4 ms·

> Now, read about Skunkworks - they were able to build the SR71 (without supercomputers) in less than half that time and for a fraction of the cost. Not to me

> Now, read about Skunkworks - they were able to build the SR71 (without supercomputers) in less than half that time and for a fraction of the cost. Not to mention the F-16 itself, which the F-35 was meant to replace: 1972: RFP for prototypes 1974: Maiden flight of the first prototype 1975: Production begins 1980: The aircraft officially enters service

hef19898 6y ago
The F-117 as well. A marvelous plane, and development program.
whalesalad 6y ago
Lockheed is synonymous with Skunk Works ... the F-35 was a Lockheed project. I can guarantee a lot of the engineers who worked on those legendary aircraft also participated in the JSF.
- labcomputer 6y ago
  F-16 was a joint Northrop and General Dynamics project. Manufacturing rights were only sold to Lockheed in the 90's.
- jeffreyrogers 6y ago
  Organizations change. I heard recently at Skunk Works the engineers were told by some bureaucrats that they couldn't change the skunk logo (they had a modified version for some project). It's like how Boeing used to be a great engineering organization and now isn't. The sad thing is when a downturn happens those bureaucrats saying you can't change the logo will probably keep their jobs while the engineers who could probably be making pretty cool stuff if they had better leadership will be out of work.
- p_l 6y ago
  A critical part of F-35 problems was developed so far away from Skunkworks it is technically a separate company (still part of the wider Lockheed-Marting Concern) - the Lockheed-Marting Global Training & Logistics. Having encountered the quality (hahahah ... sob) they produce personally, I'm totally unsurprised US Navy and USMC could find funding a new fleet of space satellites cheaper than re-bribing enough senators to get ALIS (and now ODIN) contract reassigned to someone competent.
coldcode 6y ago
The F16 was designed and built originally by General Dynamics, Lockheed bought it much later. I worked on it early in my career at GD.
- kilroy123 6y ago
  Any interesting stories you can share from that time? I'd love to hear more.
protomyth 6y ago
1981: Used by Israel to blow up Iraq nuclear reactor Oddly, they used F-15s to provide escort. This attack took place after two Phantom F-4-E of Iran missed.
- greedo 6y ago
  Why "Oddly?" The F-15 was the best air supremacy fighter of that era; perfect for escorting bomb-laden F-16s that would have had a difficult time protecting themselves.
  - protomyth 6y ago
    There F-15s were better attack planes at the time. They hadn't really had the F-16 that long.
    - greedo 6y ago
      The F-15As were not better attack planes in 1981; the Israelis used them exclusively in air supremacy roles until 1985 when they bombed the PLO headquarters in Tunis. Israel had just received their F16As, but were well trained at Holloman AFB.

hef19898 6y ago

The F-117 as well. A marvelous plane, and development program.

whalesalad 6y ago

Lockheed is synonymous with Skunk Works ... the F-35 was a Lockheed project. I can guarantee a lot of the engineers who worked on those legendary aircraft also participated in the JSF.

labcomputer 6y ago
F-16 was a joint Northrop and General Dynamics project. Manufacturing rights were only sold to Lockheed in the 90's.
jeffreyrogers 6y ago
Organizations change. I heard recently at Skunk Works the engineers were told by some bureaucrats that they couldn't change the skunk logo (they had a modified version for some project). It's like how Boeing used to be a great engineering organization and now isn't. The sad thing is when a downturn happens those bureaucrats saying you can't change the logo will probably keep their jobs while the engineers who could probably be making pretty cool stuff if they had better leadership will be out of work.
p_l 6y ago
A critical part of F-35 problems was developed so far away from Skunkworks it is technically a separate company (still part of the wider Lockheed-Marting Concern) - the Lockheed-Marting Global Training & Logistics. Having encountered the quality (hahahah ... sob) they produce personally, I'm totally unsurprised US Navy and USMC could find funding a new fleet of space satellites cheaper than re-bribing enough senators to get ALIS (and now ODIN) contract reassigned to someone competent.

coldcode 6y ago

The F16 was designed and built originally by General Dynamics, Lockheed bought it much later. I worked on it early in my career at GD.

kilroy123 6y ago
Any interesting stories you can share from that time? I'd love to hear more.

protomyth 6y ago

1981: Used by Israel to blow up Iraq nuclear reactor Oddly, they used F-15s to provide escort. This attack took place after two Phantom F-4-E of Iran missed.

greedo 6y ago
Why "Oddly?" The F-15 was the best air supremacy fighter of that era; perfect for escorting bomb-laden F-16s that would have had a difficult time protecting themselves.
- protomyth 6y ago
  There F-15s were better attack planes at the time. They hadn't really had the F-16 that long.
  - greedo 6y ago
    The F-15As were not better attack planes in 1981; the Israelis used them exclusively in air supremacy roles until 1985 when they bombed the PLO headquarters in Tunis. Israel had just received their F16As, but were well trained at Holloman AFB.