Must have reached the nesting limit, can't reply to your other comment. > They're both moonshot branches of much larger companies Not at all! Skunk Works star

Must have reached the nesting limit, can't reply to your other comment. > They're both moonshot branches of much larger companies Not at all! Skunk Works started with one single focused mission. To design a jet to compete with the German Messerschmitt! Yes, they did a lot of things differently to clear bureaucracy out of the way and get stuff done. But to call Skunk Works a "Moonshoot" branch is not correct at all. The definition of moonshoot includes not having an expectation of profitability. Lockheed saw a threat, saw a need, and saw huge potential for profits!