Genius of Aviation: KELLY JOHNSON. Skunk Works | The Man Behind The SR-71 Blackbird

Learning history: American Aviation Genius, Kelly Johnson was the Founder of Skunk Works, maker of extraordinary aircraft, such as the SR-71 Blackbird, U-2 Dragonlady, P-38 Lightning, F-80 Shooting Star, T-33, F-104 Starfighter, and many more. Clarence Leonard “Kelly“ Johnson (February 27, 1910 – December 21, 1990) was an American aeronautical and systems engineer. He is recognized for his contributions to a series of important aircraft designs, most notably the Lockheed U-2 and SR-71 Blackbird. Besides the first production aircraft to exceed Mach 3, he also produced the first fighter capable of Mach 2, the United States’ first operational jet fighter, as well as the first fighter to exceed 400 mph, and many other contributions to various aircraft. As a member and first team leader of the Lockheed Skunk Works, Johnson worked for more than four decades and is said to have been an “organizing genius“. He played a leading role in the design of over forty aircraft, including seve