by Harry K.
Hello there! My coming to the United
States in 1971 was compelled by my desire to escape a Communist regime and to
work in the aerospace industry. After nine years of working and gaining experience
in American industries at different companies, I was hired by Lockheed (just across
the street from Burbank Airport) as a stress engineer. Unfortunately, in 1984
my luck ran out, and I was laid off. I worked at other aerospace companies until
1990, when there was the big lay off in the industry. It lasted a little more
than five years. I searched always for work (even in New York), and I sold my
house, put the money in the bank and lived on the drawn interest. It was tough.
Then my former boss and friend from American Jet Industries, Moses "Kap"
Kaplan (God rest his soul) helped me find a job with Structural Integrity
Engineering. That was in the spring of 1995. And then, the miracle happened! I
was rehired by Lockheed Martin Skunk Works to work on the ill-fated X-33
project. We all (my colleagues and I) were very proud to work on such a great project.
However, our joy didn't last too long. The year 1999 brought along the
cancellation of the project. Well, you know the story! In 2001, I retired and
went back to my native country. What is my most important preoccupation? It’s world
traveling! What can a single man do? A story about my travels? That would have to wait until another time!
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| X-33 |
