Who designed the SR-71 blackbird?
The same man who designed the U-2, F-104, P-80, P-38 and numerous other airplanes…Clarence L. “Kelly” Johnson (1910-1990). He was the head of Lockheeds “Skunk Works” and was responsible for many of their breakthrough innovations. He always surrounded himself with some of the most talented engineers in the field as well. One such engineer was Ben Rich, who took over the Skunk Works from Kelly when he retired in 1975 (Kelly stayed on as a consultant until 1980). Ben Rich designed the air intake scoops for the SR-71.
Kelly Johnson was leader of the team that produced the SR-71 and many other special aircraft, he also ran the “Skunk Works” which is the top secret part of the Boeing Aircraft Corporation. Incidentally the SR-71 was actually born the RS-71, President Lyndon B. Johnson made a mistake in a speech about the aircraft so they renamed the aircraft rather than have the President correct the mistake.
