1944
Kelly Johnson's Skunk Works team built the Lulu Bell, the first US fighter jet prototype, in 143 days.
“Kelly and this super elite team from Lockheed build the first prototype U.S. fighter jet named the Lulu Bell in 143 days, start to finish.”
Topic
Skunk Works
5 facts from 1 episode, in date order. These are what speakers said on the shows, each linked to the moment it was said. They aren't independently verified.
1950s
Skunk Works chose the dry lake bed at Groom Lake, Nevada, as the test site for the U-2, the origin of Area 51.
“So they find a dry lake bed in Nevada called Groom Lake.”
1953
The CIA specified that Skunk Works' U-2 spy plane must fly at 70,000 feet.
“So the CIA's spec for Skunk Works for the U-2 is to fly at 70,000 feet.”
1955
Skunk Works delivered the U-2 by July 1955, about a year and a half after starting, for a total project cost of $3.5 million.
“Skunk Works completes and delivers the plane by July 1955. So like a year and a half and for a total project cost of three and a half million dollars.”
1970
In 1970 the Pentagon canceled further SR-71 orders and ordered Skunk Works to destroy the titanium tooling.
“In 1970, the Pentagon cancels further orders and they order Skunk Works to destroy all of the titanium tooling for it so that no more can ever be built.”
Episodes