Lockheed Model 10 Electra, Lockheeds answer to the Boeing 247. 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. His work thrust the aviation industry several decades into the future, going from traveling only a couple of hundred miles per hour to several times the speed of sound! Lord of the Skunk Works,, Oliver, Myrna. His father, ran a construction company and his mother was a homemaker. Meghan O'Rourke, Many a good man I have seen go under. Johnson worked on almost all of Lockheeds jet aircraft between the 1950s and 1970s. Secret Speed Racer Aircraft: Skunk Works Reveals - Popular Mechanics No video evidence of this alleged confession? Top 11 Kelly Johnson Skunk Works Quotes & Sayings Benjamin Robert Rich (June 18, 1925 January 5, 1995) was the second director of Lockheeds Skunk Works from 1975 to 1991, succeeding its founder, Kelly Johnson. That was the credo of Clarence L. (Kelly) Johnson, the aeronautical innovator who founded Lockheed's superse-cret "Skunk Works" where he designed the world's fastest and highest-flying aircraftthe SR-71 Blackbird. If they dont, they rapidly lose their competency to design other vehicles. 2. Dr. Ben R. Rich former Lockheed Skunk Works CEO confirmed: 1. Only in the last months of his decline did he begin to feel that the international corporate board of directors dealing with the Subject could represent a bigger problem to citizens personal freedoms under the United States Constitution than the presence of off-world visitors themselves.. It was built under complete secrecy at the Lockheed Skunk Works plant in Burbank California, and . Our design engineers had the keen experience to conceive the whole airplane in their minds-eye, doing the trade-offs in their heads between aerodynamic needs and weapons requirements. , Skunk Works, , . "May the Darkness have mercy on me. Kelly Johnson's 14 Rules and Practices. These are the basic operations rules enunciated by founder Kelly Johnson in 1954, as cited in his successor Ben Rich's book: Legendary Skunk Works Founder Kelly Johnson's Rules Of - Jalopnik Skunk Works: 14 rules to live and die by | Reda Sadki IMAKE - quotesecret.com 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! The Air Force rejected his design but it caught the attention of America's secretive spy agency, the CIA. 2. A future commander resented having only a four-man crew to boss around on a ship that was so secret that the Navy could not even admit it existed. Moreover, his total net worth is about $2.5 million US dollars as of 2022. This certainly helped Johnsons career and reputation in the industry. The shock wave thudded against a huge hangar under construction about five hundred yards away and nearly knocked four workers off the scaffolding, while Davey and I huddled out of sight behind the cement wall, giggling like schoolboys. 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. Hear more revealing testimony from Disclosure Project whistleblowers. One of our colleagues named our walled-in compound Fort Robertson because the guy and the place seemed perfectly mated, and the name stuck. Johnsons work awarded him almost every major aviation award possible. 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. 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. 13. A very simple drawing and drawing release system with great flexibility for making changes must be provided. 3. For his work in the Skunk Works division, Lockheed promoted Johnson to its board of directors in 1964, where hed serve until 1980. Johnson and his team developed the A-12 for the CIA. Restrict access to outsiders. 6. By the end of it, Johnson and his team had designed the aircraft that would become the U-2. All Rights Reserved. The F-104 was first introduced in 1958, and served until 2008, one of the longest of any aircraft! 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. Will Rogers, It is vitally important that we implement immigration reform. "You all know ? We have invested in developing and demonstrating hypersonic technology for over 30 years. 5 Best Aviation Games You Can Download Today! He had just seventy-two hours to design a new aircraft, one that the British Air Ministry needed to prepare for a war that looked more likely with each passing day. There must be a minimum number of reports required, but important work must be recorded thoroughly. Even our drawings bore the logo C & Jthe word Lockheed never appeared. Amazon.com: kelly johnson skunk works Kelly Johnson spent over 50 years in the industry, designing some of the worlds most ambitious aircraft. Alya Kulikova is a Russian avgeek who loves nothing more than learning about new aircraft, and sharing that with her fellow avgeeks! The Blackbird | The Museum of Flight There are a number of lessons for technology entrepreneurs. It is worth noting that Kelly's version of the phrase had no comma and was written "keep it . 5. Top 15 Kelly Johnson Skunkworks Quotes & Sayings More than my share of it all. Enjoy reading and share 15 famous quotes about Kelly Johnson Skunkworks with everyone. Help me out here. Skunk Works: A Personal Memoir of My Years of Lockheed Kelly Johnson's 14 Rules & Practices 1. Despite this, Johnson spent a lot of his free time consulting on new Lockheed aircraft, until his death in 1990. 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. In 1970 Johnson was awarded theSpirit of St. LouisMedal by theAmerican Society of Mechanical Engineers. Many of the systems Johnson pioneered on the Constellation were refined on the L-1011. The inspection system as currently used by the Skunk Works, which has been approved by both the Air Force and Navy, meets the intent of existing military requirements and should be used on new projects. They should report to a division president or higher. 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. Johnson ran the Skunk Works with what was known as Kellys 14 Rules. Due to Johnson designing the F-104 to be better than any other aircraft, many other countries were interested in the F-104. Strong but small project offices must be provided both by the military and industry. Shortly after being hired by Lockheed six years earlier, Johnson had walked into his new bosss office, pointed to the companys promising new aircraft, the Electra, revealed a critical instability and then proceeded to correct the errors to the companys amazement. The picture was so clear you could see that guy reading a newspaper., I said, 'General, I believe in the well-known golden rule. Nearly all biomorphic aerospace designs were inspired by the Roswell spacecraft from Kellys SR-71 Blackbird onward to todays drones, UCAVs, and aerospace craft, 3. A lot of Lockheed Martins company slang has its origins with Johnson, or are about his impeccable skills. In 1964, Johnson was awarded 6 awards, and five in 1965. That damn Swede, Hibbard said, can actually see air., 2023 Lockheed Martin Corporation. Father Of Stealth Ben Rich Found Success In The 'Hopeless Diamond' That. This principle, an acronym of Keep It Simple Stupid was pioneered by Johnson at Lockheed. In 1958, Kelly Johnson was appointed the Vice President of Advanced Development Projects (ADP). The contractor must be delegated the authority to test their final product in flight. Now you can run this goddam place. Despite his volatile approach, Johnson earned unparalleled loyalty from his highly skilled team. We have invested in developing and demonstrating hypersonic technology for over 30 years. There must be mutual trust between the military project organization and the contractor, and there must be very close cooperation and liaison on a day-to-day basis. In 1975, Kelly Johnson retired from Lockheed as a corporate vice president, leaving his personal understudy Ben Rich to head the Skunk Works. How did he achieve such amazing success? The Most Important Skunk Works Rules For Your Success And, yes, we really did put it to work. Secrets in the Sky: The Untold Story of Skunk Works - IMDb Clarence Leonard Kelly Johnson 19101990, National Academy of Sciences, accessed 8 September 2012. Outlets that have called him this include: International Aviation HQ, Aviation Week and Flying Magazine. In February 1937, the US Army Air Corps wanted a fighter-bomber that didnt require a fighter escort. Kelly Johnson is known for a lot of things. I didn`t see the craft, nor did I see the bodies, but I certainly know some of the people that did. Kelly: More Than My Share of It All. Following the introduction of the U-2, both the USAF and CIA loved the aircraft. Secrets in the Sky: The Untold Story of Skunk Works (2019) - IMDb 'Be Quick, Be Quiet and Be on Time' - HistoryNet Skunk Works produced such revolutionary planes as the U-2, SR-71 Blackbird and FB-117 Nighthawk. Walt Whitman, Avast talking about me as though I were not standing here. A few times we announced a bogus flight plan and then sat back and watched the phony complaints pour in. Ill teach you all you need to know about running a company in one afternoon, and well both go home early to boot. Refresh and try again. The Air Tactical Service Command (ATSC) of the Army Air Force met with Lockheed Aircraft Corporation to express its need for . 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. Taking action to help you protect what matters most. In their wisdom, Lockheed officials said they had complete faith in Clarence Kelly Johnson. KISSKeep It Simple, Stupid. Bullshit. The local postmaster got curious about all the crates and boxes piling up in his bins and looked up C & J in the phone book and, of course, found nothing. Kelly Johnson, byname of Clarence Leonard Johnson, (born Feb. 27, 1910, Ishpeming, Mich., U.S.died Dec. 21, 1990, Burbank, Calif.), highly innovative American aeronautical engineer and designer. This cuts down misunderstanding and correspondence to an absolute minimum. All rights reserved. After WWII, the Germans were no longer the enemy, but the US was skeptical of the Soviets. Johnson lived by the simple motto: Be quick, be quiet, and be on time. This influenced his management style at Lockheed, which was subsequently adopted by several other members of the Lockheed management. Clare Boothe Luce, The history of our spiritual life is a continuing search for the unity between ourselves and the world. Use a small number of good people (10% to 25% compared to the so-called normal systems). That's not a bad thing, its just going to take a while before we refocus. By that, his employees should never delay a contract, or overrun on costs, and/or never deliver a product that is subpar. This subsequently became used throughout the US Navy and US military in general. In the pursuit of breakthrough designs, he tolerated errorswith the caveat that they were made just once. The Skunk Works manager must be delegated practically complete control of his program in all aspects.