The most inspiring para for me -> Under HAVE BLUE, Lockheed built two manned technology dem- onstrators to validate Lockheed’s pole model results. Even though

The most inspiring para for me -> Under HAVE BLUE, Lockheed built two manned technology dem- onstrators to validate Lockheed’s pole model results. Even though these test vehicles made use of conventional o -the-shelf compo- nents and subsystems, they were truly revolutionary. Their shap- ing and materials were so important that their impact on aircraft survivability changed the way the U.S. Air Force ghts. Technologies nurtured by DARPA included RCS reduction, RAM development, infrared shielding, reduced visual signatures, low-probability-of- intercept radar, inlet shielding, exhaust cooling and shaping, and other signature reduction disciplines. First ight occurred in April 1977, and both aircraft were tested extensively. Eventually both were lost during ight test mishaps, but the results were clear. On Nov. 16, 1978, Lockheed received a contract for full-scale engineering devel- opment of what would become the F-117.