Rich, Ben R./Janos, Leo Skunk Works. Von der U-2 zum Tarnkappenbomber. Der Blick ins Innerste des geheimen Lockheed-Entwicklungszentrums

Ben Rich's memoir of his time at Lockheed. The book tells the true story of America's most successful aerospace company. Ben Rich, who headed Lockheed's secret development centre for more than two decades, recounts with unusual candour the feverish research and development activity during the Cold War, when the arms race reached unprecedented heights.

When almost everything depended on probing Soviet rearmament, the U-2 made its lonely orbit at high altitude over the sealed-off regions of the Soviet Union, providing valuable intelligence to the US government. The pilots also have their say in this book, vividly describing in their typical jargon the dangers and stresses to which they were exposed. The performance of Soviet radar systems and interceptors were a growing threat and forced the American Air Force to commission the development of a stealth bomber. The Lockheed-designed F-117A proved invulnerable in all missions, most notably the Gulf War, and demonstrated total U.S. Air Force air superiority. An exceptional team of scientists and engineers earned the "Skunk Works" the respect and admiration of the entire aviation industry. Ben Rich enriches his account with memorable anecdotes, personal recollections and unusual adventures. Defence ministers and generals have their say, as do high-ranking experts from the CIA intelligence agency. This book is a riveting portrait of the 20th century's most spectacular aeronautical triumphs.