Actually, no. It was simply an amazing design by Kelly Johnson, (yup, the guy that designed the SR-71), well ahead of its time, and unbelievably good at what it does.
Now you know how menthol cigarettes were invented.
By the time those were being designed, Johnson was an executive. The Great Hero of Aerospace didn't design those planes personally. In my year and a half working at the Skunk Works, I got really tired of hearing about Saint Kelly every day.Actually, no. It was simply an amazing design by Kelly Johnson, (yup, the guy that designed the SR-71)...
I slouch corrected regarding Mr. Johnson. Thanks for clueing me in.By the time those were being designed, Johnson was an executive. The Great Hero of Aerospace didn't design those planes personally. In my year and a half working at the Skunk Works, I got really tired of hearing about Saint Kelly every day.
"Kelly Johnson used to build great planes and then the customers would see them and need to buy." But customers don't buy that way anymore, and building that way would waste many millions of dollars.
"Kelly Johnson built (this or that plane) in just six days!" But in those days no one was required by their customers to to do three analyses of every bolt.
"We've forgotten Kelly's Rules. Lo, we have lost our way." Kelly Johnson is as dead and gone as the era he worked in, just like Moses. I can't tell you how many people haven't got the memo.
[/RANT]
Don't get me wrong. Johnson was great at what he did, in the time he was doing it. I don't mean to take anything away from him and the Skunk Works' glory days.I slouch corrected regarding Mr. Johnson. Thanks for clueing me in.
Without a doubt. And add the A10 to that list.I still think the design was thinking waaaaay outside the box for its time. Some really cool airplanes like the B58 only lasted a few years. Others like the U2/TR1, B52, C130, and maybe the F15 and F16 seem to have lives of their own.
That had better be real duct tape or I'm not getting in
Where's the dragonfly? I always noticed dragonflies like to perch on wires, too. At least, they perched on my wire antennas. Heck, even found one perching on the tip of my mobile ham radio antenna, one time!
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