by Warren McC.
In 1969, I started to work at the General
Dynamics, in Fort Worth, Texas, as an engineering change analyst writing engineering
change proposals for the F-111 program. We had over 30 people at that time
writing proposals. The F-111 program phased out in 1972. I was laid off, but
returned in 1976 to work for the same man, Claude Youts, in the engineering
project office. When I returned, there was one “me” and one other person,
Graham Donthan, to write proposals for the new F-16 program and to continue
writing proposals on the F-111!
I have written proposals for the F-111,
F-16, F-16XL, F-22, F-35 and several classified proposals. Some of my most
memorable proposals were configuring the F-16 for the Air Force Thunderbirds
and working on the initial F-35 proposal. I had the opportunity to visit the
Marietta and Palmdale facilities numerous times and see how other airplanes
were built.
It was a fantastic career, and I enjoyed
every moment working with engineering and non-engineering personnel, and the
customer. I retired in 2010.
