75 years ago in Burbank, California, engineer Kelly Johnson devised an operational concept so unique it is still celebrated today. As the birthplace of many revolutionary technologies – from America’s first fighter jet to the classified programs of today – Skunk Works® sets the precedent for how our most critical and difficult problems are solved.

This podcast brings to light the dark, classified world of the secret Lockheed Martin organization. First-hand accounts and stories passed down from generation to generation within the walls of Skunk Works are made public for the first time. And yes – we’ll talk about compact fusion!

For exclusive content, check out our show notes at lockheedmartin.com/insideskunkworks

Email us at insideskunkworks.lm@lmco.com

Produced by Theresa Hoey & Claire Whitfield
Artwork by Becca Smith

Introducing Inside Skunk Works

It was a time when computers were in their infancy. They were incredibly expensive and enormous with less processing power than an iPhone. Using little more than slide rules and pencils, a group of engineers designed one of the most advanced aircraft in aviation history. The year was 1958 and the aircraft they created was the SR-71 Blackbird.

For exclusive content, check out our show notes at lockheedmartin.com/insideskunkworks

Email us at insideskunkworks.lm@lmco.com

Produced by Theresa Hoey & Claire Whitfield
Artwork by Becca Smith

Absolute Definition of Power

In 1943, the Germans were already using jet technology in combat. The United States military leadership was frantic for a jet fighter of their own to counter the new threat. An idea for a secret organization hidden within a large aeronautics company begins to take shape and at the root of this idea is a young American engineer.

For exclusive content, check out our show notes at lockheedmartin.com/insideskunkworks

Email us at insideskunkworks.lm@lmco.com

Produced by Theresa Hoey & Claire Whitfield
Artwork by Becca Smith

They Gave Him a Tent

Radar-guided missiles were an ever-growing threat to aircraft throughout the 60s, 70s and 80s. As they say, “necessity is the mother of invention,” and the creation of an invisible airplane that would come to be known as the F-117 Nighthawk was no exception.

For exclusive content, check out our show notes at lockheedmartin.com/insideskunkworks

Email us at insideskunkworks.lm@lmco.com

Produced by Theresa Hoey & Claire Whitfield
Artwork by Becca Smith

Arrowhead

For many years fighter jets were specifically designed for individual military branches. In the 1990s, U.S. military leadership decided it would be more efficient to design one jet to meet the unique needs of the Air Force, Marines and Navy. In November of 1996, Lockheed Martin and Boeing competed to design the best X-plane solution to this new requirement. This would come to be known as the “battle of the X-planes”.

For exclusive content, check out our show notes at lockheedmartin.com/insideskunkworks

Email us at insideskunkworks.lm@lmco.com

Produced by Theresa Hoey & Claire Whitfield
Artwork by Becca Smith

Hat Trick

Before the F-117 and the SR-71 there was an aircraft that began to experiment with stealth - an aircraft that does so many things well, it’s still flying today.

For exclusive content, check out our show notes at lockheedmartin.com/insideskunkworks

Email us at insideskunkworks.lm@lmco.com

Produced by Theresa Hoey & Claire Whitfield
Artwork by Becca Smith

Not Today

Skunk Works® engineers have a willingness to take on projects most others don’t because the chances to succeed are too small or too difficult.

For exclusive content, check out our show notes at lockheedmartin.com/insideskunkworks

Email us at insideskunkworks.lm@lmco.com

Produced by Theresa Hoey & Claire Whitfield
Artwork by Becca Smith

Crashing is Success

In the midst of an energy revolution, a small team at the Skunk Works® is trying to solve a massive problem. Will they make compact fusion a reality? 

For exclusive content, check out our show notes at lockheedmartin.com/insideskunkworks

Email us at insideskunkworks.lm@lmco.com

Produced by Theresa Hoey & Claire Whitfield
Artwork by Becca Smith

It Changes Everything

Advancing technology allows aircraft to go faster and faster, but there is still one barrier that prevents the public from traveling faster than the speed of sound - the sonic boom.

For exclusive content, check out our show notes at lockheedmartin.com/insideskunkworks

Email us at insideskunkworks.lm@lmco.com

Produced by Theresa Hoey & Claire Whitfield
Artwork by Becca Smith

A Low Rumble

Are you ready for season 2? We’re covering conceptual design, hypersonics, unmanned systems, and much more.

For exclusive content, check out our show notes at LockheedMartin.com/insideskunkworks

Email us at insideskunkworks.lm@lmco.com

Produced by Claire Whitfield & Theresa Hoey

Artwork by Becca Smith & Francisco Silva

Introducing Inside Skunk Works: Season 2

Skunk Works® designs the aircraft of the future. Ever wonder how?

For exclusive content, check out our show notes at LockheedMartin.com/insideskunkworks

Email us at insideskunkworks.lm@lmco.com

Produced by Claire Whitfield & Theresa Hoey

Artwork by Becca Smith & Francisco Silva

Web Content by Kyra Betteridge

Visioneers

The X-35 and the YF-22 set the precedent for a new kind of jet fighter. We're outlining the evolution of 1st generation jet fighters to 5th generation and beyond.

For exclusive content, check out our show notes at LockheedMartin.com/insideskunkworks

Email us at insideskunkworks.lm@lmco.com

Produced by Claire Whitfield & Theresa Hoey

Artwork by Becca Smith & Francisco Silva

Web Content by Kyra Betteridge

Wolf Pack

Without security, the Skunk Works® wouldn’t exist. Security Integrator, Ward Albin, discusses some of his most challenging experiences operating in secrecy. 

For exclusive content, check out our show notes at lockheedmartin.com/insideskunkworks

Email us at insideskunkworks.lm@lmco.com

Produced by Claire Whitfield, Theresa Hoey, & Sabrina Braga

Artwork by Becca Smith & Francisco Silva

Web Content by Kyra Betteridge

Trusted with Secrets

In 1962, Kelly Johnson led a small team to design and develop a supersonic drone. Meet today's leaders of Skunk Works® unmanned systems and learn about what we're working on today.

For exclusive content, check out our show notes at lockheedmartin.com/insideskunkworks

Email us at insideskunkworks.lm@lmco.com

Produced by Claire Whitfield & Theresa Hoey

Associate Producer Nick Tanaka

Artwork by Becca Smith & Francisco Silva

Web Content by Kyra Betteridge

Dull, Dirty, Dangerous

The first pilot to fly the SR-71, a pilot with more flight test hours at Mach 3 than any other, and a protégé of legendary aircraft designer Kelly Johnson – this is his journey that changed the world. His name is Bob Gilliland.

For a full transcript of this episode go to https://www.lockheedmartin.com/en-us/who-we-are/business-areas/aeronautics/skunkworks/insideskunkworks.html#s2episode5

Email us at insideskunkworks.lm@lmco.com

Produced by Claire Whitfield, Theresa Hoey, & Rachel Bartlett

Artwork by Becca Smith & Francisco Silva

Web Content by Kyra Betteridge

Dutch 51

Skunk Works® is in the business of going fast. More than a mile per second fast. What does it take to fly at hypersonic speeds?

For exclusive content, check out our show notes at lockheedmartin.com/insideskunkworks

Email us at insideskunkworks.lm@lmco.com

Produced by Claire Whitfield & Theresa Hoey

Associate Producer Nick Tanaka

Artwork by Becca Smith & Francisco Silva

Web Content by Kyra Betteridge & Heidi Smith

Faster & Faster

In the 1970s, Skunk Works® stealth technology was proving so successful, that Ben Rich began looking for new potential applications. From this search would arise a program that would allow the United States not only to dominate the air, but the sea.

For exclusive content, check out our show notes at lockheedmartin.com/insideskunkworks

Email us at insideskunkworks.lm@lmco.com

Produced by Claire Whitfield & Theresa Hoey

Associate Producer Nick Tanaka

Artwork by Becca Smith & Francisco Silva

Web Content by Kyra Betteridge & Heidi Smith

Sea Shadow

A spy story involving CIA cover stories, the Red Fleet, Skunk Works® engineers, and a famous, eccentric American billionaire.

For exclusive content, check out our show notes at lockheedmartin.com/insideskunkworks

Email us at insideskunkworks.lm@lmco.com

Produced by Claire Whitfield, Theresa Hoey, & Nick Tanaka

Artwork by Becca Smith & Francisco Silva

Web Content by Kyra Betteridge & Heidi Smith

Clementine

Aircraft design begins with an idea, but you can’t fly an idea. Just as the Wright brothers proved air travel is possible, Skunk Works® engineers must prove the impossible, is possible.

For exclusive content, check out our show notes at lockheedmartin.com/insideskunkworks

Email us at insideskunkworks.lm@lmco.com

Produced by Claire Whitfield & Theresa Hoey

Associate Producer Nick Tanaka

Artwork by Becca Smith & Francisco Silva

Web Content by Kyra Betteridge & Heidi Smith

Prove It

Inside Skunk Works is back for its second season! Building on the history of the Skunk Works® shared in Season 1, this podcast uncovers our future focused innovations through first-hand accounts of test pilots, engineers and designers. Rapidly developing disruptive technologies, brainstorming out of the box solutions and engineering the future of flight – all at Skunk Works.

This season, we’re diving into hypersonics, unmanned systems and conceptual design. In true Skunk Works fashion, our fast-paced culture is brought to life in our rapid prototyping episode. Join in on the conversation of how Lockheed Martin Skunk Works is providing tomorrow’s solutions – today!

For exclusive content, check out our show notes at LockheedMartin.com/insideskunkworks

Email us at insideskunkworks.lm@lmco.com

Produced by Claire Whitfield & Theresa Hoey
Artwork by Becca Smith & Francisco Silva
Web Content by Kyra Betteridge

Inside Skunk Works

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