Kelly Johnson Aircraft Designer - Extraordinaire A Photo Album
I believe in heroes. I have quite a few. Kelly Johnson is
one of them. He was the greatest aircraft designer of all
time. Period.
Besides his
aircraft prowess, he was a helluva guy. A helluva manager.
His airplanes were built in record short time, by tiny workforces, at
low cost.
We could learn a lot
from him today.......a lot.
Kelly - 1933
In the University of Michigan
wind tunnel with the early Model 10 Electra. He disputed the Wind
Tunnel Lab Report on stability with a single vertical fin, pioneered
the trademark Lockheed twin tail design, and got hired by Lockheed.
Working in Flight Test during Model 10
Electra testing - c. late 1930s
Kelly and P-38 Fighter Pilot - c.1944
Kelly with Model of P-80
Shooting Star - c.1948
Shaking hands with Tony LeVier in the YP-80
With a line up of P-80 Shooting Stars
Kelly in the cockpit of an F-104
1959
Kelly receiving the Collier Trophy for the F-104 from then
Vice-President Richard Nixon
Kelly with his new Jetstar - September 1957
First Flight of the Jetstar
Kelly with
Francis Gary Powers in front of a U-2A
Kelly in
front of CIA U-2 N803X
Kelly in front of a U-2 and an F-104
As Tony LeVier said, "One had NO wing, and the other was ALL wing!"
Kelly with YF-12A
1964
Kelly receiving the Medal of Freedom from President Lynden Johnson at
The White House - America's Highest Civilian Award
Kelly in cockpit of A-12B
Kelly in front of an SR-71
1983
Kelly receiving the National Security Medal from President Ronald
Reagan