And what country can preserve its liberties if their rulers are not warned from time to time that their people preserve the spirit of resistance? Let them take arms. The remedy is to set them right as to facts, pardon and pacify them. What signify a few lives lost in a century or two? The tree of liberty must be refreshed from time to time with the blood of patriots and tyrants.
Kelly Johnson - American aeronautical engineer. Clarence Leonard "Kelly" Johnson 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.
I think of men like him working with a slide rule and wonder how many kids these days even have the slightest idea of what a slide rule is. Having grown up with them (slide rules) that is an amazing concept to me.
My daughter majored in software engineering. We were going through stuff a few years ago and ran across a slide rule I'd picked up somewhere on a whim. She asked me what it was. She'd heard of "slide rules" but never seen one. I offered to show her how to use it, but she wasn't interested. Maybe she considered it "a hardware problem".
Gotta wonder. Back when we engineered by sliderule we built in tolerances to match. Now we engineer to a ten-thousandth and trim tolerances to match. Shit's always breaking. Ya think?
P-38 lightning, also one of his machines. Also ahead of it's time and fast.
Lived in Chico, CA for 30 years and had line of sight to the airport. U-2's did training touch and goes there routinely. Was actually on Beale AFB one time when they launched a Blackbird. You feel the base note of those engine's in your bones. About those J58's--
A genius and national treasure.
ReplyDeleteOne of the many, many airframes in which he had a hand in the design.
ReplyDeleteKelly Johnson - American aeronautical engineer.
ReplyDeleteClarence Leonard "Kelly" Johnson 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.
Thanks for that. They used to fly out of Beale AFB near my family ranch but I had no idea about Mr. Johnson. Now I do.
DeleteHe is legend at Lockheed.
Deletereally one of a kind. People these days can't fathom. Dude designed iconic aircraft with a fuggin slide rule. Read the book about the skunk works.
ReplyDeleteI think of men like him working with a slide rule and wonder how many kids these days even have the slightest idea of what a slide rule is. Having grown up with them (slide rules) that is an amazing concept to me.
DeleteMy daughter majored in software engineering. We were going through stuff a few years ago and ran across a slide rule I'd picked up somewhere on a whim. She asked me what it was. She'd heard of "slide rules" but never seen one. I offered to show her how to use it, but she wasn't interested. Maybe she considered it "a hardware problem".
DeleteTechieDude is spot on. Skunk Works is easily the best nonfiction I’ve ever read. Written by the guy that took over after Kelly retired. Amazing story.
DeleteThere are several books with Skunk Works in the title. Do you have an author's name? Tks.
DeleteBen Rich
DeleteGotta wonder. Back when we engineered by sliderule we built in tolerances to match. Now we engineer to a ten-thousandth and trim tolerances to match. Shit's always breaking. Ya think?
ReplyDeleteLee Rich wrote Skunk Works. Loved it.
ReplyDeleteP-38 lightning, also one of his machines. Also ahead of it's time and fast.
ReplyDeleteLived in Chico, CA for 30 years and had line of sight to the airport. U-2's did training touch and goes there routinely. Was actually on Beale AFB one time when they launched a Blackbird. You feel the base note of those engine's in your bones. About those J58's--
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MJrXUh0eZjw
Ben Rich. Not lee. Sorry.
ReplyDelete