Skunk Works

Rating:
Summary: Cool
Review: This was a really good book and it goes by really fast. I love all those planes!! Especially the SR-71!!!!!!!

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Summary: Great book -- page turner
Review: This was a very entertaining and a quick read.

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Summary: A must-read for aerospace fans
Review: Told, one imagines, as completely as possible within the confines of security, this is Ben Rich's history of his tenure as head of the Lockheed Skunk Works. As only the second man to ever hold that job, and working in the shadow of the legendary Kelly Johnson, Rich gives us a rare view into the history, politics, culture and technology of the Skunk Works, centering around the greatest accomplishment of his era, the Lockheed F-117. The book is well paced, thanks to the work of Rich's co-author, Leo Janos, who also co-wrote "Yeagar".

Rating:
Summary: Great Book!
Review: Truly masterfull piece that tells the true story of how the F-117 stealth fighter came into being. From the U-2 to the SR-71, to the F-117, Skunk Works follows the development of some of the most advanced aircraft known to man. A definite must read for anyone who is remotely interested in modern aircraft, this well-written book is engrossing and informative from start to finish.

Rating:
Summary: An Adequate Read
Review: Written by an engineer, this book comes off as more of an account rather than a memoir of Mr. Rich's years at Skunk Works. It can be blunt, factual,and to the point, and where it isn't I suspect is where Janos contributed. How much better can someone communicate, however, when they had to work in absolute secrecy for 30 years? If you're familiar with the Skunk Works, you won't learn anything new here. One of the problems in writing a book like this is having to wait for something to declassify before writing about it, so all of the cutting edge technology it celebrates is at least 15 to 20 years old, and has been on the History & Discovery channels several times already. Rich doesn't really share himself in this book, and at times it can seem like a 3rd party observer wrote it. Despite this it does remain interesting, even if you do already know much of the information presented.

Rating:
Summary: A compelling read for anyone vaguely interested in aviaition
Review: You've seen the Skunk Works' aircraft on the Discovery Channel. Now you have the whole story - or at least as much as one of the foremost authorities on the subject is willing and able to tell you. "Skunk Works" is a great read, written by a man with intimate knowledge of one of the most fascinating periods in American aviation and its role in the diplomatic intrigue of the Cold War era. Just as compelling as the subject matter is Ben R. Rich and Leo Janos' ability to communicate unimaginable engineering problems in a manner that makes you feel like you really understand what they are talking about. Not likely for most of us, but it's great fun along the way.