SPEED IS LIFE

"Speed is life" is the maxim of the fighter pilot.   An airframe worthy of the fighter pilot's life pushes the technology of its times to the limit, increasing the odds of survival through superior performance.   Although not a fighter, rarely if ever has a design succeeded as well as the SR-71 Blackbird reconnaisance jet which was designed, built, and tested by the Lockheed Martin Skunk Works under the direction of Kelly Johnson.   When under threat, its pilot "simply" accelerated.   SR-71 features:

• Unarmed reconnaissance jet.
  
  
• Highly skilled pilot required.
  
  
• Over 800 attempts were made to shoot it down, all without success because of:
  
  
  • Its blistering speed above Mach 3.3   (Speed is Life!)
    
    
  • Edge of space altitude above 85,000 feet

Despite its age, no known air-breathing aerospace vehicle has ever exceeded its performance.   Although this spectacular engineering success occurred a half-century ago, the timeless philosophy of the development environment that fostered its success is embedded in the rules below.

Skunk Works Rules of Operation**

1. The Skunk Works manager must be delegated practically complete control of his program in all aspects.   He should report to a division president or higher.
   
   
2. Strong but small project offices must be provided both by the military and industry.
   
   
3. The number of people having any connection with the project must be restricted in an almost vicious manner.   Use a small number of good people (10% to 25% compared to the so-called normal systems).
   
   
4. A very simple drawing and drawing release system with great flexibility for making changes must be provided.
   
   
5. There must be a minimum number of reports required, but important work must be recorded thoroughly.
   
   
6. There must be a monthly cost review covering not only what has been spent and committed but also projected costs to the conclusion of the program.   Don't have the books ninety days late and don't surprise the customer with sudden overruns.
   
   
7. The contractor must be delegated and must assume more than normal responsibility to get good vendor bids for subcontract work on the project.   Commercial bid procedures are very often better than military ones.
   
   
8. The inspection system as currently used by the Skunk Works, which has been approved by both the Air Force and Navy, meets the intent of existing military requirements and should be used on new projects.   Push more basic inspection back to the vendor -- don't pay for pieces that don't work!   Don't duplicate so much inspection.
   
   
9. The contractor must be delegated the authority to test his final product in flight.   He can and must test it in the initial stages.   If he doesn't he rapidly loses his competency to design other vehicles.
   
   
10. The specifications applying to the project must be agreed to in advance of contracting.   Be sure there is mutual understanding in this field before proceeding; otherwise it takes a mammoth contracting department to unscramble the mess that normally develops.
    
    
11. Funding a program must be timely so that the contractor doesn't have to keep running to the bank to support government projects.
    
    
12. There must be mutual trust between the military project organization and the contractor, with very close cooperation and liaison on a day to day basis.   This cuts down misunderstandings and correspondence to an absolute minimum.
    
    
13. Access by outsiders to the project and its personnel must be strictly controlled by appropriate security measures.
    
    
14. Because only a few people will be used in engineering and most other areas, ways must be provided to reward good performance by pay not based on the number of personnel supervised.

Be Quick, Be Quiet, Be Right.   Especially Right.

**Skunk Works is a registered trademark of Lockheed Martin Corporation.