Lockheed Aircraft: Illustrated History Books & Guides

75 years of the Lockheed Martin Skunk Works

The Lockheed Martin Skunk Works was founded in the summer of 1943 to develop a jet-powered high-altitude interceptor for the USAAF, and ever since it has been at the forefront of technological development in the world of aviation.
From the XP-80 to the U-2, SR-71, F-117, F-22 and now the F-35, the Skunk Works team has designed aircraft that are the pinnacle of innovation and performance.

"75 years of the Lockheed Martin Skunk Works" takes us through the history of this legendary facility from its foundation at the height of World War II under the talented engineer, Clarence "Kelly" Johnson, through to the present day.
Illustrated with over a thousand photographs and drawings, it details the 46 unclassified programmes developed by the Skunk Works, following them through prototype build-up, first flight and, if they reached the frontline, operational service.

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Lockheed A-12 - The CIA's Blackbird and Other Variants (Osprey)

During the early years of the Cold War, the most effective way to gather strategic intelligence about the Soviet Union and its allies was manned overflight. Lockheed's U-2 was spectacularly successful in this role, however, much to the concern of US President Eisenhower, its shape meant that it could be tracked on Russian radars.
Given the highly sensitive nature of such flights, the President insisted that every effort should be made to reduce to zero the U-2's radar cross section (RCS), thereby making the aircraft invisible. When this was proven to be impossible, the stage was set for a U-2 replacement. Following a competition between Lockheed and Convair, the former was declared the winner and the result was the A-12.
Designed to incorporate 'stealth' features before the term was even coined, the A-12 has to date proven to be the fastest, highest flying jet aircraft ever built.

This book also covers a two-seat variation of the design built as an advanced interceptor - the YF-12.

Contents: Introduction - Design evolution and development - Technical Specifications - Operational History - Conclusion - programme shut-down - The YF-12 evolution, flight test and cancellation - The M-21 D-21 evolution, flight test and cancellation.

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Lockheed T/RT 33 - The Story of a Trainer / Storia di una addestratore

The Lockheed T-33 Shooting Star is a two-seat jet trainer aircraft developed from the P-80/F-80 fighter. First flown in 1948, it became a widely used training aircraft among NATO air forces, including Italy.
This publication offers a comprehensive look at the T-33's history and service, featuring 127 illustrations. The book covers the aircraft's development, technical specifications, and operational use, with a focus on its role in the Italian Air Force.

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Lockheed T-33 - A Photo Chronicle

The T-33 jet trainer was derived from the Lockheed F-80C Shooting Star, the USAF's first operational jet fighter, in 1948. In the fifty years since its introduction the T-33 has trained more jet pilots than any other training type. In addition to this role, it has served, and continues to serve, as an attack fighter - the AT-33 - and as a reconnaissance aircraft - the RT-33 - in several foreign air forces. It was also a testbed in many development programs including tests on ejection seats and missile guidance systems, and continues yet today in various military and civilian roles.

This book tells the whole story.

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Revolution in the Sky : The Lockheed's of Aviation's Golden Age

This is the fascinating story of the single-engine Lockheeds flown by Charles Lindbergh, Wiley Post and Will Rogers, Amelia Earhart, and Jimmy Doolittle.

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Vega Ventura : The Operational Story of Lockheed's Lucky Star

Drawn from the files of English, American, New Zealand, Australian and Canadian sources, as well as from veterans, this is the story of Lockheed's Lucky Star-the marvelous Ventura!
Fashioned from the Lockheed Model 18 airliner, the Ventura went on to fight on nearly every World War II battlefront as a penetration bomber, anti-submarine patrol aircraft, reconnaissance bomber, and even nightfighter.

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