Page 8 - Aerotech News and Review, Feb. 21, 2019

Air Force Plant 42

Air Force Plant 42, a U.S. government facility in Palmdale, Calif., is home to NASA, the

Lockheed Martin Skunk Works, Northrop Grumman and Boeing.

Over the years, Plant 42 has seen many cutting-edge aircraft designed, built and tested at the

facility including the B-2 Spirit bomber, the Space Shuttle and the SR-71 Blackbird.

Contractors at Plant 42 share a common runway complex and either lease buildings from the
Air Force or own their facilities outright – a set-up known as ‘government owned-contractor

operated.’ Government functions are now provided by the 412th Test Wing, based at nearby

Edwards Air Force Base.

The legacy continues into the modern era with such programs as the Lockheed Martin Quiet

Supersonic Transport, the X-59 QueSST, being designed and built for NASA, and Northrop
Grumman’s B-21 Raider, the Air Force’s newest bomber.

Lockheed Martin Skunk Works continues historic legacy
®

by Stuart Ibberson
editor
Lockheed Martin has had a presence in the An-
telope Valley for decades, and its main facility is
the famed Skunk Works® at Air Force Plant 42
in Palmdale.
“Lockheed Martin Skunk Works® is proud to
call Aerospace Valley and Southern California
home for more than 75 years,” said Madison Har-
man Callahan, a company spokesperson. “While
our headquarters in Palmdale is the only Lock-
heed Martin facility in the Valley, we have em-
ployees who work at nearby Edwards Air Force
Base. We also partner with other companies and
entities in the area, including NASA.”
The company that brought such iconic aircraft
as the U-2, the SR-71 Blackbird, the F-117 Night-
hawk, the F-22 Raptor and the F-35 Lightning
II to fruition continues to focus on cutting edge
technology and the future of flight.
“The cutting edge work we are doing runs the
gamut from next generation unmanned systems,
multi-domain operations, future fighters, hyper-
sonic systems and beyond,” said Harman Cal-
lahan. “One major program we are working on
includes the design and development of the X-59
QueSST demonstrator aircraft that will support
NASA’s mission of enabling quiet supersonic
Lockheed Martin photograph
Lockheed Martin Skunk Works in Palmdale, Calif., continues to maintain the U-2 Dragon Lady.

flight. The innovative work being done at the Skunk
“Additionally, we continue to maintain the U-2 Works runs the gamut from next generation un-
to keep it mission ready 24/7/365 to support the manned systems, multi-domain operations, future
Air Force’s ever-evolving mission needs,” Har- fighters, hypersonic systems and beyond. Moving
man Callahan added. forward, the company anticipates continued work
The Skunk Works currently employs about in these areas.
3,800 people in the Antelope Valley. In 2019, the
company hired nearly 800 people, and has plans Highlights of 2019 include:
to hire 500 more in 2020. • The Auto Ground Collision Avoidance System
“We are actively seeking talented individuals was named the recipient of the most prestigious
across a variety of departments including me- award in aerospace, the Collier Trophy.
chanical/aeronautical engineering, IT, produc- • The company continues to advance classified
tion, finance, quality and more,” said Harman programs, delivering the next generation of capa-
Callahan. “The ideal candidate is eager to pursue bilities to its customers.
work on cutting-edge technologies and designs, • The company broke ground on a new state-
enjoys working in teams, loves to learn, and isn’t of-the-art manufacturing facility in Palmdale. The
afraid to challenge the way things have always building will be home to the latest manufacturing
been done and push the boundaries. technology to achieve development efficiencies
“Clearances are important, but people without and substantial cost savings for customers.
an active security clearance should not let that
stop them from applying. Interested individuals The future indeed looks bright for Lockheed
Lockheed Martin photograph
Lockheed Martin is working on the X-59 QueSST for NASA. should apply at LockheedMartin.com/Skunk- Martin Skunk Works and its continued presence
Works.” in the Antelope Valley.
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