Landmark 1b. Military Contracts
If you're stumbling upon this post for the first time, you're entering the narrative midway through its unfolding saga. Alternatively, if you've eagerly awaited the next episode, consider revisiting Chapter Index to refresh your memory.
When the door of the Sikorsky S-76C helicopter opened onto the tarmac of Air Force Plant 42, Ranell was blasted by a rotor wash that beat the shimmering heat waves into an outdoor convection oven. With the temperature hovering near 105 degrees, he was grateful for the near total lack of humidity in the arid desert air of Palmdale, California. Otherwise, his best suit would have been instantly soaked through with sweat.
He'd been invited to a tour of Lockheed Martin’s massive Skunk Works aircraft manufacturing facility. It had taken more than a year of intense contracting negotiations, but the GML corporation finally secured a contract with the Department of the Navy to retrofit the existing LMH-1 cargo airships with several state-of-the-art sensor arrays and a suite of counter-missile interdiction systems. The contract was massive, possibly even enough to pull GML from the brink of financial ruin, but the delivery was not yet final. The expected windfall profits had yet to be realized. Ranell knew that, at best, he'd bought GML some additional time.
A long white sedan with the distinctive Skunk Works logo pulled up, and a driver wearing dark sunglasses emerged to open the door for a woman who introduced herself as “Patty” Jamison, the Senior Manager of Program Communications for Lockheed Martin Aeronautics. Introductions were kept mercifully brief, and Ranell slid eagerly into the air-conditioned comfort of the luxuriously appointed vehicle while Jamison and her driver returned to their seats and closed the doors to the oppressive heat.
“We have the principle. En route to your location now." The driver called in a report and began to pull the sedan smoothly away from the helicopter.
Jamison turned to Ranell and said, "Dr. Ranell, if you look out the window to the left, you can see the facility we will be visiting today.”
Ranell turned his attention to where she pointed, past a series of industrial-looking buildings, towards an enormous white structure with a large black and white cartoon skunk featured prominently on the side. Beneath that were the words Lockheed Martin in capital letters, along with the company's iconic five-pointed star logo.
“In 1945, the Army’s Air Tactical Service Command asked Lockheed Martin to design America’s first fighter jet.” Jamison began what sounded like a well-rehearsed speech, “The team selected for the job rented a circus tent here and delivered the jet in just 143 days. However, a strong odor permeated the facility because the tent had been sitting next to a plastics factory in Burbank. Hence the name Skunk Works."
"It's massive," was all Ranell could reply as he gazed in wonder at the distant campus.
"The facility sits on just under 600 acres." Jamison's pride was evident in her bright smile. "The LMH-1 was designed right here at Air Force Plant 42. We're so excited that you're here today. It's like the Sky Tug is coming home!"
"I can't wait to see your modifications, Patty."
“And we can’t wait to show them to you, Dr. Ranell.” Her smile turned into a whimsical frown, “However, I’m sure you will appreciate that since this is a secure facility, we’re going to have to whisk you away with the shades pulled down.” She made a slight nod to the driver.
With that, the electronically controlled windows of the sedan went black.
Choose Option 1: Learn More about the Skunk Works
Choose Option 2: Meet the Skunk Works Team