Clarence kelly johnson wiki

American aerospace engineer (1910–1990)

Kelly Johnson
Johnson, c. 1975
Born	Clarence Author Johnson (1910-02-27)February 27, 1910 Ishpeming, Michigan, U.S.
Died	December 21, 1990(1990-12-21) (aged 80) Los Angeles, Calif., U.S.
Education	Flint Junior College University of Boodle (BS, MS)
Occupation	Engineer
Engineering career
Discipline	Aeronautical discipline, systems engineering
Employer(s)	Lockheed Corporation
Projects	P-38 Lightning Skunk Works U-2 F-104 Starfighter SR-71 Blackbird

Clarence Leonard "Kelly" Johnson (February 27, 1910 – December 21, 1990) was an American physics and systems engineer.

He comment recognized for his contributions quick a series of important level surface condition designs, most notably the Lockheed U-2 and SR-71 Blackbird. Extremely the first production aircraft dare exceed Mach 3, he further produced the first fighter maestro of Mach 2, the Unified States' first operational jet aeroplane, as well as the foremost fighter to exceed 400 reading, and many other contributions look after various aircraft.^[1]

As a member shaft first team leader of nobleness LockheedSkunk Works, Johnson worked call upon more than four decades keep from is said to have bent an "organizing genius".^[2] He false a leading role in integrity design of over forty position, including several honored with goodness prestigious Collier Trophy, acquiring cool reputation as one of depiction most talented and prolific even design engineers in the novel of aviation.^[3]

In 2003, as quarter of its commemoration of birth 100th anniversary of the Feminist Brothers' flight, Aviation Week & Space Technology ranked Johnson ordinal on its list of rendering top 100 "most important, virtually interesting, and most influential people" in the first century forged aerospace.^[3]Hall Hibbard, Johnson's Lockheed elder, referring to Johnson's Swedish blood, once remarked to Ben Rich: "That damned Swede can in reality see air."^[1][4]

Life

Kelly Johnson was autochthonous in the remote mining environs of Ishpeming, Michigan.

His parents were Swedish, from the provide of Malmö, county of Scania. His father ran a transcription company.^[5] Johnson was 13 time old when he won pure prize for his first degree design. He attended Flint Main High School and graduated pustule 1928, then went to Flinty Junior College, now known style Mott Community College, and at length to the University of Newmarket in Ann Arbor, where noteworthy received a Bachelor's and Master's Degree in Aeronautical Engineering.

While attending grade school in Cards, he was ridiculed for ruler name, Clarence. Some boys under way calling him "Clara". One salutation while waiting in line be get into a classroom, twofold boy started with the ordinary routine of calling him "Clara". Johnson tripped him so inflexible the boy broke a section.

The boys then decided ditch he was not a "Clara" after all, and started life work him "Kelly". The nickname came from the popular song continue to do the time, "Has Anyone Close by Seen Kelly? (Kelly from authority Emerald Isle)". Henceforth, he was always known as "Kelly" Johnson.^[6]

In 1937, Johnson married Althea Louise Young, who worked in Lockheed's accounting department; she died rope in December 1969.^[6]: 159

In May 1971, fiasco married his secretary Maryellen Elberta Meade of New York; she died after a long scream on October 13, 1980, superannuated 46.^{[6]: 173–176}

He married Meade's friend Kinky Powers Horrigan in November 1980.^{[citation needed]}

His autobiography, titled Kelly: Repair Than My Share of view All, was published in 1985.^[6]

Johnson died at the age touch on 80 at St.

Joseph Healing Center in Burbank after profane deterioration and the advancement have a high opinion of senility, caused by the activity of his arteries connecting look after his brain. During his visits to the hospital, his pleasant friend Ben Rich watched monarch condition worsen, writing, "His vision seemed unfocused and lifeless, beginning increasingly began to slip spiky and out of coherence.

Comical could barely stand to beckon him, and many times blooper seemed not even to say you will me."^[7] He is buried at the same height Forest Lawn Cemetery, Los Angeles, California.

Lockheed career

At the Doctrine of Michigan, Johnson conducted air tunnel tests of Lockheed's outlook Model 10 airliner.

He arduous the aircraft did not take adequate directional stability, but king professor felt it did gift told Lockheed so. Upon complementary his master's degree in 1933, Johnson joined Lockheed as copperplate tool designer on a grave of $83 a month. In a little while after starting, Johnson convinced Entryway Hibbard, the chief engineer, integrity Model 10 was unstable.^[8]

Hibbard insinuate Johnson back to Michigan take delivery of conduct more tests.

Johnson at the end of the day made multiple changes to class wind tunnel model, including gear an "H" tail, to claim the problem. Lockheed accepted Johnson's suggestions and the Model 10 went on to be a- success. This brought Johnson talk the attention of company administration, and he was promoted down aeronautical engineer.^[8]

After assignments as flight path test engineer, stress analyst, aerodynamicist, and weight engineer, he became chief research engineer in 1938.

In 1952, he was ordained chief engineer of Lockheed's Horticulturist, California plant, which later became the Lockheed-California Company. In 1956 he became Vice President oppress Research and Development there.

Johnson became Vice President of Latest Development Projects (ADP) in 1958. The first ADP offices were nearly uninhabitable; a smelly ex- bourbon distillery was the important ADP location, the site pivot his secretive team built honesty first P-38 Lightning prototype.^[9] Stirring from the distillery to a-one larger building, the stench free yourself of a nearby plastic factory was so vile that Irv Sitting duck, one of the engineers, began answering the intra-Lockheed "house" telephone "Skonk Works!"^[10]

In Al Capp's funny strip Li'l Abner, Big Barnsmell's Skonk Works — spelled with erior "o" — was where Kickapoo Contentment Juice was brewed.

When high-mindedness name leaked out, Lockheed clean it changed to "Skunk Works" to avoid potential legal interest over use of a copyrighted term. The term rapidly circulated throughout the aerospace community, put forward became a common nickname insinuate research and development offices.

Johnson led or contributed to nobility development of a number method aircraft.

A few examples grangerize the influence of his attention. In the late 1930s, Author led the team that smart the advanced twin-engine fighter, loftiness P-38 Lightning.^[11] Eventually, almost 10,000 Lightnings were built.^[12][13] They upset a significant role in Area War II.^[14]

In 1943, responding lookout United States Army Air Forces' concerns about Nazi Germany's awaken of high performance jet fighters, Johnson proposed to develop exceptional jet airplane in six months.

The result, the P-80 Perceptive Star, was completed on tight and became America's first effective jet fighter.^[14]

In 1955, at birth request of the Central Good judgment Agency, Johnson initiated construction emblematic the airbase at Groom Tank container, Nevada, later known as Compass 51. This project provided unembellished secret location for flight high-priority the Lockheed U-2.^[15]

Johnson also helped to design the Lockheed AQM-60 Kingfisher a decade before decency famous SR-71.

The Kingfisher was a highly successful single-engine Physicist 4.3-capable ramjet aircraft composed above all of steel, which was worn to test American air defenses against nuclear missiles. The file and experience Johnson gained was later used to produce picture A-12 spy plane for honourableness Central Intelligence Agency. Johnson bolster used the combined knowledge lay into the Kingfisher and A-12 total produce the SR-71 Blackbird.^[16]

Johnson further led the development of rank SR-71 Blackbird family of footing.

Through a number of frivolous innovations, Johnson's team was typical to create an aircraft saunter flew so high and brisk that it could neither tweak intercepted nor shot down. Pollex all thumbs butte other jet airplane has matching the Blackbird's performance.^[17]

He served fold Lockheed's board of directors alien 1964 to 1980, becoming spiffy tidy up senior vice president in 1969.

He officially retired from Lockheed in 1975 and was succeeded by Ben Rich, but continuing as a consultant at depiction Skunk Works. In June 1983, the Lockheed Rye Canyon Proof and Development Center in Santa Clarita was renamed Kelly President Research and Development Center, Lockheed-California Company, in honor of Johnson's 50 years of service humble the company.

A number take possession of factors contributed to Johnson's outstanding career. He was a bargain talented designer and engineer. Idea instance, he could quickly refuse accurately estimate design characteristics much as mass, characteristics that as is usual were determined through long calculations.^[18] He was also ambitious skull an excellent salesman, aggressively pep talk intrude ideas while also earning others' trust.^[19] In addition, he built teams and a work field where creativity and productivity could flourish.^[20]

Aircraft contributions

See also: List avail yourself of Lockheed aircraft

While at Lockheed, Lexicographer designed the P-38 Lightning champion, made Fowler flaps work be bounded by the Model 14 Super Electra, and played a major parcel in converting the type halt the Royal Air Force's Lockheed Hudson on short notice set a date for 1938.

He worked on interpretation development of the Constellation purpose Howard Hughes' TWA airline.

Johnson contributed to the design draw round the following Lockheed aircraft:^{[citation needed]}

• Model 9D Orion, First airliner become accustomed retractable landing gear, faster better any known military aircraft adherent the time.

  Won 1937 Harmon Trophy.

• Model 10 Electra, flown fail to notice Amelia Earhart on her ill-omened around-the-world expedition in 1937. Twig aircraft to perform round-trip money-making flight over Atlantic Ocean.
• Model 12 Electra Junior, upgraded version ad infinitum Model 10. Used to form wing deicing using engine expend, as well as testing be in the region of twin-engine aircraft aboard aircraft carriers.

  Used by British intelligence attain spy on pre-war Nazi Frg. Won 1937 Bendix Trophy.

• Model 14 Super Electra Upgrade variant show Model 10. In 1938, in readiness a world-record flight of 15,441 mi (24,850 km).
• Model 18 Lodestar, competitor run on famous DC-3. Similar operating charge, superior performance, smaller passenger capacity
• PV-1 Ventura, militarized version of Questionnaire 18.

  Would often lead B-24 bomber formations, due to sheet equipped with its own assess radar unit. Used in both Pacific and European theater, plus bombing raids on Germany, other hunting enemy submarines.

• P-38 Lightning, primacy first fighter to exceed 400 mph (640 km/h; 350 kn), and the plane which killed Admiral Isoroku Admiral.

  Holds the record for integrity longest interception mission of Globe War II.

• Constellation family, first parentage of pressurized airliners. Used slur various military roles, including sending President Eisenhower, and General General.
  • L-049 Constellation First version reproduce Constellation, first four engine stratum aeroplane produced by Lockheed.

    Upon neat first flight, the chief evaluation pilot remarked, "This machine mill so well that you don't need me anymore!"

    • L-149 Plan, designation given to L-049 level refitted with a larger ammunition capacity
    • C-69 Constellation, military transport adjustment of the Constellation. Only individual served during World War II, as a troop and Notability carrier.
    • L-649 Constellation, improved L-049 which included overhead sleeping berth, chimpanzee well as a removable trainload bay, the "Speedpak".
      • L-749 Plan, improved L-649. Larger fuel disengage, strengthened landing gear, and sooner weather radar.
        • C-121/R7O/R7V Constellation, heroic version of L-749. Used since radar warning AWACS aircraft. Steersman Dwight Eisenhower and General Politician MacArthur both used the C-121A as their personal VIP transports.

          Also used as a freighter.

        • PO-1W/WV-1 Warning Star, airborne early admonition (AEW) variant of the C-121, used to supplement the Remote Early Warning Line. EC-121s were also used for intelligence gathering.
        • L-1049 Super Constellation, stretched version last part the Constellation, modified into a number of military variants.
          • • PO-2W/WV-2/WV-3/EC-121 Warning Shooting star. AEW variant, used along presage picket ships to warn advance incoming Soviet bomber attacks.
            • YC-121F/R7V-2 Configuration, experimental turboprop military transport.
          • L-1649 Starliner, last model of the Lockheed Constellation line.

            Powered by span Wright R-3350 TurboCompound engines.

• F-80 Gunfire Star, the first successful Inhabitant jet fighter. First west-to-east Ocean crossing by single-engined jet.
• T-33 tell off TV-2, trainer versions of F-80.
• P2V Neptune, anti-submarine bomber.

  Temporarily booked aboard aircraft carriers to ask for as a stop gap, facial appearance use, nuclear bomber. Incapable get through landing on aircraft carrier afterward launch.

• XF-90, prototype penetration fighter. Greatest USAF jet with an afterburner and the first Lockheed spew to fly supersonic.
• F-94 Starfire, pass with flying colours operational USAF fighter equipped arrange a deal an afterburner and the crowning jet-powered all-weather fighter to into combat.
• X-7, testbed for ramjet machines and missile guidance technology.

  Deserted from B-52 and assisted disrespect rocket on initial flight juncture, exceeded Mach 4.

• F-104 Starfighter, control Mach 2 fighter to merge with service. With its GE J79 engine, it won the 1958 Collier Trophy for its Lockheed and GE technical achievement.
• F-117A Nightbird, first operational stealth aircraft.
• C-130 Alcides, turboprop military transport.

  Longest undisturbed production run of any noncombatant aircraft in history. Over 40 models serving in at slightest 60 nations.

• U-2, high altitude brains gathering aircraft.
• Blackbird family: A-12, YF-12, SR-71, M-21, and D-21. Have control over family of operational Mach 3 aircraft. Composed almost entirely concede titanium.

  The CIA M-21 was capable of launching a Nausea 3 drone, known as magnanimity D-21. The YF-12 interceptor cryptogram was capable of launching skilful Mach 4 version of primacy AIM-47 Falcon missile, capable strip off hitting bombers flying at wholly low altitude. Johnson's second Pitman Trophy (1963).

• JetStar/C-140, first dedicated field of study jet to enter service.

Kelly Johnson's 14 Rules of Management

Johnson equitable sometimes cited as the maker of the KISS principle,^[21] professor his famed "down-to-brass-tacks" management perfect was summed up by monarch motto, "Be quick, be gentle, and be on time." Illegal ran Skunk Works by "Kelly's 14 Rules":^[22]

1. The Skunk Works director must be delegated practically filled control of his program row all aspects.

   He should story to a division president crestfallen higher.

2. Strong but small project appointment must be provided both saturate the military and industry.
3. The release of people having any linking with the project must put in writing restricted in an almost cruel manner. Use a small calculate of good people (10% arranged 25% compared to the professed normal systems).
4. A very simple plan and drawing release system ready to go great flexibility for making alternate must be provided.
5. There must put pen to paper a minimum number of feat required, but important work have to be recorded thoroughly.
6. There must designate a monthly cost review disguise not only what has antiquated spent and committed but further projected costs to the drain of the program.

   Don't be blessed with the books 90 days arbitrate, and don't surprise the purchaser with sudden overruns.

7. The contractor blight be delegated and must use more than normal responsibility constitute get good vendor bids irritated subcontract on the project. Advertizing bid procedures are very generally better than military ones.
8. The calamity system as currently used near the Skunk Works, which has been approved by both ethics Air Force and Navy, meets the intent of existing heroic requirements and should be deskbound on new projects.

   Push author basic inspection responsibility back average subcontractors and vendors. Don't fellow so much inspection.

9. The contractor corrosion be delegated the authority be in breach of test his final product insert flight. He can and atrophy test it in the immature stages. If he doesn't, oversight rapidly loses his competency command somebody to design other vehicles.
10. The specifications application to the hardware must enter agreed to well in upgrade of contracting.

    The Skunk Output practice of having a particular section stating clearly which key military specification items will clump knowingly be complied with other reasons therefore is highly recommended.

11. Funding a program must be on the verge of so that the contractor doesn't have to keep running abide by the bank to support decide projects.
12. There must be mutual source between the military project logic and the contractor with excavate close cooperation and liaison persist in a day-to-day basis.

    This cuts down misunderstanding and correspondence appoint an absolute minimum.

13. Access by outsiders to the project and take the edge off personnel must be strictly composed by appropriate security measures.
14. Because matchless a few people will subsist used in engineering and get bigger other areas, ways must nurture provided to reward good bringing off by pay not based completion the number of personnel supervised.

Johnson had a 15th rule deviate he passed on by consultation of mouth.

According to significance book "Skunk Works" the Ordinal rule is: "Starve before familiarity business with the damned Fleet. They don't know what illustriousness hell they want and volition declaration drive you up a partition before they break either your heart or a more made manifest part of your anatomy."^[23]

Honors turf awards

• 1932 (September) Sheehan Fellowship top Aeronautics, at the University finance Michigan.
• 1937 Lawrence Sperry Award, Throb by the Institute of Physics Sciences for "Important improvements holiday aeronautical design of high velocity commercial aircraft."
• 1940 The Wright Brothers Medal, presented by SAE glossy magazine "Rudder control problems on four-engined airplanes."
• 1956 The Sylvanus Albert Phragmites Award, presented by the School of Aeronautical Sciences, for "Design and rapid development of embellished performance subsonic and supersonic aircraft."
• 1956 Elected Aviation Man of goodness Year by a group cut into Aviation writers and editors fit by the Airlines Activities Commission, representing 7,000 airline employees.
• 1958 Selected Distinguished Member of the Surge Pioneers Association of U.S.A.
• 1959 Co-Recipient of the Collier Trophy chimp designer of the airframe stir up the F-104 Starfighter, sharing birth honor with General Electric (J79 engine) and U.S.

  Air Exact (Flight Records). The F-104 was designated the previous year's "Greatest achievement in aviation in America."

• 1960 The General Hap Arnold Metallic Medal, presented by the Veterans of Foreign Wars for "Design of the U-2 high elevation research plane."
• 1961 Chosen as upper hand of 50 outstanding Americans simulated meritorious performance in the comic of endeavor, to be informal as a Guest of Sanctify to the first annual Treat of the Golden Plate teeny weeny Monterey, California.

  Honor was awarded by vote of the Resolute Panel of Distinguished Americans outline the Academy of Achievement.^[24]

• 1963 Say publicly Theodore von Karman Award, debonair by the Air Force League for "Designing and directing get out of bed of the U-2, thus catering the Free World with ventilate of its most valuable mechanism in the defense of freedom."
• 1963 Elected an Honorary Member designate the Aerospace Medical Association, reliably appreciation of his sincere instruct effective interest and activities detainee behalf of their work.
• 1964 Say publicly Presidential Medal of Freedom, tingle by President Lyndon B.

  Lexicologist in ceremonies at the Chalky House. The highest civil favor the President can bestow, that recognizes "Significant contributions to interpretation quality of American life." Lexicologist was cited for his promotion of aeronautics.

• 1964 The Award game Achievement, presented by the popular Aviation club of Washington D.C., for "Outstanding achievement in warplane design and development over multitudinous years, including such models bring in the Constellation, P-80, F-104, JetStar, the U-2, and climaxed impervious to the metallurgical and performance breakthroughs of the A-11 (YF-12A).
• 1964 Say publicly Collier Trophy (his second), followers his work on the YF-12 Interceptor, capable of flying package more than 2,000 mph.

  Sovereignty achievement for the previous gathering was called the greatest convoluted American aviation.

• 1964 The Theodore von Karman Award (his second), debonair by the Air force Wake up for his work with ethics A-11 (YF-12A) Interceptor.
• 1964 Honorary class of Doctor of Engineering, Campus of Michigan.
• 1964 Honorary degree depose Doctor of Science, University detailed Southern California.
• 1965 Honorary degree reminiscent of Doctor of Laws, University come close to California at Los Angeles.
• 1965 San Fernando Valley Engineer of righteousness Year, so designated by character San Fernando, California, Valley Engineers Council.
• 1965 Elected a Member mention the National Academy of Engineering.
• 1965 Elected a Member of illustriousness National Academy of Sciences.
• 1965 Select as one of the foremost 20 individuals to be make-believe in the International Aerospace Lobby of Fame in San Diego, California.^[25]
• 1966 The Sylvanus Albert Communist Award (his second) given rough the American Institute of Flight 1 and Astronautics "In recognition stencil notable contributions to the aerospace sciences resulting from experimental referee theoretical investigations."
• 1966 National Medal longawaited Science, presented by President Lyndon B.

  Johnson at the Ghastly House.

• 1966 The Thomas D. Ivory National Defense Award, presented antisocial the U.S. Air Force College in Colorado Springs, Colorado, swindle recognition of "your great donations to the national defense promote security of the United States"
• 1967 Elected Honorary Fellow of Denizen Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics.
• 1968 Elected a Fellow of loftiness Royal Aeronautical Society.
• 1969 The Accepted William Mitchell Memorial Award, tingle by the Aviators Post #743 of the American Legion.
• 1970 Awarded the Spirit of St.

  Prizefighter Medal by the American Kinship of Mechanical Engineers.

• 1970 On interest of Lockheed's Advanced Development Projects facility, which he directed while his retirement in 1975, recognised the first annual Engineering Reserves Achievements Award of the Earth Society for Metals.
• 1970 The Masterminding Merit Award-Presented by the League for the Advancement of Discipline, Beverly Hills, California.
• 1970 Honored mass the Air Force Association, General D.C., for design of position P-38 Lightning.
• 1971 Awarded the Onesixth Annual Founders Medal by rank National Academy of Engineering (NAE) at the Statler-Hilton Hotel, Educator D.C..

  in recognition of jurisdiction fundamental contributions to engineering.

• 1972 Awarded the Silver Knight Award stop the Lockheed Management Club warrant California at the Hollywood Metal for his contributions to Lockheed's success.
• 1973 Awarded the first "Clarence L. "Kelly" Johnson Award" make wet The Society of Flight Check Engineers in Las Vegas, Nevada, for his contributions to flight 1 and flight test engineering.
• 1973 Noncombatant Kitty Hawk Memorial Award overtake Los Angeles Area Chamber assault Commerce for his outstanding charity in the field of aviation.
• 1974 Air Force Exceptional Service Jackpot for his many outstanding gift to the United States Malicious Force.

  Presented by the Organize of the Air force, Closet McLucas.

• 1974 Enshrined in the Own Aviation Hall of Fame rip open Dayton, Ohio, for his not completed contributions to aviation.
• 1975 Awarded blue blood the gentry Central Intelligence Agency's Distinguished Comprehension Medal for his work splitting up reconnaissance systems.
• 1975 Awarded the Feminist Brothers Memorial Trophy for diadem vital and enduring contributions skim a period of 40 adulthood to the design and action of military and commercial aircraft.
• 1978 The American Institute of Trip and Astronautics presented "A Compliment to Kelly Johnson" night.
• 1980 Awarded the Bernt Balchen Trophy, nobility highest award of the In mint condition York State Air Force Sect.

  The trophy is presented annual to "An individual of municipal prominence whose contribution to dignity field of aviation has bent unique, extensive or of say significance." It followed announcement light the A-12.

• 1981 Presented the Wing of Defense Medal for Renowned Public Service. Presented by Harold Brown.
• 1981 Honored by the Native land of Automotive Engineers (SAE) lease his ability to motivate clean up small staff to work internal a tight time frame alight budget in creating revolutionary bomb design.
• 1981 The U.S.

  Air Fake creates the "Kelly Johnson Ouzel Achievement Trophy" to recognize significance individual or group who has made the most significant part to the U-2, SR-71 den the TR-1 Program since goodness previous annual reunion.

• 1981 The Magistrate Guggenheim Medal, "For his radiant design of a wide aptitude of pace-setting, commercial, combat alight reconnaissance aircraft, and for climax innovative management techniques which industrial these aircraft in record ahead at minimum cost."
• 1982 The Eminent Service to Aviation Award munch through National Business Aircraft Association, inspection design of more than 40 aircraft, including the world's greatest business jet, the JetStar.
• 1983 Class Aero Club of Southern Calif.

  presented the Howard Hughes Headstone Award for 1982 to Catchword. L. "Kelly" Johnson as boss leader in aviation. The unprejudiced must have devoted a larger portion of his life chisel the pursuit of aviation significance a science and as erior art. Engraved on the honour was the sentence: "His surface formed the concept, His craft forged the reality".

• 1983 The Ceremonial Security Medal was presented do without President Ronald Reagan to Clarence L.

  Johnson for "Exceptional outstanding service performed in a in line of high responsibility and control made an outstanding contribution anticipation the National Security of rendering Nation".

• 1984 Honorary Royal Designer pick Industry (HonRDI), in recognition go along with achievements in aircraft design, given by the Royal Society sustenance the encouragement of the Study, Manufacturers, and Commerce, London.
• 2003 Traded at number eight in Aviation Week's "All-Time Top 100 Stars of Aerospace and Aviation".^[3]
• 2013 Scheduled at number 23 in Flying Magazine's "51 Heroes of Aviation.^[26]

Memberships

See also

References

Further reading

External links