Star Dusters Newsletter

Star Dusters Newsletter
Retirees and Former Employees of Lockheed Martin Corporation
Affiliated With Lockheed Martin Leadership Association
P. O. Box 10310, Burbank, CA 91510-0310
(818) 565-2011 or (888) 718-5328, Ext. 2011
e-mail: lmstardusters @att.net
April 2015
This Issue:
Announcements – President’s Corner –– New Members –– The Aerospace
History Project At The Huntington – USC Institute On California And The West ––
Travel Opportunities –– Eugene Reynolds Obituary –– Larry Channel Obituary ––
SD Downtown Los Angeles Day Trip –– Medical and Health News –– Star Dusters
Write –– Jonk-a-Matic –– In The News –– In Memoriam –– Coming Events ––
Logix
2015 Day Trip to Palmdale, April 15, 2015 –This day trip is combined with the
Antelope Valley Satellite Spring Luncheon.
Antelope Valley Star Dusters’ Satellite Luncheon, April 15, 2015 – The Antelope
Valley Spring Luncheon will be held at Gino’s Restaurant in Palmdale, CA.
LAS/Ontario Satellite Star Dusters Bi-annual Meeting, April 21, 2015 – This year’s
event will be held at the Double Tree Hotel Restaurant in Claremont.
Spring Reunion Golf Tournament, April 27, 2015 – The golf tournament will be at the
Hansen Dam Municipal Golf Course in Pacoima hosted by Tom Oatway.
Spring Reunion Luncheon, Camarillo, CA, May 7, 2015 – We will gather at the Las
Posas Country Club for a lunch hosted by Al Stacey and Johnny Mercer. Complete and
return Insert 1A by the May 1st deadline. (See Page 12 and Inserts 1A, 1B, and 1C.)
Star Dusters Downtown LA Day Trip, May 20, 2015 – See Pages 10, 11 and 12 for
description of this trip. Return Insert 3 to Gary Belie before May 8, 2015 if you plan to
attend.
Rye Canyon Research Center Reunion, May 16, 2015 - Former Rye Canyon
Research Center employees and their guests are invited to a reunion on Saturday, May
16, 2015, at Hart Park in Newhall, CA from 1 to 4 PM. Bring your own lunch. Soft
drinks, bottled water, tea and coffee will be provided. lf you plan to attend, see lnsert 2
and contact Dean Oliva (818-363-7757) or Jill Trimble (661-297-3943).
VIEW THE NEWSLETTER AND ROSTER ON OUR WEBSITE:
http://www.lmstardusters.org
Star Dusters Newsletter
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April 2015
PRESIDENT’S CORNER
By Vic Saucedo
I am very pleased to report that Peter Harrigan offered to succeed Marie Schumacher
as Star Dusters Corporate News Coordinator and was approved by the Board of
Directors for the position effective immediately. Marie has worked with Peter in the
past and was able to quickly bring him up to speed on her resources for providing
Corporate News for our Newsletter every month, starting with this issue. We have been
very fortunate to have Marie’s contributions to our Newsletter for many years and are
now fortunate to have a person with Peter’s qualifications for this position. Peter spent
28 years with the company in various communication (PR) roles after beginning his
career in journalism. He started at Lockheed Electronics Company (LEC) in New
Jersey (1983-1989), joined the Corporate Communications Staff in Washington DC
(1990) and then moved to Calabasas, where he was responsible for employee
communications, including the “Lockheed Today” monthly newspaper and quarterly
videos produced for employees. He moved back East upon the merger in 1995 and
was Vice President of Management Communications, working closely with Dan Tellep,
Norm Augustine and Vance Coffman. In 1998 he moved to one of the business areas
(known in various configurations as Systems Integration or Electronics Systems) and
remained there as Vice President of Communications under four different Executive
Vice Presidents, the last of whom was Marillyn Hewson, until he retired in 2011. Peter
now resides in Delaware, where he does volunteer work for a non-profit arts
organization.
I hope many of you will be able to join us for a number of events planned for April and
May starting with the Antelope Valley Satellite Group Luncheon, Palmdale Air Park and
Skunk Works Tour on April 15th. Our luncheon speaker will be Dr. Thomas McGuire
who will brief us on Lockheed Skunk Works Fusion Project which aims to develop a
compact, stable nuclear fusion energy source. The LAS-Ontario Satellite Group
Luncheon will take place at the Double Tree Hotel Restaurant in Claremont on April 21 st
with David Ellefson as guest speaker whose topic is “Putting LAS back into the LMCO
History”. The last event for April is the Spring Reunion Golf Tournament which will be at
the Hansen Dam Golf Course in Pacoima on April 27 th. Our Annual Spring Reunion will
take place at the Las Posas Country Club on May 7 th with Dr. Robert Boyd as our guest
speaker who will provide us with a presentation on Hybrid Airships. Dr. Boyd is the
Hybrid Lift Portfolio Senior Program Manager at the Lockheed Martin Advanced
Development Programs (ADP) or “Skunk Works” in Palmdale. He manages multiple
programs including both internal development efforts (IRAD) and externally funded
efforts related to heavy lift and Hybrid Aircraft Systems. Robert has been responsible
for all Hybrid Aircraft development at Lockheed Martin over the past nine years,
including several variants of lift vehicles. The Spring Reunion is always a very
enjoyable event in a beautiful location and I encourage you to plan on sharing the
experience.
Dr. Gary Belie has made arrangements for a Day Trip to Los Angeles on May 20 th. The
wording on the flyer at the end of this Newsletter provides a good description of exciting
venues planned for our visit to the Los Angeles area and I am looking forward to being
Star Dusters Newsletter
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April 2015
there since I’m one of those persons who live reasonably close but have not visited the
planned attractions.
I am also looking forward to the upcoming 2015 SAE Aero Design West Competition on
April 24-26 and appreciate the invitation from Gene Holloway, from LM Aero, for Star
Dusters to attend with an option to participate as volunteer inspectors and/or judges as
described below.
UPCOMING 2015 SAE AERO DESIGN WEST COMPETITION
The SAE Southern California Section will be hosting the 2015 Aero Design West
Competition in Van Nuys/Encino on April 24-26. Gene Holloway from the Lockheed
Martin Aeronautics Company Skunk Works organization is the Contest Director. Star
Duster members and their friends are invited to attend and, if interested, to participate
in the administration and judging tasks. Bringing young people to witness this event is
an excellent way to get them interested in an aerospace career.
The SAE Aero Design West Competition is intended to provide undergraduate and
graduate students with a real-life engineering exercise, culminating in the flight test of
heavy lift RC aircraft models. To help the students develop communication skills, a
high percentage of a team’s score is devoted to the design report and the oral
presentation required in the competition. The competition is sold out again this year
and the SAE now has a full waiting list for teams who are available to participate in the
event of a cancellation. Seventy-five US and international university teams are
registered to participate in the competition with a significant number of the teams from
non-US schools. Foreign universities from the United Kingdom, Japan, Canada, Egypt,
India, Mexico, Poland, and China are sending teams.
Registration, technical inspections, and oral presentations will be held on April 24 at the
Airtel Plaza Hotel, 7277 Valjean Avenue, Van Nuys, CA 91486. The flying competition
will be held on April 25 and 26 at the Apollo Flying Field, 6201 Woodley Avenue,
Encino, CA 91436.
Volunteers are needed in the following four areas.
1. Written Report Judge
Experienced engineers are needed to score three to six written reports, each thirty (30)
double-spaced, single-sided typewritten pages. Deadline for the students to submit
their design reports is March 9. Volunteers are given about four weeks (March 23 –
April 17) to score the reports.
2. Oral Report Judge
Students will have 15 minutes to present their design to a panel of judges who will take
about ten minutes to score each presentation. Judging will start at 9:00 am and should
be finished by 6:00 pm.
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April 2015
3. Technical Inspectors
The volunteers will make sure the aircraft described by each team’s report/drawings is
the same as the aircraft presented to fly, and the measurements are in compliance with
the rules. The inspections will be conducted from 9:30 am to 5:00 pm.
4. Flight Competition Volunteers/Judges
The available flight competition positions include Flight Stewards, Fuel Technicians,
Safety Inspectors, Weigh Station Technicians, Line Judge, and Flight and Pit Boss.
Flight testing is expected to start at 8:00 am and should be finished by 5:00 pm on both
days.
If you are interested in judging the written reports and/or oral presentations as well as
help with the flying portion of the competition, please contact Gene Holloway at
[email protected] or by phone on 661-572-4855 or by cell phone on 661-4000271. A copy of the event rules is available online at
http://students.sae.org/competitions/aerodesign/rules/rules.pdf.
~end~
NEW MEMBERS AS OF MARCH 12, 2015
Beaudette, Kathie
Randy
Cain, Gordon
Fincher, Ellen
Garinger, Diane
Hammer, Jonathan
Shirley
Hyman, Alan
Lynn
Lowes, Glenn
Helen
Maynard, Wayne
Lauren
Wicker, George
PO Box 171
Golden, CO
2200 Monroe St # 1402
Santa Clara, CA 95050-3450
57 Hope Dr
Dallas, GA 30157
26826 Claudette St Unit 242
Canyon Country, CA 91351
3345 Fulham Ct
Palmdale, CA 93551
1706 St Emilion Lane
Brentwood, CA 93513
991 Paseo Barona
Camarillo, CA 93010
301 North Avon St
Burbank, CA 91505-3504
303-582-5648
[email protected]
408-249-7188
770-634-7709
[email protected]
661-387-7479
[email protected]
661-947-5370
[email protected]
925-997-7959
[email protected]
805-383-7937
[email protected]
818-384-0035
[email protected]
561-776-1257
[email protected]
~end~
Czech Republic author Milan Kudera, on a four-legged animal:
“Dogs are our link to paradise. They don’t know evil or jealousy or discontent. To sit
with a dog on a hillside on a glorious afternoon is to be back in Eden, where nothing
doing was not boring—it was peace”
~end~
Star Dusters Newsletter
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April 2015
THE AEROSPACE HISTORY PROJECT AT THE HUNTINGTON – USC
INSTITUTE ON CALIFORNIA AND THE WEST
By Sherm Mullin
In 2004 the leaders of the Huntington Library in San Marino, CA and the University of
Southern California founded their joint Institute on California and the West (ICW), with
the objective of expanding a sustained scholarly effort to capture, publish, and
communicate California history, with particular focus on the history of Southern
California in the 20th century. The Director of ICW is Professor William Deverell, who is
also Chairman of the USC history department.
In 2006 the ICW initiated its Aerospace History Project, “a multi-faceted research,
curatorial, pedagogical, and publishing effort.” It is directed by award winning historian
of science Peter Westwick. In 2007, as part of the project, the Huntington hosted a twoday conference, “Rocket Science and Region—The Rise, Fall, and Rise of the
Aerospace Industry In Southern California,” featuring panels of industry pioneers,
military leaders, scholars, and writers. This stimulated many continuing initiatives. I
served on one panel.
One key objective of the project is to build an aerospace archive at the Huntington, one
of the major historical archives in the world. This archive includes personal papers,
books and other publications, photographs, and transcriptions of individual oral
histories. The archiving effort is managed by Dr. Daniel Lewis, Huntington director and
chief curator of manuscripts.
The project has accumulated a significant amount of material on Lockheed history. It
includes Harvey Christen’s voluminous photograph collection, dating from 1932. Also
included are the papers of Willis Hawkins, Ben Rich, Roy Anderson, Kelly Johnson, and
others. Additional papers are being solicited. Oral histories of numerous Lockheed
retirees have been conducted and more are planned.
The papers of Willis Hawkins (at Lockheed 1937-1980, then senior advisor to 2004) are
the largest and most comprehensive now in the aerospace archive. They are stored in
eighty standard archive boxes, which fill about 27 shelf feet.
The first book published by the aerospace project is “Blue Sky Metropolis – The
Aerospace Century in Southern California,” a collection of essays edited by Dr. Peter
Westwick, University of California Press, Berkeley, 2012. It includes my biographical
essay on Robert E. Gross (1897-1961), CEO of Lockheed 1932-1961.
Personal note: I have been an advisor to the Aerospace History Project since 2007, a
very educational experience, an enjoyable free post graduate program.
Seventy Years Ago: First flight of production C-130 Hercules aircraft at Marietta,
Georgia on April 7, 1955, followed by delivery of 10 aircraft in 1956 and 140 in 1957!
~end~
Star Dusters Newsletter
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April 2015
TRAVEL OPPORTUNITIES FOR STAR DUSTERS
By Ann Hyden, Travel Coordinator
Start your vacation planning early for those special trips you’ve been thinking about to
expand your horizons! Some suggestions are listed below from our counterpart to Star
Dusters in the San Francisco Bay area, LMMAR, and from Talbot Tours, which does
the planning, arranging and booking for us. Many more destinations, international and
domestic, are available but too numerous to list here. I invite you to call me with your
ideas, questions, etc., at (818) 367–3217. Do book early to avoid disappointment from
filled-up tours. Air flights and prices can be quoted and arranged from any locale. (Note
that prices herein listed include airfare from the Bay Area).
Yellowstone/Wildlife Experience, June 8-14, and August 3-9, 2015 and also June
20 and Aug 8, 2016 – Tour highlights include: Antelope Island State Park, West
Yellowstone, Grizzly and Wolf Discovery Center, Yellowstone Wildlife Safari, Grand
Teton National Park, Snake River Float Trip, cruise on Lake Jenny, visit American
Heritage Center and Salt Lake City. Double rooms are $2425, each person including 12
meals.
Grand Tour of Italy, Sept 29 and Oct. 6 & 27,2015; also May 10, Sept 27, Oct. 4,
2016 – A fabulous trip awaits you covering the highlights of magnificent Italy during 12
sunny days. Fly via Boston to Florence/Montecantini and Venice for guided tours of
city centers, Academia Museum (Michelangelo’s David), San Marco, Doge’s Palace
and much more. Drive through the Chianti Hills to medieval Siena and San Gimignana,
then depart for Assisi (St. Francis’ Cathedral and Basilica) and on to Rome. Tour
monuments and sites of both ancient and modern Rome with a day dedicated to the
Vatican and Sistine Chapel. Next is Pompeii, Naples and Sorrento with tours of all,
including the spectacular Amalfi Drive with views of the coastal resort Positano and
another day to ferry to the enchanted Isle of Capri. Fly home from Naples. Prices
include roundtrip airfare, Tour Manager, ten nights first class hotels, all breakfasts and
dinners (20 meals), taxes and gratuities for double @ $4475 each, single @ $5230,
deposit of $400 each and insurance of $495/536, resp. Final payment due 90 days
before departure.
Great Gatsby Getaway at the Grand Hotel on Mackinac Island, September 12–17,
2015 – On the island no motorized vehicles are allowed. Travel by horse drawn
carriage through the forest to the elegant and historical Grand Hotel and into the ‘20s of
the Great Gatsby Era. Be a part of the fun by dressing as a flapper, a “dandy”, a
gangster or elegant dress of a famous person (Downtown Abby?). Song, dress and
dance competitions with cash prizes are part of the fun, and so much more. During the
day enjoy bocce ball, croquet, tennis, horseshoes, fitness center or hike the trails
through the lush forest. You can take Charleston lessons, shop in the quaint village,
visit the carriage museum or just sit and sip on the 600-foot veranda as did the elite and
wealthy of long ago. You will have three nights in the Grand Hotel with breakfast and
five-course dinners, (all guests dress for dinner!), with very special events, dancing,
entertainment by the hotel’s orchestra and fun competitions to join in or watch. Prices
include airfare to/from Detroit, transportation to the hotel in Dearborn and to
Frankenmuth (largest Christmas store in the world), then on to the ferry to Mackinac.
Star Dusters Newsletter
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April 2015
Prices are $2150 each person, double, or $2395 single with deposit of $200 each and
insurance $174 each. Final payment due July 1, 2015
Briefly, for your consideration, are the following one- or two-week or less domestic
travel suggestions, except for a few international: (Call me at 818-367-3217 for
brochure/info.) Note the addition of new 2016 dates,
*Custer State Park &
Buffalo Roundup
Branson “Autumn in the Ozarks”
Nantucket, Martha’s Vineyard,
Cape Cod
Albuquerque Balloon Fest
World War II Memorials - Europe
Canyon Country Exp.
Grand, Arches, Bryce, Zion
Costa Rica
National Cherry Blossom Fest.
Wash. DC & Historical Virginia
Savannah and Charleston
Calif. Rail Tour – Coast, Wine Co.,
Redwoods, Yosemite
World’s Fair; Italian and
French Rivieras– 9 days each
Lake Como & Switzerland World’s
Fair– 10 Days
Kenya Safari – 13 days
Colorado Train Adventure – 8 days
American Queen Paddlewheel along
the Mississippi & Columbia Rivers
Downtown Abbey/English Castles/Bath
/London/Windsor/Stonehenge
Sept 23-28, 2015
October 5-10, 2015
September 13-18, 2015
Oct. 4-11, 2015
Various dates in 2015
Oct. 7-13 & 13-17, 2015; Oct 5 & 11,
2016
Oct. 20-28, 2015; Apr. 12-20, 2016
April 14-21 2016
April 7-12 and 12-19, 2016
July 25 & Aug 1, 2015; July 23-30,
2016
Sept 21-29 & Oct. 5-13, 2015; Apr
27, Sept 13 & Oct 5, 2016
Sept 17, Oct 14, 2015; Apr 20, Sept
19, Oct 16, 2016
May 11-24, 2015 & Mar 9-21, 2016
July 11-18, Sept 11, 2015 July 9,
Sept 10 & 17 & 30, 2016
Various dates in 2015 and 2016
Sold out! Call now for 2016.
*See Pages 11 & 12 of October’s Newsletter (Star Dusters Write - Ted Jacox) for more
information on this trip.
Other trips in 2015 and 2016 have been added and include:
Tanzania Safari
Nov. 2-13, 2015
Azalea, Plantation & Cajun
March 10-16, 2016
Glacier and Waterton Nat’l Parks - 6days July 15-21, 2015
San Juan Islands & Leavenworth
Sept.15-21, 2015
San Antonio New Year’s
Dec 29, 2015 Jan 2, 2016
Western Caribbean New Year’s
Dec. 26, 2015 – Jan 2, 2016
Scottsdale, AZ, New Year’s
Dec. 29, 2015 – Jan 2, 2016
Rose Parade New Year’s
Dec. 29, 2015 – Jan 2, 2016
~end~
Star Dusters Newsletter
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April 2015
EUGENE G. REYNOLDS OBITUARY
By Ross Reynolds
Eugene G. Reynolds (Gene) passed away February 13, 2015 in Camarillo, California at
the age of 97. He retired in 1983 after a 42 year career with Lockheed having been the
Director of Quality Control, Advanced Development Programs for 15 years under C.L.
“Kelly” Johnson and Ben Rich. Gene was born January 7, 1918 in Chanute, Kansas as
the youngest of 5 children. He is survived by his wife of 66 years, Jean Reynolds, and
children Ross (Debby) Reynolds; Robin (Ron) Cross; Robert (Valerie) Reynolds; 6
grandchildren and 1 great-granddaughter. He was predeceased by his parents and
siblings.
Gene started working on aircraft at the early age of 21 at Beechcraft in Wichita,
Kansas. There he performed wing rib stitching and sheet metal fabrication on the
Model D-17 Staggerwing bi-plane, and the D-18, an all metal twin engine monoplane
with a twin tail design that gave it an appearance similar to the Lockheed Model 12.
Little did Gene know then that he would encounter these two aircraft during his time in
the U.S. Navy.
He began with Lockheed on December 6, 1940, as he would say 1 year and 1 day prior
to the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor. Gene started at the lowest inspection
classification, Learner Inspector, working in an inspection booth in Burbank factory 3G,
a carryover location that previously had been a whiskey distillery. This was the factory
where the P-38 fighter was being developed and manufactured. After the United States
was thrust into WWII, he continued work on the P-38 and the Model 322 (the British
version of the P-38 without superchargers and right hand rotation on both engines). In
1942 he accepted a position in Engineering Flight Test, placing him for the first time in
an organization headed by Kelly Johnson. There he had the opportunity to work on an
upgraded version of the P-38, the XP-49, and the XP-58, a large twin boomed fighter.
Prior to entering the U.S. Navy Gene was assigned to support the transport aircraft
concept requested by Howard Hughes for TWA, the prototype evolving into the famous
Constellation. A military version was also being developed with a designation of C-69,
having a camouflage paint finish.
Upon completion of his U.S. Navy service in 1946, Gene returned to Engineering Flight
Test to work on various configurations of the P-80 fighter, a Kelly Johnson design and
Lockheed’s first venture into jet powered aircraft. He was part of the team that
succeeded in taking a stripped down P-80R, “R” for Racey, and regaining the United
States world speed record with an average speed of 623.8 mph over a measured
course at Edwards AFB (then called Muroc Army Air Base). During his extended stays
with the flight test activity, the crew would frequently stay at the legendary Pancho
Barnes’ “Pancho’s Rancho Ord Verde,” and Gene eventually became a proud card
carrying member of the “Happy Bottom Riding Club.”
Gene went on to become an inspector on the XF-90, with only two prototypes built, and
was part of the flight test crew at Muroc. He worked on the flight line during the
production of the T-33 and F-94 in Factory B-9 in Van Nuys, before it was eventually
moved to Palmdale. He then returned to work on the Super Constellation (an
Star Dusters Newsletter
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April 2015
elongated version) where he gained experience working with both U.S. Navy and
commercial customers. By the late 1950’s Gene was working on the Electra II, Model
L-188, a newly designed four engine turboprop transport aircraft that had arrived at the
Plant B-6 flight line.
In 1963 Gene had the opportunity to join the Skunk Works. He would work on many
programs during his years in the Advanced Development Programs such as the A-11,
A-12, YF-12A, SR-71, D-21 Drone, U-2 and the F-117. He was a part of the team that
supported the first flight of the SR-71 on December 22, 1964. In May of 1967 Kelly
Johnson appointed Gene to become “ADP’s Chief Inspector”, a position later called the
Director of Quality Control, ADP. He would oversee all aspects of the Quality
organization for the Skunk Works from development to production and support for the
balance of his career. He retired during the development of the F-117 Stealth Fighter
Program.
~end~
LARRY CHANNEL, RETIRED CALAC VICE PRESIDENT, DIES AT 87
Star Duster Larry Channel, retired Calac vice president of government requirements,
died March 15, 2015. He was at Lockheed from 1962 until his retirement in 1989.
Earlier he worked in operational research for MIT and as a Navy civilian engineer in the
Pentagon. In these jobs he carried out pioneering research in antisubmarine warfare
(ASW), including the key area of underwater acoustics.
Starting at Calac in 1962 as an advanced systems design engineer, he advanced to
management positions in ASW systems and operational analysis, becoming the
primary Lockheed manager interfacing with Navy and Department of Defense officials
involved in Cold War ASW research, development, and new system acquisition.
After supporting the development of the P-3C Orion patrol aircraft, he played a major
role in the Navy competition for a new carrier based ASW aircraft. Lockheed won this
competition in 1969, resulting in the S-3A Viking aircraft program. 187 aircraft were
produced, with the final delivery in 1978. Throughout these years he built up and led a
strong, respected system analysis organization, personally spending much time in
Washington supporting Lockheed programs and new business initiatives.
In 1984 new Calac president Dick Heppe selected Larry to become Calac vice
president, government requirements, located in the Lockheed Washington office. He
was involved in a wide range of programs, including the Air Force Advanced Tactical
Fighter, with Lockheed and Northrop winning the first round of the competition in 1986.
In 1989 he retired. He and his wife retired to Nevada City, CA.
Lawrence Edward Channel was born in Boise, Idaho on March 17, 1927. He was a WW
II veteran, serving as a shipboard radar operator in the Pacific. After the war he
received his MS degree in physics from UCLA. In 1947 he married Elaine Leech, who
predeceased him in 2006. He is survived by five children and seven grandchildren. A
memorial service was held on April 4th in Nevada City, CA
~end~
Star Dusters Newsletter
10
April 2015
STAR DUSTERS DOWNTOWN LOS ANGELES DAY TRIP, MAY 20, 2015
The Los Angeles area is filled with exciting venues that people travel from all over the
world to visit. Downtown LA is one such area that includes City Hall, the Music Center
Complex, the Cathedral of Our Lady of Angeles, Union Station, Little Tokyo, and Olvera
Street, each with its own charm and unique architecture.
Ironically, many of us who live here have never visited these sites in our own backyard.
On May 20, the Star Dusters, many of us for the first time, will travel to Downtown LA
for a Day Trip to see some of these world renowned attractions.
Star Dusters Newsletter
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April 2015
The trip will include a group tour of the Cathedral and the four theaters that make up
the Music Center, some of the area’s most unique architectural landmarks. The tour
also includes a group lunch at the Cathedral and a recital featuring the Cathedral’s
world class 85 foot tall organ.
The more hearty Star Dusters may want to use the rest of the afternoon to explore the
many other downtown sites that are all within a few blocks. These include taking in the
magnificent views from the 27th floor Observation Deck at the iconic LA City Hall,
enjoying the excitement and color of Olvera Street, savoring a plum wine mocha ice
cream treat in Little Tokyo, or admiring the art deco architecture of Union Station.
Star Dusters Newsletter
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April 2015
The tour will include walking at and between the venues. The Cathedral tour is an hour
plus and the Music Center tour is 90 minutes. The walking will be interrupted with the
sit down lunch and recital. Walkers are not recommended for the Music Center portion
of the tour. Although this area is hilly, the Music Center and Cathedral are on roughly
the same level. Those wishing to extend their visit to include other downtown sites
should be prepared to navigate the hills or use public transportation.
More adventuresome Star Dusters may also want to avoid the traffic and parking
hassles by traveling to downtown using the Metro Rail with its Civic Center Station right
in the heart of all the action.
There is a $5 charge for the Cathedral tour. Gourmet box lunch options are listed on
the registration form (Insert 3) and range from $9 to $13 per person. Details on the
lunch items can be seen at http://www.olacathedral.org/ under Tours and Gourmet
Lunches.
Registration ends on 8 May 2015 and details on schedules, location, and
transportation/parking will be provided with registration confirmation by 13 May 2015. If
you register and have not received confirmation by 13 May or if you have any
questions, please call Gary Belie at 805-529-6539 or email at [email protected]
This should be a fun and informative Day Trip. Join the fun and bring your friends.
SPRING LUNCHEON AT LAS POSAS COUNTRY CLUB
Dr. Robert (Bob) Boyd, Hybrid Lift Portfolio Senior Program Manager, ADP will be the
guest speaker for the Spring Luncheon at the Las Posas Country Club on May 7. The
picture above is a Hybrid Lift vehicle that Dr. Boyd will be highlighting. (See Inserts 1A,
1B and 1C.)
Star Dusters Newsletter
13
April 2015
MEDICAL AND HEALTH NEWS
Gathered by Mel Kovnat
Acknowledgment of the source of material for these excerpts is included, but no attempt was
made to establish validity. Please check with your doctor or ignore the article if any information
seems to conflict with advice given by your doctor.
~
The article this month will again consist of some thoughts about our mutual problem of
how to go about signing up through the OneExchange for our new health insurance
coverage.
Nothing has changed since my remarks in the March Newsletter. I have learned of no
changes or of anything different than first impressions.
I have been able to investigate the OneExchange website somewhat and have found it
to be fairly easy to navigate and informative and not hard to use.
I have spoken to the OneExchange people by phone and I feel they are helpful and
responsive, easy to understand, and seem to be able to answer any question.
The few LM retirees I have spoken with, or heard about from others, have not
complained of difficulties with the system or of having to wait very long for help.
That all adds up to a positive evaluation of the system and the people running it.
The major difficulty is evaluating the numerous choices available and picking what we
each feel is best for ourselves and our families.
So where does that leave us?






Read the available material.
Make a list of questions.
Call the OneExchange people to get answers or guidance for your questions.
Examine the available choices, preferably on-line.
Make a list of tentative choices and call OneExchange again.
Make a date to enroll, call, discuss and fine tune your choices and set up your
final step by enrolling.
The above is not really different than what the OneExchange Enrollment Guide says to
do.
If there is some value in what is written on this page, it is probably to put the user in a
positive frame of mind and getting started with the process. I believe the momentum
will carry you through.
Good luck to all.
~end~
Star Dusters Newsletter
14
April 2015
STAR DUSTERS WRITE –
ROBERT R. PAUL
The March Newsletter page 4 asks for comments on termination of medical insurance. I
offer the following.
I find it interesting that we retirees worked hard, long hours and with great dedication
for 35 years plus to keep the Corporation profitable and with a great future. This has
provided the current Corporate Officers and Board with their jobs, compensation and
they appear to pay us back by change in benefits. I know the Gross brothers, Dan
Haughton, Carl Kotchian, Roy Anderson, Larry Kitchen and Dan Tellup would never
have done this unless there was a benefit to the retirees.
They would have explained such actions to those retired. These men built the
Corporations by hiring top folks (men and women) who would follow their lead and
make the Corporation great.
1. The current Officers should have told us the facts. They should be required to tell us
the reason such as reduce future risk, improve profits in the future, reduce cash flow or
whatever reasons.
2. Those of us retired were given medical option when we retired and I do not recall
any mention the Corporation would withdraw at any time.
3. If this is correct and is there any group of retirees Lockheed/Martin employees
considering a CLASS ACTION SUIT against the Corporation? I am not suggesting this
is an option but simply trying to determine what is going on by retirees at this time.
4. If this was done to reduce cost to retirees and provide greater coverage over
many years to come, why not simply say that.
5. Why is the Corporation offering a small financial help for the last six months of this
year and a greater amount in 2016 with a qualifier indicating this may be withdrawn at
any time? How can we plan our lives on such a plan? Why not promise this on an
ongoing basis?
6. Is the Board of Directors in agreement with this change?
7. When I retired, I was told that the Corporate Officers and Board Members received
full medical/dental/eye glasses upon retirement with no annual cost to these folks
including a co-pay. Is this correct and does it apply to current Corporate Officers and
Board Members, does this stop at end of May 2015 as it will for those of us now
retired? They deserve good competitive benefits while the Corporation prospers.
I believe the Corporation should have handled this better and if they had, some of us
would not have to provide such questions or comments.
Ed. Note: The Newsletter has not received any other comments from our readers about
filing a Class Action suit against Lockheed Martin
~
Ralph L. Smead (Eleanor)
Ralph will celebrate his 90th birthday on 3/25/15.
~
Star Dusters Newsletter
15
April 2015
Maddy Schnepp –
LAS History - Thought Star Duster readers might be interested in what the LM Corp. is
doing to highlight the history and accomplishments of the old, unfortunately, now
defunct Lockheed Aircraft Service.
Some months ago I received a lovely publication titled “INNOVATION WITH
PURPOSE", the story of Lockheed Martin's first 100 years. It was a handsome
document with 271 pages.
Reading it I was surprised that not one page or paragraph mentioned Lockheed Aircraft
Service (LAS) which served the Corporation for 60 some odd years with domestic
operations in a number of locations in the States and overseas in Europe, the Middle
and Far East as well as South America. Overall these operations, which included
aircraft maintenance, modification and overseas technical assistance, were profitable
and served the image of Lockheed around much of the world. During the Corporation’s
difficult financial years of the mid-1970s, LAS cash flow helped the Corp. with more
than one payroll.
Having served LAS for 37 years, and an additional 15 years as a consultant, I was
disappointed in our exclusion from the document. As a result I wrote a letter to
Chairman Marillyn Hewson pointing out the exclusion. I was very pleased to receive a
response from the Chairman in which she said she agreed that LAS deserved
recognition and had assigned Clare O'Leary at the headquarters to produce a history
document specifically covering the accomplishments of LAS. Also found that Dave
Ellefson of LM ADP- Advanced Projects, (former LAS'er) was working on the history as
well.
In addition to those fine people I contacted LAS's last President, Skip Bowling, who
pitched in to work on the project. We also had help from former President and long
time LAS executive, D.O. Wood, and others.
As a result we are hopeful that a document will be produced shortly that will recognize
the accomplishments of so many past LAS employees, now retired, as well as the
descendants of LAS folks no longer with us.
Thanks for getting this word out and for the great work that the volunteers, who produce
the Star Dusters Newsletter every month, accomplish in keeping us old timers
connected with our warm memories of the days past with Lockheed.
~
Lyman “Mike” Evans
Great articles, Lockheed financial data, health info and history. Keep up the wonderful
work!
~
Barbara M.K. Foley
Enjoy reading the star dusters and appreciate the Star Dusters activities plus photos.
Love the LM Corp. news section.
Star Dusters Newsletter
16
April 2015
JONK-A-MATIC
By Les Jonkey
When I was assigned as wing and flight station planning supervisor on the new Electra
commercial airplane, it entailed developing a manufacturing plan for assembly and
fabrication tooling and instructions on their uses.
I was told the wing design would be the same as the C-130, in Georgia, and the 1649
starting in Burbank and that I should look at the 1649.
I contacted the chief tooling engineer and revisited the 1649. The wing skins were
machined extrusions 18 inches wide with stiffeners approximately 2 inches high spaced
2 inches apart for the full of the skin.
In alternate bays where H clips with 8 holes pilot drilled in fabrication their legs riveted
to the stiffeners risers with 4 rivets and the web with 4 rivets attached to the rib cap.
The holes, stiffer to the H clip were being drilled using angle drills similar to a dentist
drill, except larger and air driven. Holes in the web drilled with 12 inch line extension
drills. Previous drilling tests by Manufacturing Research indicated freehand drilled holes
tend to be on the high side of their allowed tolerance while holes drilled with angle drills
work on the high side of the tolerances and were quite often oval if not drilled 90° to the
surface.
The good part was, these rivets were squeezed. And a squeezed rivet usually expands
and fills the hole.
I didn’t like the plan because of the flight loads on these critical parts. After several
weeks of sleepless nights I decided the 8 holes could be drilled with a specially
designed machine. I made several, possible designs of machine to scale and they
indicated maybe they could work.
I talked to my department manager and he said he did not think it could be done, I
talked with several tooling engineers and they said no. A few days later I met Chuck
Wagner, director of manufacturing later to become president of Burbank Calac. He
asked me how I liked my new assignment. I told him I had never been involved with a
large airplane, especially a new one and that I was going to request a transfer back to
the P-80.
After several minutes he said, “I don’t believe you, now tell me what’s bothering you.” I
told him about the H clips and he asked to see the engineering drawings. After a few
minutes he said, “I agree. I don’t think you have room enough for a machine. I was the
one that put you on the job, I am not taking you off, now what are you going to do?”
I said, “I want to find a small machine shop in the area to prove I’m right.” He agreed to
gamble $15,000 and Purchasing found a company that designed and manufactured the
machines shown on the following pages. 2 machines, named Jonk-A-Matic by the first
using foreman, each of which drill 4 close tolerance holes at one time in one minute.
One hole drilled by hand takes one minute.
These machines drilled 187 Electras, 650 P-3s, an Electra derivative and 107 P-3s built
by Japan.
Star Dusters Newsletter
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April 2015
In 1967 the C-130 wing panels were moved to Burbank at which time the assembly
tools were modified to use the Jonk-A-Matic. The drilling time was reduced 75%.
Assuming C-130 wing panels manufactured in Burbank at 2 per month since 1967, over
1100 shipsets have been manufactured. These little machines have drilled close
tolerance holes in over 2,100 airplanes or about 310,000 H clips with over 2,400,000
holes with a savings of 75% per clip.
The photos below show a 6-foot test panel, H clips, rib cap and first drilling machine.
All of the holes were drilled by Chuck Wagner.
Star Dusters Newsletter
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~end~
I may be flying a complicated airplane,
rushing through space,
But in this cabin I’m surrounded by simplicity and
thoughts free of time.
How detached the intimate things around me
seem from the great world down below.
How strange is this combination of proximity
and separation.
That ground—seconds away—
thousands of miles away.
This air, stirring mildly around me.
That air, rushing by the speed of a tornado,
an inch beyond.
These minute details in my cockpit.
The grandeur of the world outside.
The nearness of death.
The longness of life.
Charles A. Lindbergh (1902-1974),
The Spirit of St. Louis, 1953
April 2015
Star Dusters Newsletter
19
April 2015
IN THE NEWS
By Pete Harrigan
NON-PRODUCT RELATED
Lockheed Martin Taking on Climate Change – Best known for military aircraft and
missiles, the company is setting its sights on combatting climate change, recently
identified by the Pentagon as a significant threat to national security, the Washington
Post reports. Some analysts are skeptical, noting the effort is unlikely to benefit
shareholders because any returns would be a long time in coming. Among the reasons
critics question Lockheed Martin’s foray into alternative energy are that the early results
have been spotty, the Post said. But the company remains confident its technical
expertise will transfer to commercial industries.
International Sales Push – Chief Financial Officer Bruce Tanner told The Washington
Post that Lockheed Martin wants to grow international business to 25% of total sales,
up from 20% -- or $9 billion – in 2014. Tanner said most of the foreign sales are funded
by the U.S. government. International business accounts for 25% of the Corporation’s
existing backlog, putting the sales goal within reach, Tanner said.
Lockheed Martin is Second-Largest Defense Exporter – Boeing, Lockheed Martin
and Raytheon were the world’s largest exporters of defense equipment in 2014,
according to IHS Aerospace, Defense & Security, a consulting firm. Rounding out the
top five were Airbus and Russia's United Aircraft Corporation. Global defense trade
rose for the sixth straight year to $64.4 billion, up from $56.8 billion in 2013, IHS said.
Saudi Arabia surpassed India to become the world's top importer of defense
equipment.
Company Among Top Subsidy Recipients – Lockheed Martin was the 28th largest
recipient of state and local government subsidies, the Washington Post reports, citing
data from Good Jobs First, a policy resource center. Boeing topped the list, with $13.4
billion in state and local government tax breaks awarded over the study period,
compared to Lockheed Martin’s $700 million. Intel, Alcoa, General Motors and Ford
rounded out the top five; Northrop Grumman was 20 th on the list, with $900 million in
subsidies.
Annual Meeting Set – Lockheed Martin’s annual meeting of stockholders is scheduled
for 8 AM on April 23 at the corporation’s Center for Leadership Excellence in Bethesda,
MD. In addition to electing directors and ratifying the appointment of independent
auditors, stockholders will cast advisory votes on executive compensation and vote on
two stockholder proposals. Lead Director Douglas H. McCorkindale has reached
mandatory retirement and will leave the board. The board’s independent directors
elected Nolan D. Archibald as the new lead director.
CEO Hewson Earned $17.87 Million in 2014 – Chairman and Chief Executive Officer
Marillyn Hewson earned $17.87 million last year, according to a Washington Business
Journal analysis of the company’s proxy statement. In addition to a base salary of $1.5
million, up from the prior year's $1.37 million, Hewson earned $8.9 million in stock
Star Dusters Newsletter
20
April 2015
awards, a $7.06 million in incentive payments and $415,055 in other compensation.
Hewson's pension value at the end of 2014 was $33.69 million.
Lockheed Martin Sells Newtown Property – The company reached an agreement to
sell its 57-acre property in Newtown, PA, to KVK-Tech, a pharmaceutical company
already located in the township, according to the Bucks County Courier Times. KVK
President and CEO Anthony Tabasso declined to disclose the sale price. The property,
previously used for commercial and military satellite work, includes 460,514 square feet
of office, lab and high-tech manufacturing space as well as a conference center that
was built in 2010.
Lockheed Martin Unveils New Kanata Facility – The company opened a new
Mission Systems and Training division headquarters in Kanata, Ontario, to consolidate
several existing Lockheed Martin Canada facilities in the area. The 109,000-square-foot
facility will accommodate 160 employees working on the C$1.4 billion Royal Canadian
Navy frigate modernization, among other programs, the Ottawa Business Journal
reports. The facility includes a gym, meeting spaces and a graffiti wall, all designed to
attract a younger generation of workers, a company official said.
Lockheed Martin and IERUS Technologies Win Nunn-Perry Award – The two
companies were selected to receive the prestigious Nunn-Perry Award for their strong
partnership forged under the Defense Department’s mentor-protégé program, which
encourages prime contractors to help small businesses develop technical and business
capabilities. IERUS, based in Huntsville, AL, is a certified Historically Underutilized
Business Zone (HUBZone) business. Since beginning its relationship with Lockheed
Martin in 2012, IERUS expanded its business-practices knowledge base and earned
AS9100 quality management system certification.
Company Honored for STEM Program Focused on Women – The Society of
Women Engineers’ (SWE) Midwestern Division presented its first “Invaluable” award to
Space Systems, recognizing the Denver unit’s efforts to champion education programs
that inspire the next generation of women engineers and technologists. The company
annually sponsors SWE’s Girls Exploring Science, Technology, Engineering and Math
event in Denver, introducing engineering principles and female role models to
approximately 1,000 middle school girls.
Asian-American Engineers Honored – Five Lockheed Martin engineers were among
those recognized with Asian American Engineer of the Year (AAEOY) awards during
the 2015 AAEOY Awards Gala in Los Angeles. Launched in 2002 by the Chinese
Institute of Engineers-USA, the AAEOY Award honors outstanding Asian-American
professionals in science and engineering for their leadership, technical achievement
and remarkable public service. Past recipients include Nobel laureates, academic
leaders, key corporate executives and astronauts.
New VP-Global Solutions Named – Roy Stevens was named vice president of global
solutions for the Information Systems & Global Solutions business. He replaces Anne
Mullins, who was promoted to chief information officer and vice president of Enterprise
Business Services. Stevens most recently served as vice president of strategy and
business development for the company’s civilian business within IS&GS.
Star Dusters Newsletter
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April 2015
Linda Gooden Joins GM Board – Linda Gooden, who retired as executive vice
president of the Information Systems & Global Solutions unit in 2013, was named to the
General Motors board of directors. She is the fifth woman on the 13-person GM board.
Gooden also serves on the boards of Automatic Data Processing, WGL Holdings and
Washington Gas Light Co., a subsidiary of WGL.
AERONAUTICS
Pentagon Report Sees Drop in Cost of F-35 – The projected cost to develop and buy
the planned fleet of 2,457 F-35 aircraft dropped $7.5 billion to $391.1 billion, largely due
to lower labor rates, revised inflation estimates and a cut in the number of spares
needed, according to the Defense Department’s annual report to Congress on the
status of major weapons programs.
F-35 Moves Closer to Data Fusion Goal – Flight tests are under way to assess a
software patch intended to improve the ability of multi-aircraft F-35 formations to fuse
data, Aviation Week & Space Technology reports. The goal is to blend data collected
by F-35s’ targeting, electronic warfare and radar systems to improve pilots’ situational
awareness and reduce their workload. Further refinements to the software are planned
after the current round of flight tests, officials said.
F-35 Will Not Reach Full Close Air Support Potential Until 2022 – F-35 pilots will
have to wait until 2022 to fire the U.S. military's top close-air-support bomb after the
Small Diameter Bomb II enters service in 2017. According to Military.com, JSF officials
said the F-35 will not have the software package required to operate the SDB II until
2022, reducing the aircraft's ability to provide close-air support to ground troops. The
JSF office has already discovered that the SDB II does not fit onto the F-35B – the
Marine Corps variant – without modifications to the aircraft's weapons bay. Even with
the delay, officials said the F-35A will have substantial close-air support capabilities
when it reaches full operational capability in 2018. This includes the ability to fire an
internal gun and drop a range of munitions, including the SDB I.
First F-35A Rolls Out of Production Facility in Italy – The first F-35A assembled
internationally rolled out of the Final Assembly and Check Out (FACO) facility in
Cameri, Italy on March 12. The aircraft will proceed to additional check-out activities
before its anticipated first flight later this year. The Italian FACO is owned by the Italian
Ministry of Defense and is operated by Alenia Aermacchi in conjunction with Lockheed
Martin. The FACO will build all Italian F-35A and F-35B aircraft, is programmed to build
F-35As for the Royal Netherlands Air Force and retains the capacity to deliver to other
European partners in the future.
South Korean F-35 Offset Deal Reportedly Reached – Citing a European executive
with knowledge of the satellite community industry, Defense News reported that
Lockheed Martin will supply one military and two civil satellites as part of the offset
arrangement for South Korea’s $7 billion purchase of F-35A fighters. The publication
said Blenheim Capital set up a subsidiary in Luxembourg to provide satellite
communications capacity, initially to the Asia Pacific region. Both Blenheim and
Lockheed Martin declined to comment on the report.
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April 2015
F-35 Cockpit Demonstrator Shown in Hawaii – Lockheed Martin showed off its F-35
Lightning II mobile cockpit demonstrator to Hawaii military representatives, business
leaders and elected officials in early March, the Honolulu Star-Advertiser reports. The
cockpit demonstrator was at Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam for Hawaii-based military
commands to check out, including U.S. Pacific Command, U.S. Pacific Fleet, Pacific Air
Forces and Marine Corps Forces Pacific, officials said.
Cracks Fixed, USAF F-16Ds Flying Again – Defense News reports that the U.S. Air
Force F-16D fleet is returning to service after a cockpit crack grounded the jets last
year. The service grounded 82 F-16D fighters last August following the discovery of
cracks between the front and rear pilot seats. Officials were concerned that a major
invasive procedure would be needed to repair the damage, but Air Force experts and
Lockheed Martin engineers found a solution involving the attachment of steel and
aluminum straps to the front fuselage area. The Air Force has 157 F-16Ds in its
inventory. A Lockheed spokesman said the last three jets should be fully repaired within
weeks.
Company Eyes Korea, Singapore F-16 Upgrades -- Lockheed Martin is getting
closer to signing up Singapore for its F-16V upgrade package while also pursuing
South Korea and other Pacific region customers for upgrades. A company official who
spoke to Defense News declined to name prospective customers, but a source said
Singapore plans to buy the upgrade for its fleet of 60 F-16C/D block 52 aircraft. The
company official said Lockheed Martin expects to book an order with a customer “in
Southeast Asia” by the end of the year.
P-3 Wing Line Restarted – P-3 Orion wing production will resume in Marietta in
support of the Mid-Life Upgrade (MLU) program for Canada and Chile. The MLU
replaces the outer wings, center wing, horizontal stabilizer and horizontal stabilizer
leading edges. All necessary fatigue life-limiting structures are replaced, leading to
significantly reduced maintenance and sustainment costs. New alloys are employed
that provide a five-fold increase in corrosion resistance. The P-3 wing line was last in
production in August 2014.
Upgraded P-3 Delivered Ahead of Schedule – Lockheed Martin delivered a P-3
Orion aircraft to the U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) agency 37 days ahead
of schedule. It was the 12th of 14 CBP P-3s to receive Mid-Life Upgrade (MLU)
modifications and phased depot maintenance. The MLU replaces fatigue life-limiting
structures, extending the P-3’s service life by 20 to 25 years.
Lockheed Martin Has T-X Clean Sheet Backup – The company is planning to offer
the T-50 trainer for the U.S. Air Force's T-X program, but also has a clean-sheet design
on hand should the T-50 not meet the program’s requirements, which are expected
shortly, Defense News reports. The T-X program will replace T-38 advanced trainers
with 350 new production models. The T-50 is used by both South Korea and Indonesia,
while Iraq and the Philippines are on contract and awaiting their first deliveries.
New Bomber Program Likely to be Cost-Plus – U.S. Air Force acquisition chief
William LaPlante says the service likely will adopt a cost-plus model for the
development phase of new long-range strike bomber, Reuters reports. Lockheed Martin
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April 2015
is on a Boeing-led team competing against Northrop Grumman for the development
contract, planned for award this summer.
Company Wins 3 Manufacturing Leadership Awards – Aeronautics won three 2015
Manufacturing Leadership Awards, administered by the Manufacturing Leadership
Council, Frost & Sullivan. The awards recognized advances in Applied Additive Tooling
Technologies, Hole Drilling Process Improvement and Optical Projection of Fastener
Installation Data.
MISSION SYSTEMS AND TRAINING
Lockheed Martin-Sikorsky Team Wins $2 Billion Helo Support Deal – The U.S.
Navy awarded a joint venture of the two companies a contract worth $2 billion to
service H-60 helicopters. The fixed-price contract runs through January 2020 and
covers "performance-based logistics" for the Navy's fleet of H-60 helicopters.
UTC Boss Says Sikorsky No Longer a Good Fit – Greg Hayes, United Technologies’
president and CEO, told an investor conference that the company is exploring options
for divesting Sikorsky because the helicopter manufacturer is “just not quite the
business that we want in terms of long-term business potential, long-term growth."
Sikorsky and Lockheed Martin are teamed on the U.S. Navy’s H-60 helicopter program
and on the presidential helicopter replacement program. Reuters quoted industry
analysts as saying that Sikorsky could be acquired by another big defense company,
though the potential for a large tax obligation would make Sikorsky’s spinoff as an
independent company more likely.
UK Close to Declaring AN/TPS-77 Radar Operational – The United Kingdom will
declare its three newly installed Lockheed Martin AN/TPS-77 ground-based long-range
air surveillance radar systems fully operational with the completion of trials against
airborne targets set for late 2015, Jane’s Defence Weekly reports. The radars are
intended to mitigate the “clutter” on existing system caused by onshore and offshore
windfarms. Under-Secretary of State for Defence Philip Dunne told the House of
Commons that one of the radars has already undergone flight trials. Testing of the
remaining two will commence before the end of the year, he said.
SPACE SYSTEMS
Lockheed Martin Fixing GPS Software Glitch – Lockheed Martin is working to
resolve a technical error that affected some global positioning system (GPS) satellites
but did not degrade the accuracy of GPS signals received by users around the world.
The company said the error involved the ground control system for GPS IIF satellites it
runs for the Air Force. The service disclosed the problem on March 22, acknowledging
that archived data showed the problem had gone unnoticed since 2013, Reuters
reported. The affected GPS satellites were built by Boeing.
U.S. Air Force Eyes New GPS Satellite Competition – Service officials hope to kick
off a competition for the next batch of Global Positioning System satellites in 2018,
seeking spacecraft with higher power and greater anti-jamming capabilities, Reuters
reported. Lockheed Martin is under contract to build the first eight GPS III satellites, and
is close to receiving a contract for two more satellites. An Air Force official said there
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April 2015
would definitely be a competition, given that the service secured approval for a solesource deal with Lockheed for only 12 satellites. Boeing and Northrop Grumman have
expressed interest in competing for the multibillion-dollar program.
Atlas V Boosts NASA Probes – An unmanned Atlas V carrying four NASA science
satellites was successfully launched from Cape Canaveral Air Force Station on March
12. The rocket, built by the United Launch Alliance (ULA) joint venture of Lockheed
Martin and Boeing, transported four identical satellites designed to map explosions
triggered by the intersection of magnetic fields around the Earth. Each satellite is
equipped with 25 sensors to record what happens when the planet's magnetic field
lines break apart and reconnect. Magnetic reconnection, as the phenomenon is known,
is commonplace throughout the universe, but poorly understood. The launch was the
94th successful mission since ULA’s formation in 2005.
United Launch Alliance to Select New Engine By 2017 – The Lockheed MartinBoeing United Launch Alliance (ULA) will decide by 2017 between two U.S. contenders
to replace the Russian-made RD-180 engines that send most military and intelligence
satellites into orbit, the Wall Street Journal reports. Testifying before Congress, ULA
chief executive Tory Bruno said Blue Origin, run by Amazon.com founder Jeff Bezos, is
one to two years ahead of Gencorp’s Aerojet Rocketdyne unit in developing a new
engine. The engine selection comes as ULA is facing competition from Elon Musk’s
SpaceX. A SpaceX executive told Congress the company would be able to undercut
ULA on cost, though Bruno said ULA also is taking steps to reduce costs.
House Looking to Alter RD-180 Restriction – There is a growing sense on Capitol
Hill that language designed to limit the procurement of Russian engines for military
space launches needs to be altered to avoid unexpected fallout, Defense News reports.
Congress included a provision in last year’s defense authorization bill that would allow
United Launch Alliance (ULA) to use the 14 engines it had under contract before
Russia invaded the Ukraine last year. Pentagon lawyers, however, believe the
language allows ULA to use only five of those 14. Members of both parties on the
House Armed Services Committee say the Pentagon’s interpretation could give a
monopoly to SpaceX, which is awaiting certification to launch military payloads.
Laser Weapon Stops Truck In Its Tracks – A 30-kilowatt fiber laser weapon system
developed in Sunnyvale successfully disabled the engine of a small truck during a
recent field test, demonstrating the rapidly evolving precision capability to protect
military forces and critical infrastructure. The Advanced Test High Energy Asset
(ATHENA) system burned through the engine manifold in a matter of seconds from
more than a mile away. The truck was mounted on a test platform with its engine and
drive train running to simulate an operationally-relevant test scenario. The
demonstration marked the first field testing of an integrated 30-kilowatt, single-mode
fiber laser weapon system prototype. Through a technique called spectral beam
combining, multiple fiber laser modules form a single, powerful, high-quality beam that
provides greater efficiency and lethality than multiple individual 10-kilowatt lasers used
in other systems.
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April 2015
AEHF Reaches Production Milestone Early – The Advanced Extremely High
Frequency (AEHF) team successfully integrated the propulsion core and payload
module for the fourth satellite nearly five months ahead of schedule. The program has
been cited as a model for costs savings in government contracting; overall costs for the
contract of AEHF vehicles five and six were reduced by more than 35% from initial
government estimates, earning DoD’s David Packard Award for acquisition excellence.
AEHF is the military’s most protected communications satellite system, assuring
communications for national leaders and key allies.
Lockheed Martin Seeks to Cut Costs of Satellites – The company is talking with the
U.S. Air Force about ways to cut the cost of future missile warning satellites by up to
25%, an executive told Reuters. Rick Ambrose, Space Systems executive vice
president, said the Air Force could decide by June whether to replace the current
unique spacecraft planned for the fifth and sixth Space-Based Infrared System (SBIRS)
satellites with an updated and cheaper version of the A2100 satellite "bus" used for
GPS satellites. Making the swap would lower the cost of the 7 th and 8th SBIRS satellites
by 20% to 25%, Ambrose said, adding that Lockheed could lower the cost of the
satellites by 40% in time for an expected competition in 2018.
Space Tug Could Deliver Cargo to the Moon – A multinational team led by Lockheed
Martin will attempt to repurpose a modular “general-purpose space utility vehicle” it has
proposed for NASA’s second-round commercial-cargo competition into a humanspaceflight services business ranging from low Earth orbit to Mars, a company official
told Aviation Week & Space Technology. The proposed vehicle would combine the
spacecraft bus Lockheed Martin Space Systems Company builds for its interplanetary
probes with a robotic arm supplied by Canada’s MacDonald Dettwiler Associates and a
pressurized module built in Italy by Thales Alenia Space. At least four other companies
have entered the NASA competition.
Lockheed Martin Invests in Rocket Lab – The company invested an undisclosed
amount in the U.S. unit of New Zealand's Rocket Lab, Reuters reports. Rocket Lab is
building a carbon-composite rocket, the Electron, to launch small satellites into orbit for
less than $5 million. Lockheed Martin said the company saw potential applications for
Rocket Lab's technologies in light lift, hypersonic flight and low-cost flight testing.
TECHNOLOGY INITIATIVES
Lockheed Martin Earns Spot in DARPA Robotics Contest – The Advanced
Technology Laboratories unit is leading one of 25 teams in the Defense Advanced
Research Projects Agency's annual Robotics Challenge, the only large contractor in the
competition. ATL is partnered with the Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute and the
University of Pennsylvania to develop a humanoid robot that can perform tasks
designed to simulate disaster response scenarios. The competing teams, from the
United States and abroad, will face off June 5-6 in Pomona, CA.
Solar Science Work Featured at Smithsonian – The National Air and Space Museum
in Washington, DC unveiled a giant video wall that shows the sun in super high
definition, using the Atmospheric Imaging Assembly (AIA) designed and built at
Lockheed Martin’s Palo Alto’s Advanced Technology Center. The assembly, installed
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April 2015
aboard NASA’s Solar Dynamics Observatory, was developed in conjunction with the
Smithsonian’s Astrophysical Observatory.
Five years after its launch, AIA recently delivered its 100 millionth image, far more data
than any previous space-based solar observatory.
GLOBAL TRAINING AND LOGISTICS
RAAF C-130J Training Upgrades Planned – The Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF)
selected Lockheed Martin to supply a modern C-130J-30 Virtual Maintenance Trainer
and a Multi-Function Training Aid (MFTA) to support maintenance and aircrew training.
The maintenance training contract will update two classrooms, providing a modern
electronic learning environment that will enable RAAF C-130J-30 training staff to modify
training courseware through the aircraft lifecycle. Powered by Prepar3D® simulation
software, the MFTA reduces demand on operational aircraft while providing a highly
realistic simulation environment for more affordable training.
INFORMATION SYSTEMS & GLOBAL SOLUTIONS
Lockheed Martin Sees Growing Demand for Cyber Security – Chandra McMahon,
vice president of commercial markets for Information Systems security services, tells
Reuters the company has seen a "sea change" in demand for cyber security services in
critical infrastructure areas such as energy, oil and gas, and financial institutions. She
said the commercial cyber division doubled its clients over the past year alone, and
expects to generate double digit growth over the next five years. Lockheed is one of
few U.S. defense firms reporting success in efforts to break into the commercial cyber
security market, Reuters said.
Radware Joins Lockheed Martin Cyber Security Alliance – Radware, a provider of
application delivery and security solutions for virtual and cloud data centers, joined
more than a dozen other companies in a Lockheed Martin-led consortium to
collaborate, combine strengths and share best practices for cyber security. Other
participants include APC by Schneider Electric, CA, Cisco, Citrix, CyberPoint, Dell,
EMC Corporation and its RSA security division, FireEye, HP and its ArcSight division,
Intel and Intel Security (formerly McAfee), Juniper Networks, Microsoft, NetApp, Red
Hat, Splunk, Symantec, Trustwave, Verizon and VMware.
Company to Support U.S. Navy Intelligence Sharing Solution – The U.S. Navy
awarded Lockheed Martin two contracts with a total ceiling value of $90 million over five
years to support Radiant Mercury, a system that allows secure sharing of sensitive data
between unclassified and classified security domains. Radiant Mercury supports
simultaneous data flows to hundreds of channels, interfaces with most major C4ISR
systems, and supports most transport, network and data link protocols. Used by both
U.S. and allied partners at more than 400 sites worldwide, Radiant Mercury has
streamlined the process of sharing critical operational and intelligence information with
coalition forces.
NATS Expands Lockheed Martin Relationship – The UK’s National Air Traffic
Services (NATS) air traffic control business entered into a strategic partnership with
Lockheed Martin, Air Traffic Management reports. The agreement calls for the partners
Star Dusters Newsletter
27
April 2015
to improve efficiency, safety and passenger experience across airports and air traffic
systems worldwide. Lockheed Martin already supports a number of NATS operational
systems, as well as its business IT systems.
MISSILES AND FIRE CONTROL
Lockheed Martin, Raytheon Face Off Over European Missile Deals – The Financial
Times reports the two companies are competing for almost €8 billion in contracts to
supply air and missile defense systems to Germany and Poland. Lockheed is offering
its Medium Extended Air Defense System (MEADS) while Raytheon is advancing its
Patriot missile system.
Lockheed Martin Competing for New Missile Contract – Lockheed Martin,
Raytheon, Boeing and MBDA Missile Systems are vying for a new U.S. Army contract
for Joint Air-to-Ground Missiles, the Orlando Business Journal reports. Bidders
received the RFP in January and proposals are due in April. The Army is expected to
award a contract in August.
Teaming to Improve Pilot Vision – Lockheed Martin will collaborate with H.N. Burns
Engineering Corp. to enhance military helicopter pilots’ ability to fly in low visibility
conditions caused by weather, dust or other obstructions. Known as degraded visual
environments (DVE), the blinding conditions are a primary cause of major helicopter
accidents. By combining H.N. Burns’ high-resolution imaging laser radar with Lockheed
Martin’s experience in pilotage and sensor systems, the team aims to develop
affordable solutions that improve pilots’ spatial orientation and situational awareness.
Jordan Seeking Rocket Launchers – Jordan is seeking more U.S.-made rocket
launchers built by Lockheed Martin, the Wall Street Journal reports. The Journal said
the State Department approved a request from Jordan, which is looking to buy 72 of the
M31 rocket launchers, a portable system carried on a tracked vehicle.
MLRS Battalion Deploying to Korea – A Multiple Launch Rocket System (MLRS)equipped U.S. Army battalion will deploy to South Korea in June, Army Times reported.
The 400-member unit will depart in June for a nine-month rotation, the Pentagon said,
after which they will leave their equipment in place for follow-on rotations. Produced by
Lockheed Martin, MLRS can fire 12 surface-to-surface rockets in less than one minute.
~end~
IN MEMORIAM – as of March 12, 2015
Lloyd E. Campbell (Mimi)
Larry E. Channel
June Edna Gamer
Charles (Ed) Jameson
Carol Lohrenz
Virginia Mauna
George W. Niotta (Peggy)
December 30, 2014
March 16, 2015
July 5, 2014
December 17, 2014
September 18, 2014
January 17, 2015
February 17, 2015
~end~
Star Dusters Newsletter
28
April 2015
Star Dusters Newsletter
P. O. Box 10310
Burbank, CA 91510-0310
PSRT STD
U.S. POSTAGE
PAID
Change Service Requested
MMP DIRECT
COMING EVENTS
04-15-15
04-15-15
04-21-15
04-24 thru 26-15
04-27-15
05-07-15
05-16-15
05-20-15
Palmdale Air Park and Plant Tour Day Trip (See Page 1)
AV Satellite Spring Reunion Luncheon (See Page 1)
LAS Ontario Star Dusters Satellite Bi-annual Meeting (See
Page 1)
2015 SAE Aero Design West Competition (See President’s
Corner,. Pages 3 and 4)
Spring Reunion Golf Tournament, (See Page 1)
Spring Reunion Luncheon at Las Posas Country Club (See
Pages 1 and 12 and Inserts 1A, 1B and 1C)
Rye Canyon Research Center Reunion (See Page 1 and
Insert 2)
Downtown Los Angeles Day Trip (See Pages 1, 10, 11 and 12
and Insert 3)
MARK YOUR CALENDARS!!!
LOGIX
Buy a Jumbo Home without the Jumbo Down Payment
We introduced new loan programs that allow members to purchase a home of up to $1
million with as little as 10% down. A second new program requires only 5% down for
homes priced from $625,501 to $850,000. Contact us at www.lfcu.com or (800) 328-5328
FREE to learn more about these unique programs.
Logix is an equal opportunity lender.
Logix Federal Credit Union is pleased to support the Star Dusters newsletter
publication.
_____________________________________________________________________
Editor: Betty O’Connor
[email protected] or (818) 361-0419
Associate Editor: John Shelton
[email protected]
Star Dusters Newsletter
Insert 1A
April 2015
ANNUAL SPRING REUNION LUNCHEON
CAMARILLO, CA - MAY 7, 2015
Complete the form below and mail it with your check to:
Lockheed Martin Star Dusters
P.O. Box 10310
Burbank, CA 91510-0310
PLEASE REMEMBER TO ENCLOSE YOUR CHECK PAYABLE TO
LOCKHEED MARTIN STAR DUSTERS
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
STAR DUSTERS ANNUAL
SPRING REUNION LUNCHEON
MAY 7, 2015
Please reserve ____ luncheon ticket(s) at $26.00 each for the Star Dusters
Annual Spring Reunion on Thursday, May 7, 2015 at the Las Posas Country
Club, Camarillo, CA. My check is enclosed.
Please indicate your choice(s) of:
 Chinese Chicken Salad_____
 Sliced Tri-Tip_____
 Grilled Salmon Fillet_____
 LPCC Vegetarian Lasagna_____
Please print________________________________ on my member’s name tag
and print________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________
On the name tag(s) of my spouse and/or guest(s)
DEADLINE FOR RESERVATIONS: FRIDAY, MAY 1, 2015
Star Dusters Newsletter
Insert 1B
April 2015
STAR DUSTERS ANNUAL
SPRING REUNION LUNCHEON
CAMARILLO, CA – MAY 7, 2015
Place:
Las Posas Country Club, 955 Fairway Dr., Camarillo, CA
Date:
Thursday, May 7, 2015
Price:
$26.00 per person, including tax and gratuity
Social Hour: 11:00 A.M. with luncheon served at 12:00 P.M.
Program:
Dr. Robert (Bob) Boyd, Hybrid Lift Portfolio Senior Program
Manager, ADP
Menu:
The menu consists of four choices as follows:
 Chinese Chicken Salad (poached chicken breast), Rice Noodles, Water
Chestnuts, Broccoli, Carrots, Mandarin Orange Segments, Almonds and
an Oriental Vinaigrette.
 Grilled Salmon Fillet with tomato basil vin blanc sauce served with rice
pilaf and a medley of vegetables
 Sliced Tri-Tip with creamy horseradish and au jus sauce, served with
mashed potatoes and vegetable medley
 LPCC Vegetarian Lasagna with an array of low-fat cheese & garden
fresh vegetables with a light cream sauce
A dessert of carrot cake will also be served
Reservations: Complete and return insert 1A
Directions:
See insert 1C
Star Dusters Newsletter
Insert 1C
April 2015
DIRECTIONS TO SPRING REUNION, LAS POSAS COUNTRY CLUB
955 FAIRWAY DR., CAMARILLO, CA
From the San Fernando Valley:
 Take the Las Posas off ramp off Hwy 101
 Turn right on Las Posas Road to Crestview (Las Posas turns right;
Crestview is straight ahead)
 Take Crestview to Valley Vista
 Turn right on Valley Vista to Fairway (Valley Vista bends right; Fairway
turns slightly left)
 Go down hill on Fairway to Las Posas Country Club, which will be on the
left.
From Ventura
 Take the Las Posas off ramp off Hwy 101
 Turn left on Las Posas Road to Crestview (Las Posas turns right; Crestview
is straight ahead)
 Take Crestview to Valley Vista
 Turn right on Valley Vista to Fairway (Valley Vista bends right; Fairway
turns slightly left)
 Go down hill on Fairway to Las Posas Country Club, which will be on the
left.
From the Simi Valley
 Take Hwy 118 through Somis, about 3 or 4 more miles to Center School
Road
 Turn left on Center School Road to Fairway Drive (Center School Road
ends at Fairway)
 Turn Left on Fairway to the Las Posas Country Club, which will be on the
right.
From Castaic
 Take Hwy 126 through Fillmore and Santa Paula to Wells Drive.
 Go south on Wells Drive through Saticoy (Wells Dr. becomes L.A. Ave. –
Route 118.)
 Continue on L.A. Ave. (Rte 118) to Center School Road (L. A. Ave turns left
at a traffic light just past the entrance to Saticoy CC).
 Turn right on Center School Road to Fairway Drive.
 Turn left on Fairway Drive to the Las Posas Country Club, which will be on
the right.
Star Dusters Newsletter
Insert 2
April 2015
LOCKHEED RYE CANYON
FOURTEENTH ANNUAL
EMPLOYEES’ REUNION
Saturday, May 16, 2015, 1-4 P.M.
 Hart Park
 24151 N. San Fernando Road
 Newhall, CA 91321

 Bring your own food.
 (Soft Drinks, Bottled Water, Tea and
Coffee will be provided)
 (Alcoholic beverages are not allowed)

 Come visit old friends and reminisce.
 Please let us know if you plan to attend.
 Contact:
 Dean Oliva (818) 363-7757
 or
 Jill Trimble (661) 297-3943
Star Dusters Newsletter
Insert 3 Page 1
April 2015
Lockheed Martin Star Dusters Los Angeles Day Trip Registration
20 May 2015 (10:30 to 3:00)
Member Name ______________________________________________________
Total Number in Party ___________ Registration Fee @$5 per person (total)
$ ________________
Lunch Options (Full details at http://www.olacathedral.org/ under Tours)
1. Star Box (Turkey, Roast Beef or Ham on Kaiser Roll) $9 per person
Turkey Number __________
Roast Beef Number _______
Ham Number ____________
Payment @ $9 ea
$__________________
2. Diamond Box (Pesto Chicken on a Poppy Seed Roll) $11 per person
Number __________
Payment @ $11 ea
$__________________
3. Alabaster Box (Oven Roasted Turkey or Ham on Potato Bun) $12 per person
Turkey Number __________
Ham Number ____________
Payment @ $12 ea
$_______________
4. Tapestry Box (Smoked Turkey & Swiss, Roast Beef & Cheddar, Tuna or Chicken Salad
on Kaiser Roll) $12 per person
Turkey Number __________
Roast Beef Number _______
Tuna Salad Number _______
Chicken Salad ____________
Payment @ $12 ea
$_______________
Star Dusters Newsletter
Insert 3 Page 2
April 2015
5. Platinum Box (Tuscan Style Chicken or Beef on Foccacia bread) $13 per person
Chicken Number __________
Beef Number _____________
Payment @ $13 ea
$_______________
6. Gourmet Salads (California Chicken Salad, Greek Salad, Chinese Chicken Salad) $10
per person
Cal Chicken Salad Number __________
Greek Salad Number _______________
Chinese Chicken Salad Number_______
Payment @ $10 ea
$_______________
Vegetarian Versions of each sandwich are available. Put a V after the number above if
you want the vegetarian version.
Payment Totals (Make Checks Payable to LM Star Dusters)
Registration Total $_________________________
Lunch Subtotals
Option 1 $ ___________________________
Option 2 $ ___________________________
Option 3 $ ___________________________
Option 4 $ ___________________________
Option 5 $ ___________________________
Option 6 $ ___________________________
Lunch Total
$ __________________________
Total Enclosed (Registration & Lunch) $ ______________
Send Registration Form and Total Payment (made out to LM Star Dusters) to Gary Belie, 11564
Coralberry Ct., Moorpark, CA 93021 by 8 May.