Viking to Lightning II

Thanks for the memories!

by Mark S.

I received orders to Fleet Logistics Support Squadron 50, VRC-50, in Cubi Point, Philippines as an aircrew loadmaster in the Lockheed US-3A. At the time, I didn't know that it was a Lockheed-built aircraft. I served from January 1990 to January 1993 as an aircrewman. I had the opportunity to log close to 150 carrier arrestment and catapult shots in the US-3A during that tour, mostly during Desert Shield and Desert Storm. I've slept out under the stars next to those US-3As many times waiting to load up and head for a carrier in the Persian Gulf. During Desert Storm, I had the opportunity to trap aboard USS Midway CV-41, USS Ranger CV-61 and the USS Theodore Roosevelt CV-71, all in one day. Great times those were.

Fast forward 20 years later to January 25, 2010, my first day on the job at Lockheed Martin. I was escorted to the plant floor via the "tunnel." All those memories came back when I saw the picture of the S-3A on the wall. Here I am, at Lockheed Martin, a quality engineer on the leading edge of aviation technology with the F-35. Thank you Lockheed Martin, for the opportunity. Thank you Lockheed Martin, for the memories.

Copperhead’s “Venom” Was Deadly

I was awarded the Jefferson Cup in 1977 for work on its guidance electronics

by Francis C.

I arrived at Martin Marietta (Glen L. Martin Company) in 1955 at the Baltimore, Maryland, plant. I have had many rewarding design experiences. The following is the most memorable and challenging.

The customer was the Army in the early to mid-1970s. I derived the unique electronic packaging design solution that made it possible for a full complement of delicate, non-encapsulated guidance electronics to survive the mammoth force of 9,000 g's experienced during the cannon launch of the laser-guided Copperhead shaped charge warhead, anti-armor tank-killer projectile. The electronics drastically reduced the Copperhead production cost by $65,000,000 on the first production order. For this achievement, I was one of five Martin Marietta employees throughout the Corporation to be awarded the Jefferson Cup in Washington, D.C., in 1977.

Thunderbird Smoke Trails

We built tubes for the T-Smoke System

by James B.

My most memorable moment relating to Lockheed Martin’s Centennial was when the Air Force selected the F-16 as its aircraft of choice for the aerial demonstration team, the Thunderbirds. I was working in Department 0340 Tube Bending at the time, and the engineering team asked if we could build tubes for the system that creates the smoke trail that is displayed when the aircraft goes through its aerial maneuvers. This part was known as T-Smoke. It was very rewarding to know that every time the Thunderbirds fly and use the T-Smoke system, I had something to do with the tubes that were manufactured, making it possible for the white smoke trail to be visible.

Making a 360

My father’s first job and my last job were for the same company

by Stephen B.

In 1946, after my mother and father served in the Navy during World War II, my father went to work for the Glenn L. Martin Company in Baltimore, Maryland. My parents lived on Dihedral Drive in Aero Acres, a community Mr. Martin built during the war for his employees. Many years later in 2004, when I went to work for Lockheed Martin in Hanover (not far from where they lived and where I was born), I always felt it was good karma that my father’s first job and my (hopefully) last job were for the same company. Although my father did not live to see me work for Lockheed Martin, every day I do my best to make him, the company, my customer and myself proud to be a Lockheed Martin employee. Thanks for that opportunity.

That's me on top of the car.

All about Heritage

It’s served me well in my life and career

by Lawrence D.

Heritage ... When I think about my Lockheed Martin heritage two thoughts come to mind. First, even though I never physically built a C-130 or C-5, my children and family associate me with building airplanes. Second, I'm very thankful I was a part of the Martin Marietta factory back in the 1980s when the back-shops, chem-mills and massive wiring shops were still in operation. That operations experience has served me well in other areas of my career. 

Aging Gracefully at 100 Years

Our true strength lies within people under the name Lockheed Martin

by Bruce E.

In March of 2011, I published a book "I Want My Country Back." Its message was influenced by trusted relationships at Lockheed Martin (27 years with RCA, GE, Martin Marietta and Lockheed Martin). I’ve learned through mentors from “the Greatest Generation” how to turn challenge into opportunity and leverage the wealth.

Our heritage affords us vast bounty tangibly noticed throughout the world. More importantly, we witness the intangible wealth generated from our service – honor and empathy for humankind.

Reflecting on my tenure with Lockheed Martin, I see who we are through the character and content of colleagues and customers. We cultivate and impart talent fostering our communities, country and world at large.

Knowing where we’ve come from, valuing our growth and envisioning our future gives us the keys to unlock the next century. The consciousness of Glenn L. Martin and Allan and Malcolm Loughead portrayed casting their ideas into the world in 1912 is manifest in today’s Lockheed Martin and continues to catalyze who we’ll be tomorrow.

It’s extraordinary that we can celebrate 100 years of prosperity, aging so gracefully. Such marvel originates from understanding an entity isn’t merely an organization; but an organism comprised of people who steward and foster its growth. Yes, we lead by providing technological advancement and service to the world, but our true strength lies within people who share a higher vision under the name Lockheed Martin.

Here’s to the next 100 years; may we keep on pioneering the way by serving to better the world we’ve been gifted!

What’s the Scoop?

The world's largest flying boats are still mighty warriors

by Michael W.

While visiting a supplier in Vancouver, British Columbia, I found out that I was a few miles from Sproat Lake. Anchored on this lake are two Martin Mars flying boats. These aircraft were built in the 1940s at the Middle River, Maryland, aircraft factory.

These have been converted to water bombers and are used to fight forest fires. After a brief tour of the base, I stayed to witness the water drop test that they do to maintain the aircraft to be ready to fight forest fires.

The huge aircraft taxied across the lake and took flight in minutes. The pilot then descended and skimmed across the lake at about 180 miles per hour. Two six-inch tubes extending from the bottom of the fuselage collected over 7,000 gallons of water in 25 seconds, stored in the internal tanks. The aircraft then disappeared into the sky. After about three minutes, it reappeared and flew over the dock that we were standing on. As though we were the intended target, it flew over us at an altitude of about 500 feet when it released the 7,000 gallons of water for a “test drop.” The crew had obviously done this before for onlookers, as the water missed us by about 200 feet and plummeted back into the lake. Even though the aircraft are now 66 years old, the “Hawaii” and “Philippine” Mars are still being used today and are ready to fight forest fires in a minute’s notice.