cover of episode Lockheed Martin

Lockheed Martin

2023/5/30
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Lockheed Martin's journey began in 1912 with Allen Lockheed's aircraft company in San Francisco. After facing financial challenges during the Great Depression, Robert Gross acquired the company and transformed it into a major player in aviation with the iconic Electra airplane.
  • Lockheed's brother, Malcolm, invented the hydraulic brake system for automobiles.
  • Lockheed almost bought back his company for $50,000 but didn't bid, and it was sold for $40,000.
  • The Electra airplane was featured in the famous final scene of Casablanca.

Shownotes Transcript

Today we bring you two absolutely incredible stories. The first is Lockheed’s legendary Skunk Works division — the elite team of aviation geniuses who produced some of the greatest airplanes in history: the U-2, the Stealth Fighter, and the incomparable SR-71 Blackbird. The second story is arguably even more important, but not widely known! It's the secret and true origins of Silicon Valley — and Lockheed’s primary role in it. We take you from WWII to the Cold War, all the way to today to unpack and analyze the industry dynamics of defense contractors in the modern era. Tune in and prepare to be blown away by what you’ll learn about the history of our industry!

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