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Founded in 1912, the Lougheed Aircraft Manufacturing Company took advantage of the burgeoning aviation industry that emerged shortly after the Wright Brothers’ first flight at Kitty Hawk. Shortly before the Great Depression forced the firm into bankruptcy in 1926, the name was changed to Lockheed Aircraft Firm. After some time, the business was taken over and its name was once again changed to Lockheed Corporation. This was followed by a successful phase in aircraft manufacturing, which allowed it to develop into one of the world’s leading defense and military contractors.
During World War II, Lockheed demonstrated its superiority in executing military contracts and produced some of the machines that were critical to the Allied war effort and eventual victory. When the jet age ended, Lockheed was at the forefront of jet aircraft development. It led the US Air Force in providing the largest aircraft available, helping to balance the Cold War.
From the 1950s to the present, Lockheed’s Skunk Works Advanced Design and Development Division has been developing sophisticated, top-secret new aircraft in complete secrecy. Current defense behemoth Lockheed Martin was formed in March 1995 through the merger of Martin Marietta Corporation, a veteran arms manufacturer.
Read more: 14 Best Fighter Planes And Jets Of All Time
Lockheed Martin F-22 Raptor
The Lockheed Martin F-22 Raptor, the company’s first production-ready stealth fighter, debuted in the late 1990s. The F-22, which entered service in 2003, is still the US Navy’s most advanced direct air attack fighter. The F-22’s two Pratt and Whitney turbofan engines are geared towards Mach 2, where supercruise a fuel-efficient technique for long-duration high-speed flight that enables Mach 1.58 flight for the longest, if not all, comparable aircraft permits extended range. Supersonic flight without the need for afterburners. The Raptor is one of the most maneuverable aircraft in the sky thanks to its two jet engines, which also use thrust vectoring nozzles to help turn.
Lockheed Martin F-35 Lightning II
The Lockheed Martin F-35 Lightning II is the most capable and advanced fighter currently available to the US military. It would be a mistake to describe it as sophisticated as the weapons control systems, avionics and communication suites are all at a level of complexity that is beyond the comprehension of most people. Available for the Navy, Air Force and Marines, each of the three versions has unique strengths and capabilities that are best suited to the task at hand.
For example, the Navy’s F-35B versions have additional fans that face downward, enabling vertical takeoff and landing (VTOL) for aircraft capable of traveling at supersonic speeds. While they are effective, the communication technology of all versions could be more effective.
Lockheed F-16 Fighting Falcon
The Lockheed F-16 Fighting Falcon is one of the oldest combat aircraft in the United States Armed Forces, having been in development since the 1970s, yet it is by no means in danger of going out of style. On the other hand, contemporary modified F-16 aircraft are still being produced for the Department of Defense and other international customers. About 4,600 aircraft have been produced and delivered to more than 25 nations since entering service in 1979.
The flying prowess of the F-16 is still remarkable despite the introduction of more sophisticated fifth and sixth generation aircraft. It was the first aircraft to use fly-by-wire technology when it was initially introduced, and its sophisticated airframe construction allowed it to withstand pressures of up to 9Gs and achieve Mach 2. F-16 is one of the most powerful aircraft. of dogfighters ever built, its remarkable acceleration enables vertical climbing.
Its compact size and similarly light airframe have contributed to its current status compared to other fourth-generation fighters. An F-16 is about 47 feet long, an F-15 and F-14 are approximately 63 feet long, and the F-35 is only 51 feet long, although it is heavier and less manoeuvrable. Moreover, the F-16 is one all-weather fighter with advanced radar, and on the latest Block 70 F-16, the avionics are as sophisticated as they come.
Lockheed U-2 Dragon Lady
Before satellite technology developed to the point where we could send multiple surveillance units into orbit to monitor our enemies in real time, the Department of Defense (DoD) and the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) sought a means of monitoring activity behind the iron. curtain In the 1950s it was determined that only aircraft operating at high altitudes and equipped with sophisticated imaging technology could see what was going on on the ground while avoiding anti-aircraft weapons.
The Lockheed Skunk Works division built the first U-2 in complete secrecy and made its first flight in 1955. The CIA soon began flying over the Soviet Union to monitor nuclear weapons development. It was believed that flying at 70,000 feet would keep it out of reach of Soviet radar systems, but CIA pilot Francis Gary Powers was shot down in 1960 near Moscow, creating an international diplomatic crisis and ending the flights.
Lockheed F-80 Shooting Star
During World War II, jet propulsion technology was being developed, but only a small number of successful aircraft saw combat. After the war, the War Department, DoD, and other military ministries made the widespread deployment of jet aircraft a top priority. Despite flying the first jet fighter in 1943, Lockheed, a major supplier of aircraft to the Allies, did not provide a production model to the Air Force until early 1945, when the Allies were closing in on Japan and Germany.
The new Shooting Star, formerly known as the P-80, was armed with six Browning .50 caliber machine guns to prepare it for the dogfighting era it was about to enter. Soon, aircraft will be used exclusively as bombers, dropping air-launched rockets or conventional weapons. With a service limit of 41,800 feet and the ability to climb at 3,000 feet per minute, its top speed at launch was 502 mph, the first to exceed 500. It was a fast and powerful aircraft for the period, and in 1950 it became the first jet to shoot down another jet-powered aircraft over Korea. The P-80 aircraft improved its peak speed to 580 mph and saw a ceiling of 46,800 feet until it was retired.
Lockheed C-5 Galaxy
Although supersonic fighter jets are the pride and joy of military aviation, they are useless without the big, powerful workhorses that transport personnel and supplies. Lockheed’s fighter jets are amazing, but the massive Lockheed C-5M Super Galaxy also takes care of logistics. When the C-5 began flying in 1968, it was the largest aircraft in the sky until it was surpassed in 1982 by the Antonov AN-124 with a weight of 28 tons.
Senior officials at the Department of Defense (DoD) came up with the idea for the new aircraft that would later become the Lockheed C-5 Galaxy when they recognized the need for a jet-powered cargo plane to replace the turboprop C-133 Cargomaster. The United States Air Force takes delivery of its first fully operational aircraft in 1970, and they can carry up to a 291,000-pound payload while cruising at 540 mph with a range of 6,320 nautical miles without aerial refueling, nearly doubling the capabilities of its predecessor.
Lockheed JetStar
The US government has been Lockheed’s main customer throughout its existence. The corporation does not do any public marketing as most of its goods are used for national defence. But the business also produced another ground-breaking aircraft that would be widely used in civil aviation and have long-lasting impact.
In the early 1950s, the Air Force sent Lockheed specifications for a light transport aircraft that would be small and adaptable, with the aim of enabling rapid travel. Although the Air Force placed an order for the aircraft, the result was not a large enough purchase to sustain production. Instead, Lockheed delivered prototypes of the new aircraft designed by the Skunk Works division in 1957. Instead of abandoning its revolutionary, Lockheed chose to target the business sector and provide Jetstar to those who needed executive travel. concept. As a result, the commercial jet age began, and other aircraft, such as the Learjet and Falconstream, quickly followed suit.
Lockheed F-104 Starfighter
After seeing a Lockheed F-104 Starfighter on the tarmac, one can quickly recognize it. Comparing its design to other successful jet fighters of its time, it seems to defy the norm with its short straight wings and long, narrow fuselage. Externally, the airframe looks like some winged engine with a small pilot’s pod at the front. It was said to be the first American fighter to maintain supersonic flight faster than Mach 2.
Encounters with the fast MiG-15 during the Korean War led to requests for a smaller and faster aircraft capable of intercepting Soviet aircraft and establishing air superiority, as the F-86 Saber found it difficult to counter MiG fighters. This had an effect The F-104’s design allowed for an exceptionally high rate of climb and maximum speed due to its barrel-like shape, razor-sharp wings for low drag, and extremely short wingspan. With only two sidewinders on the wingtips and a six-barrel 20-millimeter gun, the F-104 had to attack and fire while retreating quickly. Its primary advantage was pure speed; Its large turning radius made it less useful in dogfighting.
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