Forthcoming book: Projects of the Skunk Works: 75th Anniversary

[quellish]

Re: Forthcoming book: LOCKHEED MARTIN SKUNK WORKS: 75th Anniversary

SENIOR PARTY?

SENIOR PENNANT?

 

[aim9xray]

Re: Forthcoming book: LOCKHEED MARTIN SKUNK WORKS: 75th Anniversary

SENIOR PARTY?

SENIOR PENNANT?

SENIOR MOMENT?

 

[elmayerle]

Re: Forthcoming book: LOCKHEED MARTIN SKUNK WORKS: 75th Anniversary

Even if some one gets it right, I couldn't say anything. It's been 20 years since the program was cancelled and I'm still leery of saying too much. Just like there's some aspects of commentary on the B-2's first flight that amused me greatly, but I'm still leery of talking about it.

 

[Madoc]

Re: Forthcoming book: LOCKHEED MARTIN SKUNK WORKS: 75th Anniversary

Steve,


This looks great!


As a request...


On the L-133 the main landing gear's mechanism looks exceptionally complex. There's a main strut which rotates down and then the main wheels rotate out and down from that along with stabilizing / extension struts as well. The little 3-views produced about the plane thus far really just hint at it and the Lockheed guys must have done more development on it as it is so complex.


If you could include anything further detailing that aspect of this design it'd be greatly appreciated!


Thanks!


Madoc

 

[overscan (PaulMM)]

Re: Forthcoming book: LOCKHEED MARTIN SKUNK WORKS: 75th Anniversary

SENIOR PARTY?

SENIOR PENNANT?

SENIOR MOMENT?

SENIOR DISCOUNT 20% off on Fridays?

 

[Stargazer]

Re: Forthcoming book: LOCKHEED MARTIN SKUNK WORKS: 75th Anniversary

SENIOR DISCOUNT 20% off on Fridays?

I was looking for a good one to crack up but you definitely beat me here! ;D

 

[Steve Pace]

Re: Forthcoming book: LOCKHEED MARTIN SKUNK WORKS: 75th Anniversary

SENIOR PARTY?

SENIOR PENNANT?

SENIOR MOMENT?

SENIOR DISCOUNT 20% off on Fridays?

I'll see what I can do - ROTFLMAO! ;D -SP

 

[archipeppe]

Re: Forthcoming book: LOCKHEED MARTIN SKUNK WORKS: 75th Anniversary

Another teaser from the upcoming Steve's book.


Ciao
Giuseppe

 

[foiling]

Re: Forthcoming book: LOCKHEED MARTIN SKUNK WORKS: 75th Anniversary

Exquisite, Giuseppe.

 

[archipeppe]

Re: Forthcoming book: LOCKHEED MARTIN SKUNK WORKS: 75th Anniversary

Exquisite, Giuseppe.

Thank you dear Foiling.

 

[Steve Pace]

Re: Forthcoming book: LOCKHEED MARTIN SKUNK WORKS: 75th Anniversary

Little, if nothing, has come forth from LMSWs re its and Rockwell's ATB proposal - Senior Peg. Giuseppe De Chiara has captured it (best that he could) in this dreamy three view. Enjoy! -SP

 

[Flyaway]

Re: Forthcoming book: LOCKHEED MARTIN SKUNK WORKS: 75th Anniversary

Impressive looking beast.

Good work Giuseppe.

 

[archipeppe]

Re: Forthcoming book: LOCKHEED MARTIN SKUNK WORKS: 75th Anniversary

Impressive looking beast.

Good work Giuseppe.

Many thanks Flyaway.

 

[FighterJock]

Re: Forthcoming book: LOCKHEED MARTIN SKUNK WORKS: 75th Anniversary

Little, if nothing, has come forth from LMSWs re its and Rockwell's ATB proposal - Senior Peg. Giuseppe De Chiara has captured it (best that he could) in this dreamy three view. Enjoy! -SP

From the image the Senior Peg looks like a squashed F-117A but larger.

 

[archipeppe]

Re: Forthcoming book: LOCKHEED MARTIN SKUNK WORKS: 75th Anniversary

From the image the Senior Peg looks like a squashed F-117A but larger.

This is according to the scarce information available. At the end of 70's LM Skunk Works managed at least two derivative projects by the original Senior Trend (what became the actual F.117):


- Senior Peg (ATB proposal which lost the contract again the Northrop Senior Ice proposal of what lately became the actual B-2)
- Senior Prom (Stealth cruise missile, its development was abandoned in 1982 after several prototypes were built and tested).


Both of them exploited, with some modification, the original Senior Trend shape, that came from previous the Have Blue program.


Ciao
Giuseppe

 

[FighterJock]

Re: Forthcoming book: LOCKHEED MARTIN SKUNK WORKS: 75th Anniversary

Thanks for that archipeppe.

 

[GTX]

Re: Forthcoming book: LOCKHEED MARTIN SKUNK WORKS: 75th Anniversary

Curious regarding the actual canopy vs cockpit - it almost looks like two canopies.

 

[sferrin]

Re: Forthcoming book: LOCKHEED MARTIN SKUNK WORKS: 75th Anniversary

Curious regarding the actual canopy vs cockpit - it almost looks like two canopies.

Maybe the front one is for the nose gunner. ;D

 

[archipeppe]

Re: Forthcoming book: LOCKHEED MARTIN SKUNK WORKS: 75th Anniversary

My 2 cents: given the senior peg configuraton all those Window openings could be useful only for takeoff/landing operations

 

[CiTrus90]

Re: Forthcoming book: LOCKHEED MARTIN SKUNK WORKS: 75th Anniversary

Curious regarding the actual canopy vs cockpit - it almost looks like two canopies.

I'm more inclined on thinking that the lower ones are for something akin to the F-117 IRADS, rather than another pair of canopies.

Regards.

 

[foiling]

Re: Forthcoming book: LOCKHEED MARTIN SKUNK WORKS: 75th Anniversary

Another exquisite painting, Giuseppe.

 

[archipeppe]

Re: Forthcoming book: LOCKHEED MARTIN SKUNK WORKS: 75th Anniversary

Another exquisite painting, Giuseppe.

Thanks Foiling, both next Steve's books will be (literally) filled up with my artworks.

 

[Steve Pace]

Re: Forthcoming book: LOCKHEED MARTIN SKUNK WORKS: 75th Anniversary

Here's my latest Contents page. Your input is welcome. -SP

CONTENTS

Dedication
Acknowledgments
Forward
Introduction
01 – Beginnings: 1940 to 1944
Temporary Design Number L-133 and its Propulsive System
3//42 – proposed
Sidebar 01-2: Founding Fathers: Genesis of the Skunk Works®
6/24/43 – letter contract award
XP-80, XP-80A, YP-80A and the XP-80B: Birth of the Shooting Star
1/8/44
02 – Diversifications: 1945 to 1954
Saturn
6/17/46
“Racey”: The P-80R
6/19/47 – date of speed record
T-Bird: The T-33
3/22/48
Starfire: The F-94
4/16/49
Penetration Fighter: The XF-90 and XF-90A
6//49
X-7 (PTV-A-1) MX-883
4/26/51
SeaStar: The T2V
12/15/53
XF-104: Birth of the Starfighter
3/5/54
Vertical Riser: The XFV-1 Salmon
6/16/54
Hercules: The YC-130
8//54
USAF Neptune: The RB-69A
//54
03 – Unidentified Flying Objects: 1955 to 1964
YF-104A: Rise of the Starfighter
//56
Sidebar 03-1: Area 51
AQUATONE: The U-2
8/8/55
GUSTO: Archangel versus Fish/Kingfish
//56
Suntan
//56
JetStar: The C-140
9/4/57
MX-2226 ARDC WS-117L/SAMOS
2/28/59
Corona
6//59
MX-1136 Development of titanium aircraft and missile structures
//60
OXCART: The A-12
4/30/62
KEDLOCK: The YF-12A
8/7/63
TAGBOARD and Senior Bowl: The D-21, M-21 and the D-21B
//64
Senior Crown: The SR-71 Blackbird
12/22/64
04 – Ups and Downs: 1965 to 1974
Improved Manned Interceptor: The F-12B
//65 – first missile firing tests
U-2R
//67
CL-1200: The Lancer
// - date of F-5A selection
X-27 Lancer
//70 – date of YF-16 selection
Project Harvey
//74
Advanced Manned Strategic Aircraft
//74
Hypersonic Research Vehicle: The X-24C
//74 – program start
05 – Stealth if by Air, Stealth if by Sea: 1975 to 1984
Senior Prom: Stealth Cruise Missile
//77
Have Blue: The Experimental Survivable Testbed Program
12/1/77
Advanced Technology Bomber (ATB)
//80
Senior Trend: The F-117
6//81
TR-1
8//81
Sea Shadow: Stealth atop the Waves
//82
Advanced Tactical Aircraft (ATA)
//83
F-117N “Seahawk”
//84 – USN evaluations
06 – Fighters, Fighters, Fighters…: 1985 to 1994
STOVL Strike Fighter (SFF)
//87
Multi Role Fighter (MRF)
//90
Advanced Tactical Fighter: The YF-22
//90
Navy Advanced Tactical Fighter (NATF)
//90
Advanced-Attack (A-X)
//92
Attack/Fighter Experimental (A/F-X)
//92
Common Affordable Lightweight Fighter (CALF)
//93
Joint Advanced Strike Technology (JAST)
10//94
07 – Rising Stars: 1995 to 2004
DarkStar UAV: The RQ-3A
3/29/96
LightStar UAV: The P-140
5/28/96 – patent applied for
X-35A, X-35B and X-35C: The Joint Strike Fighter (JSF) Program
//00
VentureStar: The X-33A Space Plane
//01 – program cancelled
Sentinel UAV: The RQ-170
//04
08 – Technology Exploitation: 2005 to 2014
Polecat UAV: The P-175
//05
Hybrid Airship: The P-791
1/31/06
X-55A: The Advanced Composite Cargo Aircraft Program
6/2/09
MQ-X: The Experimental Multirole Drone Program
9//09 – unveiled
Ares
//10
VARIOUS
//10
X-56A: The Multi-utility Aeroelastic Demonstrator Program
7/26/13
Sea Ghost: The Unmanned Carrier-launched Airborne Surveillance and Strike (UCLASS) Program
8/14/13 – contract award
SR-72: The Unmanned Hypersonic Reconnaissance Strike Aircraft Program
10//13
09 – Future Days: 2015 to…
RQ-X/UQ-2
8//15
High Speed Strike Weapon (HSSW)
//15
Long Range Strike Bomber
//15 – contract award
Next Generation Air Dominance
//16
Conclusions
Glossary
Appendices
Appendix A: Timeline
Appendix B: Lockheed/Lockheed-California Temporary Design Numbers (associated with the Skunk Works®)
Appendix C: Lockheed Model Numbers (associated with the Skunk Works®)
Appendix D: Known P-Numbers (associated with the Skunk Works®)
Bibliography and Sources
Index

 

[FighterJock]

Re: Forthcoming book: LOCKHEED MARTIN SKUNK WORKS: 75th Anniversary

Looking good so far, at this rate the book will replace Jay Miller's Skunk Works book on my bookshelf. One question though, will it be Hardback or Softback upon first release?

 

[Steve Pace]

Re: Forthcoming book: LOCKHEED MARTIN SKUNK WORKS: 75th Anniversary

Nothing will replace Jay's masterpiece - I imagine he plans to update his book.
My book is to be hardbound. -SP

 

[FighterJock]

Re: Forthcoming book: LOCKHEED MARTIN SKUNK WORKS: 75th Anniversary

Nothing will replace Jay's masterpiece - I imagine he plans to update his book.
My book is to be hardbound. -SP

I guess you are right about Jay Miller's book, I still refer to it now and again especially on the history side of the Skunk Works.

 

[ov-101]

Re: Forthcoming book: LOCKHEED MARTIN SKUNK WORKS: 75th Anniversary

Forward by whom? Marillyn Hewson？

 

[Steve Pace]

Re: Forthcoming book: LOCKHEED MARTIN SKUNK WORKS: 75th Anniversary

Forward by whom? Marillyn Hewson？

Good guess. -SP

 

[Steve Pace]

Re: Forthcoming book: LOCKHEED MARTIN SKUNK WORKS: 75th Anniversary

New to me Polecat image. -SP

 

[Ian33]

Re: Forthcoming book: LOCKHEED MARTIN SKUNK WORKS: 75th Anniversary

One year at Farnborough Lockheed Martin were supposed to unveil a super new high flying long endurance UAV - but then we got to see Pole Cat instead.

Is there any truth in the rumour that Pole Cat is ten years plus older than we are told? A spin off from their ATB work?

 

[Steve Pace]

Re: Forthcoming book: LOCKHEED MARTIN SKUNK WORKS: 75th Anniversary

Not likely - It's first flight was 9/2004 - the exact date has never been disclosed. -SP

 

[Steve Pace]

Re: Forthcoming book: LOCKHEED MARTIN SKUNK WORKS: 75th Anniversary

Teaser from forthcoming Skunk Works book. -SP

 

[Steve Pace]

Re: Forthcoming book: LOCKHEED MARTIN SKUNK WORKS: 75th Anniversary

Another tease from Giuseppe De Chiara. -SP

 

[quellish]

Re: Forthcoming book: LOCKHEED MARTIN SKUNK WORKS: 75th Anniversary

Is there any truth in the rumour that Pole Cat is ten years plus older than we are told? A spin off from their ATB work?

Zero.
Polecat demonstrated new, innovative manufacturing and rapid prototyping technologies, and was to explore a new high LD laminar flow wing design.


It was a 3d printed airplane. They didn't have 3d printers during the ATB competition

 

[antigravite]

Re: Forthcoming book: LOCKHEED MARTIN SKUNK WORKS: 75th Anniversary

Hi Steve;

I looked at your table of contents and I have several questions.

[list type=decimal]
[*]Re: hypersonics, beyond X-24C / NHFRF, is there anything planned on Darpa's Falcon HTV-3X / BlackSwift hypersonic program? :-*
[*]Based on your historical research will you also discuss Skunk Works statements and/or their preliminary internal proposal on Nasp? From the description I read, their Nasp was kinda close to the Falcon vehicle, with two airbreathing engine ducts, but noe one has even seen their blueprints and it is very unlikely their figured out something a la Khotari). :-*
[*]Will you also dwelve into MHD, most notably recent MHD reentry research? :-*
[*]Will you also discuss Lockheed's Skunk Work plasma research… since Allen was more than well versed into that? :-*
[*]Oh, one more thing. Will you discuss (open literature) counter stealth work based on quantum physics principles? :-* :-* :-*
[/list]
:-*

A.

 

[FighterJock]

Re: Forthcoming book: LOCKHEED MARTIN SKUNK WORKS: 75th Anniversary

Hi Steve. Any thoughts about the cover photos? How about the SR-75 on the front and perhaps four photos on the back consisting of the P-80, U-2, SR-71 and the F-117A?

 

[foiling]

Re: Forthcoming book: LOCKHEED MARTIN SKUNK WORKS: 75th Anniversary

Lockheed Suntan & De Chiara's colour 3-views - two of the very most thrilling attractions in the world of aircraft. If you hadn't had my attention before, you sure have now! I cannot wait.

 

[hesham]

Re: Forthcoming book: LOCKHEED MARTIN SKUNK WORKS: 75th Anniversary

My dear Steve,


I suggest that,you must divide this great work into two volumes.

 

[archipeppe]

Re: Forthcoming book: LOCKHEED MARTIN SKUNK WORKS: 75th Anniversary

Lockheed Suntan & De Chiara's colour 3-views - two of the very most thrilling attractions in the world of aircraft. If you hadn't had my attention before, you sure have now! I cannot wait.

Thank you dear Foiling, I have to say that Steve is able to get out the best of my art.

 

[seruriermarshal]

Re: Forthcoming book: LOCKHEED MARTIN SKUNK WORKS: 75th Anniversary

Can't wait.