Stuff They Don't Want You To Know CLASSIC: What is 'Skunkworks'?
Jun 24, 2025
Dive into the secretive world of Lockheed Martin's Skunk Works, where groundbreaking military tech meets intense confidentiality. Discover the origins of this innovative division, including the camaraderie of its creators. Explore how classified projects like the U-2 and the A-12 took shape during the Cold War and their ties to pop culture. The podcast humorously juxtaposes real-life aircraft with fictional ones and unravels the complexities of military spending and transparency, all while revealing the thrilling mystery of advanced aviation.
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Fast-Track Jet Fighter Creation
- Skunk Works began as a secretive and informal collaboration to quickly build a jet fighter in 1943.
- Their first jet, the XP-80, was designed and built in 143 days by breaking conventional rules and avoiding red tape.
Kelly Johnson's Skunk Rules
- Kelly Johnson set 14 unique rules to bypass bureaucracy and speed innovation at Skunk Works.
- He insisted on minimal staff involvement and complete managerial control for rapid, rule-breaking development.
Origin of Skunk Works Name
- Skunk Works got its name from a stink in a rented circus tent next to a plastics factory.
- Team engineer Irv Culver coined "Skunk Works" as a joke referencing a comic strip about a smelly place.