Work of the Skunk Works

There are few places in the aerospace industry that are as revered as Lockheed Martin Corp.’s Skunk Works. Workers at the shadowy site have designed and built the world’s most innovative military aircraft, including the U-2 spy plane, SR-71 Blackbird and F-117 stealth fighter jet. This week, the secretive weapons development facility celebrated its 70th anniversary silently -- no surprise considering the Skunk Works’ mantra is “quick, quiet and quality.”