Chapter 2, Engines by GE, Body by Houdini Summary and Analysis

Kelly Johnson is skeptical of the new project. In fact, many of Skunk Works' senior staff are skeptical. Rich feels questioned and undermined. They called the stealth plane "The Hopeless Diamond" or "a flying engagement ring." They also questioned the competence of the younger scientist who discovered the idea, Denys. But so far, the computer models worked well. Johnson and Rich had often bet over technical questions; Rich usually lost but he won over the success of the test materials at reflecting radar signals. In early-1976, the Skunk Works won the contract along with Northrop. The program would now be called Have Blue. They designed a craft and estimated its costs. There were rumors going around that the Skunk Works had falsified their experimental data. Eventually, however, most accepted...