In the late 1970s, the F-117A stealth fighter was developed at Lockheed’s Skunk Works, the top secret R&D organisatian in California. Ben Rich was in charge. Skunk Works (Warner Books, £6.99 ISBN 0 7515 1503 5), is his account of on aircraft that crashed on its maiden flight but became a deadly surprise weapon in the Gulf War.
Equally engrossing is Rich’s account of his earlier work as a young designer developing the U-2 aircraft and the supersonic SR-71 Blackbird. His story has fascinating tales of crashes, cock-ups and dog fights with Russian Migs, told by the pilots and engineers who form the colourful cast of his colleagues.
