Skunk Works

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Summary: Fascinating book about Lockheed
Review: This book gives us an intriguing look into the realm of R&D at Lockheed. I'd just finished reading the new novel about the European airwar, "The Triumph and the Glory" when I saw this title in a bookstore, so I ordered it right away from amazon. And it was GREAT!

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Summary: Great book for military technology and history enthusiasts
Review: This book is a great look into what goes on behind the scenes at one of America's most top-secret facilities. It describes in great detail the types of "black" projects that propelled Lockheed-Martin to number one in defense contracting. I highly recommend this book for anyone interested in present day aircraft and technology along with a look into Lockheed-Martin's past technology.

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Summary: Amazing, Revealing and Important for Americans to Know About
Review: This book is about the recent history of democracy and the survival of the free world. Thank goodness that Ben Rich wrote this book to help allow us a glimpse of the kind of stuff that many today want to chock up to Government conspiracy, UFO's and other such man made phenomenon. Skunk Works was (and still is) the phenomenon makers, it's just that not everyone can know about what they do today, real time, for the obvious reasons of national security. This book will make any American proud. How a bunch of people at an obscure location with little or nothing but their their wits and their passion to work with were able to take "off-the-shelf" items to concoct and create the world's leading aircraft technologies. Not only is it a primer for industry and how to make great things happen, it reminds us of the importantance of VISION and LEADERSHIP. This book covers so much. It even puts a good perspective on the matters of state. This really should be made mandatory reading for all high school students in this country so they can get a better perspective, be inspired (I know I was) and have big dreams

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Summary: One of my favorites
Review: This book is page turningly wonderful. It chronicles all the insider stuff from Lockheed's advanced research dept. I loved all the head butts Lockheed had with the CIA as well as the stories of the techical obstacles and the methods to overcome them. This book is one of my all time favorite books and best of all, it's non-fiction!

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Summary: Excellent Insights into Aircraft Development, Now and Then
Review: This book rocks! I could hardly put it down. With great development anecdotes, it gave this Gen-Ex Engineer insight into how great government contracting once was (at least somewhere). The coolest parts are the pilots's views on cruising across the world in a Blazing SR-71 Blackbird. Awesome!!

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Summary: A summary of the best in military aerospace
Review: This book tells the tale of how a group of 75 engineers came up with some of the greatest aerospace technology the world has seen. In particular, the information on the SR-71 is incredible. It's geared towards the non-technical reader, which is OK, but I would have preferred more engineering details. My only complaint is the outdated cold-warrior tone of the author in certain places. Overall, a must-read for the aviation enthusiast.

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Summary: A great book about a the history of 'Skunk Works'.
Review: This is a fascinating book about a man who headed a secret operation that very few knew about. Now this book unveils the secrecy behind it and made it a public knowledge. I could not put this book down until I was finished with it.

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Summary: Skunk Works - Behind the Scenes of U.S. Secret Aircraft
Review: This is a great book. It gives a behind-the-scenes look at the development of often secret aviation technology over the past 50 years. The book pulls no punches and tells the stories of failures as well as successes. Written in an easy to read style, the book contains enough technology for the most savvy reader. The book is full of technical and financial information plus humorous anecdotes about developing planes like the U2 spyplane, the F117A Stealth Fighter, the SR-71 Blackbird and others. It also covers the politics behind the sale and production of these aircraft. I could not put this book down! Highly reccommended.

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Summary: Helped me through college...
Review: This is a great little book about how the skunk works operated in the early years of supersonic R&D (specifically for cold war reconnaissance, though the authors do cover the starfighter and some other non-recon craft). Ben and Leo tell the tale of the creation of the SR-71 and (later) the F-117 beautifully. I would actually have to say that this tome helped me through my BSAE. It's inspirational and made me want to be a good engineer. Ben takes you through the trials and occasional tribulation that make it great to be a designer.

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Summary: this is a great book
Review: this is a very good book about about the divelopment of some of the worlds most advanced warplanes. if you like documentary style book's you will love this one.