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
November 2014
This Issue:
Announcements – President’s Corner –– New Members –– In Memoriam –– Forty
Year Ago: Kelly Johnson Announces His Retirement –– Social Security Benefits
Increase –– Travel Opportunities –– Al Yackle Obituary –– Medical and Health
News –– Ontario Star Dusters Luncheon and Pictures –– Star Dusters Write –
Raquel (Rocky) Trujillo –– Fall Luncheon Pictures –– JPL Day Trip –– Fall
Reunion Golf Tournament and Pictures –– Reagan Library Distinctive Cars –– In
The News –– Logix
2015 Membership Renewal – It is time to renew your membership for the period
commencing January 1, 2015 and ending December 31, 2015. The Star Dusters
Board of Directors elected to mail the membership renewal application via U. S.
mail to each member’s home address. You will be receiving the membership
renewal application in the near future. Please review it carefully before making your
selection of options. Return the form along with your check payable to Lockheed
Martin Star Dusters no later than January 31, 2015.
As an added convenience for members, your November through March Newsletters will
indicate your membership expiration date. If your 2015 dues have been paid, the home
address listing will appear as follows:
12-31-15
John Q. Doe
12345 Any Street
Burbank, CA 91501-1234
If the 2015 dues have NOT been paid, the date will read 12-31-14.
If you are in doubt about whether you have renewed your membership, please check
the address portion of your Newsletter.
RONALD REAGAN PRESIDENTIAL LIBRARY DAY TRIP, DECEMBER 3, 2014 –
See Pages 24 and 25 for a description of the automobile display. Complete and mail
the reservation form (Insert 1) and your check payable to LM Star Dusters in time to
reach Gary Belie no later than November 15, 2014.
VIEW THE NEWSLETTER AND ROSTER ON OUR WEBSITE:
http://www.lmstardusters.org
Star Dusters Newsletter
2
November 2014
PRESIDENT’S CORNER
By Vic Saucedo
You will soon receive my letter letting you know it’s time to renew your membership for
2015. I sincerely appreciate your support of our organization and encourage you to
invite your family and friends who are former Lockheed Martin employees to join Star
Dusters. We currently have more than 1400 members in 42 States and 3 Countries
outside of the United States. Your Board of Directors is committed to keeping in touch
and providing you with the many benefits of membership.
I hope many of you have had a chance to explore the new Star Dusters Website. We
have received very positive comments but please let us know if there is anything you
would like to see added or improved. I’m aware some of you may have had a problem
logging on with the new passwords that were sent to you and invite you to contact our
webmaster, Mike McKinney, at jmmckinney@verizon.net or phone Mike at 1-410-3266510 if you need help with this or any website question you may have.
October was a busy month for Star Dusters. The Antelope Valley Satellite Luncheon
was held in Palmdale on October 7th with Brian Hershberger as guest speaker who
provided us with very interesting background on the development and challenges
during design, build and test of “Polecat”, a High Altitude Unmanned Aircraft
Surveillance Technology Demonstrator. Our Fall Reunion Golf Tournament took place
on October 13th with 36 players at the Santa Anita Golf Course and the LAS Ontario
Satellite Luncheon was held in Claremont on October 14th with Alicia Allbaugh from JPL
as guest speaker. Alicia provided a very informative presentation on the MARS Rover
and other space programs that are happening at JPL. These events were followed by
the Star Dusters Fall Reunion and Luncheon at the Castaway Restaurant in Burbank
on October 16th with guest speaker Michael Cawood, Vice President & Deputy Program
Manager F-16/F-22 Integrated Fighter Group, who presented “Aeronautics Today and
Tomorrow” as well as bringing us up to date on some LM Corporate ADP Projects . We
were also pleased to welcome ADP Chief Engineer, Tom Spanos, who introduced six
engineers from ADP who were selected by their management to experience the event.
During this luncheon, I had the opportunity to congratulate Dara Arndt who celebrated
her 101st birthday last August. Dara has attended many Star Duster events in the past
two years. I also had the opportunity to welcome Robert (Bob) Gilliland who was the
first man to fly the SR-71 on December 22, 1964 and has flight tested the fastest and
highest airplanes ever built. The final October outing was the very popular JPL Facility
Tour on October 23rd. Every one of these events were enjoyable and gave many of us
a chance to catch up with friends and colleagues. I’m looking forward to future Star
Duster events such as the Ronald Reagan Presidential Library Day Trip on December
3rd and hope many of you will have the opportunity to participate.
LMLA’s Corporate/Veterans Night will be held at the Hellenic Center in Lancaster on
November 14th, 2014. The speaker will be Heather Penney, Director, USAF Air
Superiority Programs- Washington Operations. She flew an F-16 over the Capitol on
9/11. All veterans will be recognized for their service. This is not a Star Dusters event
but all Star Dusters who would like to attend are welcome to purchase tickets by calling
Star Dusters Newsletter
3
November 2014
the LMLA Office at 1-661-572-2709 Monday through Thursday from 10:00 AM- 2:00
PM.
I would like to take this opportunity to express appreciation and to thank Ron Feezor for
his many years of Star Dusters South Coast Satellite Group leadership. Ron advised
me that he has turned the leadership over to Julius Olzer and will remain active as
back-up to Julius. I have known both Ron and Julius for many years and have a great
appreciation for their leadership skills. Julius joined Lockheed in 1968 as a Design
Engineer on the L-1011 Program and held positions of Group, Department and Division
Engineer before moving on to LAS Ontario as Chief Engineer- Project Design for three
years. He then returned to Burbank as Division Engineer and transferred to Marietta
with the Burbank Team in 1991 to work on the F-22 EMD Program as Senior ManagerAir Vehicle Integrated Product Design Team. Julius retired in 2005, returned to
California and now lives with his wife, Joanne, in Monarch Beach.
The South Coast Satellite Group has been hosting their annual luncheon in San Juan
Capistrano for the past 29 years and has already made plans for their next luncheon
which will be held at the Acapulco Restaurant just south of the John Wayne Airport in
Costa Mesa on February 16, 2015. The lunch will be followed by a tour of the Lyon Air
Museum which was established by Maj. Gen. William Lyon and captures the
remarkable history of World War II aviation. All Star Dusters will be invited to
participate.
I would like to close this message with appreciation for the support given to our Star
Dusters Organization in many ways by the LOGIX Federal Credit Union and LM Aero in
Palmdale. LOGIX and LM Aero-Palmdale were primary sponsors for our Golf
Tournament prize gift contributions and LOGIX always includes an advertisement in
their monthly “smart VIEWS” newsletter to let Lockheed Martin Retirees and Former LM
employees know how they can join the Star Dusters. LOGIX also supports our
newsletter and provides an article in each edition.
~end~
NEW MEMBERS AS OF OCTOBER 20, 2014
Earnhardt, Heidi
Michael (Mike)
Morgan, Catherine (Cathy)
Johnny
Pace, James P. (Pat)
Patricia (Pati)
101 Wagons Ct
Azle, TX 76020-1597
9552 Oakenshaw Dr
Manassas, VA 20110
210 South Elton Circle
Meridianville, AL 35759
~end~
IN MEMORIAM – AS OF OCTOBER 20, 2014
Alice Segner (Don)
September 13, 2014
Albert R. “Al” Yackle
October 17, 2014
Charles J. “Chuck” Kadley (Eileen)
September 18, 2014
817-448-8800
703-330-0440
256-828-6662
Star Dusters Newsletter
4
November 2014
FORTY YEARS AGO: KELLY JOHNSON ANNOUNCES HIS RETIREMENT
By Sherm Mullin
On November 7, 1974 Clarence L. “Kelly” Johnson announced his retirement from
Lockheed Aircraft Corporation, completing forty-one years of service. He was
Corporate Vice President Advanced Development Projects and a member of the Board
of Directors. He was then and remains the most famous engineer in Lockheed history
and one of the most acclaimed engineers in the history of the world.
Born in Michigan in 1910, Kelly joined Lockheed Aircraft in 1933, after receiving
bachelors and masters degrees in aeronautical engineering from the University of
Michigan, where he had worked his way through college. To keep this article from
being a book, what follows is a summary of his most important achievements in aircraft
design, development, and program management.
P-38 Lightning twin engine fighter. First flight January 27, 1939. Became Lockheed’s
major WW II project, with 9,924 manufactured. Established Kelly as a creative intensely
focused engineer; he was rapidly promoted.
XP-80 Shooting Star, first US jet fighter, first flight January 21, 1944, seven months
after contract award. This project, started in June 1943, enabled Kelly , at age 33, to set
up what became the world famous Lockheed Skunk Works, run by Kelly with his own
set of rules and not in accord with standard Lockheed bureaucratic procedures. Led to
production of 1,732 aircraft. In 1947 the P-80 set a world speed record, 623.8 mph.
F-104 Mach 2 Starfighter. First flight March 4, 1954, 12 months after contract award. In
1956 it set new world speed record, 1,404 mph. 2,578 F-104s were built, 741 by
Lockheed, the rest under licensed production by companies in several allied countries.
U-2A Angel high altitude intelligence gathering aircraft, contracted by CIA. First flight
August 6, 1955, eight months after contract go-ahead. First operational mission over
Russia, July 4, 1956, approved by President Eisenhower. First Skunk Works program
including not just design and flight test but also manufacturing, product support, and
depot maintenance. One of the most classified programs in US history, providing critical
Cold War intelligence.
A-12 Archangel Mach 3 high altitude recce aircraft, developed for the CIA. First flight
April 1962. First stealthy aircraft from the Skunk Works; others followed. Pioneered
Mach 3 flight, titanium structure, unique propulsion system, and equipment for pilots to
fly safely at very high altitudes. Kelly later stated “The idea of attaining and staying at
Mach 3.2 over long flights was the toughest job the Skunk Works ever had and the
most difficult of my career.”
SR-71 Blackbird Mach 3 high altitude strategic recce aircraft. First flight December 22,
1964, twenty-two months after contract award. 31 aircraft produced by the Skunk
Works 1965-1967. They were operated by the Strategic Air Command from1967 to
1989. In 1976 the SR-71 set a new world speed record, 2,193 mph (Mach 3.3); it still
stands. Now located at major museums around the country, the Blackbird was Kelly’s
greatest accomplishment and the most famous accomplishment of his Skunk Works.
Star Dusters Newsletter
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November 2014
U-2R high altitude recce aircraft, despite the designation, was a totally new design. A
much larger aircraft, with longer range, larger capacity payload, and additional mission
systems. First flight August 28, 1967, twelve months after contract go-ahead. Produced
for both the CIA and the Air Force.
The listing above leaves out the following: Model 049 Constellation, T-33 T-Bird jet
trainer, F-94 interceptor, JetStar executive jet, YF-12 Mach 3 fighter, D-21 stealthy long
range drone, and many others.
Kelly thrived on competition and had a long history of being the winner. Winning the U2 and many others were major accomplishments. Late in his career he put enormous
effort into winning the Air Force Light Weight Fighter competition. In the end, in April
1972, General Dynamics and Northrop were selected to build prototypes. It was one of
the very few low points in Skunk Works history. The General Dynamics F-16 won the
final round of the competition.
Kelly was more than an engineering genius. He was a demanding, greatly respected
and loved leader. He was a convincing salesman and a pioneering program manager.
Willis Hawkins believed Kelly was the world’s all-time-great program manager. Hall
Hibbard, long time Lockheed vice president of engineering, stated, “He was intensely
patriotic…a magnificent American.” Listing Kelly’s awards would take four pages. They
included the National Medal of Science, presented by President Johnson in 1966, and
the National Security Medal, presented by President Reagan in1983.
Kelly died in December 1990 at age 80. He had lived to see his beloved Skunk Works,
led by Ben Rich, design and produce the F-117 stealth fighter. His first wife Althea had
died in 1969; his second wife Maryellen died in 1980. He was survived by his third wife
Nancy Powers Johnson, who lived on until 2014.
Many years ago Kelly and Lockheed established an endowed professorship at
California Institute of Technology. The endowment, via investments, has grown to over
$1 million. The annual income supports the designated Clarence L. Johnson Professor
of Aeronautics.
Kelly wrote a brief biography, “KELLY – MORE THAN MY SHARE OF IT ALL,”
Smithsonian Institution Press, 1985. For descriptions of Kelly’s Skunk Works programs,
including many details from his voluminous notebooks, read “Lockheed’s Skunk Works
– The First Fifty Years,” by Jay Miller, Aerofax, Inc, Arlington, TX, 1993
~end~
SOCIAL SECURITY BENEFITS TO SEE AVERAGE MONTHLY HIKE OF $20 - LA
Daily News, Thursday, 10-23-2014
Come January, nearly 60 million Social Security recipients will get benefit increases
averaging $20 a month, the third straight year of historically small pay hikes.
The 1.7 percent cost-of-living adjustment will also boost government benefits for
millions of disabled veterans, federal retirees and people drawing disability payments
for the poor.
~end~
Star Dusters Newsletter
6
November 2014
TRAVEL OPPORTUNITIES FOR STAR DUSTERS
By Ann Hyden, Travel Coordinator
While enjoying your hard-won but well-earned and wonderful retirement, consider
breaking the routine we seem to embrace and look into some 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.
Columbia River Cruise on the American Empress, April 4 – 12, 2015 – Transverse
the states of Oregon and Washington from Astoria to the Idaho border at Clarkson
aboard the elegant paddlewheel American Empress. Experience the northwest through
the Columbia Gorge of the Cascade Range, Walla Walla wine country to the Nez Perce
National Park, named for the tribe that aided the Lewis and Clark expedition. Enjoy the
beauty, history and culture of each port: Astoria and the Lewis and Clark Fort, Portland,
OR; Stevenson, WA; the Dalles, OR; Sacajawea State Park and Clarkson, WA, with
complementary shore exclusions in every port, as well as Premium Choice Tours.
Dress is country club casual, (no formal attire); wine and beer complementary with
every dinner; espresso, cappuccino, soft drinks and bottled water complementary
throughout the voyage. Included are airfare to/from Portland; luggage handling for one
per person; pre-voyage deluxe hotel with transfer to/from the American Empress.
Prices start at $4355 each, deposit is $500 and insurance is $411 on an escalating
scale with the choice of accommodations. Final payment is due December 15, 2014.
Yellowstone/Wildlife Experience, June 8-14, and August 3-9, 2015 – Tour highlights
include: Antelope Island State Park, West Yellowstone, Grizzly and Wolf Discovery
Crater, 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.
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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November 2014
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-week-or-less domestic travel
suggestions, except for a few international: (Call me at 818-367-3217 for
brochure/info.)
*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
Yellowstone in Winter (or summer)
Costa Rica
National Cherry Blossom Fest.
Wash. DC & Historical Virginia
Savannah and Charleston
Calif. Rail Tour – Coast, Wine Co.,
Redwoods, Yosemite
Italy Grand Tour -13 days
Sorrento; Italian Riviera
French Riviera– 9 days each
Lake Como & Switzerland – 10 Days
Kenya Safari – 14 days
Colorado Train Adventure – 8 days
American Queen Paddlewheel along
the Mississippi
Downtown Abbey/English Castles
Sept 23-28, 2015
October, 2015
September, 2015
Oct. 3-10, 2015
Various dates in 2015
Oct. 7-13 & 13-17, 2015
Jan 24-29 and Feb 7-12, 2015 or
June 8, 2015
April 3-11, 2015
April 5-13, 2015
April 7-14 and 14-21, 2015
April 25-May 3, 2015
May 12, Sept. 29, Oct.6, 2015
Various April – October, 2015
Various April – October, 2015
May 11-24, 2015
July 11-18, 2015 and other dates
Various dates in 2015
August 29-Sept, 5, 2015
*See Pages 11 & 12 of October’s Newsletter (Star Dusters Write - Ted Jacox) for more
information on this trip.
Other trips in 2015 have been added and include:
Tanzania Safari
Daytona 500
Azalea, Plantation & Cajun
Wash. DC Embassy Tour MARS
Hudson Valley MARS
Kentucky Derby
Glacier Nat’l Park
San Juan Islands & Leavenworth
San Antonio New Year’s
February TBD, 2015
February TBD, 2015
March 19-TBD, 2015
May TBD, 2015
5 Days in 2015
May TBD, 2015
June 24-TBD, 2015
Sept.15-TBD, 2015
Dec 29-TBD, 2015
Star Dusters Newsletter
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November 2014
AL YACKLE RETIRED ENGINEERING MANAGER AND FORMER STAR
DUSTERS PRESIDENT DIES AT 92
By Sherm Mullin
Retired Lockheed California Company engineering manager Al Yackle died October 17,
2014. He was recruited in 1960 as a helicopter design engineer when Lockheed was
establishing a helicopter line of business. He had previously worked for Kellett Aircraft,
a helicopter company in Philadelphia.
Al’s first assignment was on the experimental Lockheed Model CL-475 helicopter,
which had incorporated a newly invented rigid rotor system. This led to the XH-51
research helicopter program, jointly funded by the Army and Navy. Involved in the
development of the rotor control system, Al invented and patented a unique new
mechanical design. First flight was November 2, 1962. Later NASA contracted for a
five-seat derivative to be used for helicopter research.
Al’s favorite program was the AH-56 Cheyenne attack helicopter, developed for the U S
Army. Lockheed won the competition to develop the Cheyenne in 1965, defeating
Sikorsky. Ten flight test aircraft were ordered. First flight was made at Van Nuys on
September 21, 1967. The AH-56 turned out to be a difficult development program,
resulting in serious schedule problems. This ultimately led to the Army terminating the
program in August 1972, which was the biggest disappointment of Al’s career.
In 1975, slowly recovering from near bankruptcy due to continuing large financial losses
on the L-1011 TriStar commercial airliner, Lockheed permanently terminated its
helicopter line of business.
For the remainder of his career, Al held a series of engineering management
assignments in advanced design, eventually moving to the Skunk Works, where he
retired as Program Manager Advanced Programs in 1991. He was involved in several
classified programs and mentored a small group of engineers who later held important
assignments in the Skunk Works.
Al served on the Star Dusters Board of Directors for many years and was President in
2004 and 2005, during which time the Star Dusters Website was established. He held
several other Star Dusters positions and was long active in Star Duster affairs.
Albert L. Yackle was born May 13, 1922. He attended Pennsylvania State University,
graduating with a BS degree in aeronautical engineering in 1943. He then served in the
U S Navy.
Al was a longtime resident of Woodland Hills, CA. He was predeceased by his wife
Ruth earlier this year.
~end~
A memory is a treasure that survives.
Author unknown
Star Dusters Newsletter
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November 2014
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.
News Review From Harvard Medical School -- Study: Common Symptoms Often
Not Explained, By Robert H. Shmerling, M.D.
Harvard Medical School, October 21, 2014
Did you ever see your doctor for something you thought might be serious? Did you
leave the office with just reassurance, wondering if you needed some sort of treatment
or test?
You're not alone. But there are probably good reasons for your doctor's decision not to
do too much right away. As this new study shows, most symptoms are not caused by a
serious condition. And most get better in a short time. In fact, an explanation often can't
be found for some of the most common symptoms that bring people to their doctors.
At least one-third of patients who visit a doctor with common symptoms don't get a
clear, disease-related cause, an evidence review finds. Symptoms lead to about half of
all doctor visits in the United States. But doctors get less training in managing
symptoms than in treating disease, the author says.
The new review looked at nine prior studies. They focused on results of doctor visits for
pain, fatigue, intestinal complaints and other common symptoms. The author did not
include results related to colds and other upper respiratory illnesses.
When doctors find a cause for symptoms, they usually don't need to do any tests. A
patient's history and a physical exam are enough. Most people have multiple
symptoms. Psychological and physical symptoms often occur together. For three out of
four patients, symptoms go away within weeks to months. Other symptoms may last a
long time. But if there is a serious cause, doctors usually suspect it right away.
The review also offers advice for doctors. The studies show that patients want
explanations as much as action. If there's no clear cause, doctors should avoid
assuming a psychological cause or saying that everything is normal.
Among patients seeing a doctor, the most common physical symptoms reported are:



Pain. This accounts for about 50% of visits.
Respiratory complaints, such as congestion, colds or flu. They account for 25%
to 30% of visits.
Other symptoms, including fatigue, sleep problems, intestinal symptoms or
dizziness. They account for another 20% to 25% of visits.
Star Dusters Newsletter
10
November 2014
The latest edition of the Journal Annals of Internal Medicine published the study.
Researchers reviewed previous research. They excluded respiratory symptoms, such
as common colds that nearly always get better quickly on their own. Here's what they
found:


One-third or more of people with common symptoms will have no definite cause
discovered, even with many tests.
 Doctors ask about symptoms and perform a physical examination. This provides
up to 94% of the information needed to establish a diagnosis or to rule out
serious conditions. Tests may add little more.
 Psychological symptoms often occur along with physical symptoms. And they
can affect each other. Teasing them apart and diagnosing the cause of each may
be impossible.
 In up to 80% of cases, people with common symptoms recover within a few
weeks or months. This happens even without a specific diagnosis or treatment.
 It's rare that a serious condition not suspected at the first visit is diagnosed in
follow-up.
 Some treatments can be helpful for many different symptoms. For example,
acetaminophen (Tylenol and generics) can be helpful for headaches, back pain
or an achy shoulder, even if the cause of these symptoms is not clear.
An explanation itself can be helpful. Providing a possible cause may be more
reassuring than throwing up one's hands and leaving it at "well, everything is normal."
These observations are vitally important for doctors who see patients with common
physical complaints. But they are also important for patients who are worried about
their symptoms.
Of course, there are always exceptions. Sometimes there is a serious problem even
when it was not suspected during the first visit. Such cases need follow-up and another
evaluation. It's good to keep an open mind. But it's also important to know the facts.
Based on the findings of this new review, perhaps the biggest change you can make
now is to modify what you expect from your doctor. For example, if you have a
headache, don't expect your doctor to get a CT scan right away (even if you are worried
that you may have a brain tumor). Serious causes of headaches are rare. Most
headaches have no obvious cause regardless of how many tests are done. But let your
doctor know your concerns. Explaining why a serious condition is unlikely and why
extensive testing is not necessary are important parts of your doctor's job.
If you have a symptom that bothers you and won't go away, let your doctor know. After
a thorough review of your symptoms and an examination, there's a good chance that
your doctor can diagnose the cause.
But don't be surprised if you get




No diagnosis.
No testing.
No specific treatment (other than a pain reliever or other supportive treatment).
A recommendation to "give it some time."
Star Dusters Newsletter

11
November 2014
An explanation about your symptoms that is more of a theory than proven
scientific fact. For example, your doctor may tell you that stress and tension in
the muscles of your neck may be causing your headaches.
If you're getting worse instead of better or the nature of your symptoms changes, it may
be best to take another look. At that point, it may be time to order a test or two.
Doctors often say "common things are common." That may seem obvious -- and
redundant! The idea is that in most cases, it makes little sense to go searching for rare
conditions when a "garden variety" diagnosis is so much more likely.
The findings of this new review explain how true this is. Amid concerns about too many
treatments and too many tests, health-care costs keep going up. We would all do well
to recognize that time, not extensive testing and treatment, is often the best medicine.
Embryonic Stem Cell Therapy Shows Long-Term Effectiveness and Safety
TUESDAY, Oct. 14, 2014 (HealthDay News) -- A new study is the first to show the
long-term safety of embryonic stem cell transplants to treat human disease. The
research involved 18 people who received the transplants to treat forms of macular
degeneration, a leading cause of vision loss. The transplants, which restored some
sight in more than half of the patients, appeared safe up to three years after the
procedure. The study, funded by a U.S.-based company called Advanced Cell
Technology, was published Oct. 14 in The Lancet.
"Embryonic stem cells have the potential to become any cell type in the body, but
transplantation has been complicated by problems," lead author Dr. Robert Lanza, chief
scientific officer at Advanced Cell Technology, said in a journal news release. Those
problems include the rejection of the transplanted cells by the patient's immune system,
as well as the danger that the cells might spur certain types of cancers called
teratomas.
A teratoma is a type of cancer that occurs when stem cells develop into multiple types
of cells and form incompatible tissues that can include teeth and hair. As Lanza
explained, because of these issues, scientists interested in embryonic stem cell therapy
have tended to focus on sites in the body that typically do not produce a strong immune
response. The eye is one such spot.
In the new study, human embryonic stem cells were first prompted to develop into eye
cells called retinal pigment epithelial cells. They were then transplanted into nine
people with Stargardt's macular dystrophy, and another nine with dry atrophic agerelated macular degeneration.
Patient outcomes were tracked for up to three years after transplant. No signs of either
cancer-like cell growth (hyperproliferation) or immune system rejection were found in
any of the treated eyes after a median follow-up of 22 months, and the only adverse
events were linked not to the transplanted cells, but to the eye surgery or immune
system suppression needed for the transplant.
Overall, 10 of the 18 patients said they had significant improvements in their vision, and
this improvement was only seen in the eyes that had received the stem cell treatment.
Star Dusters Newsletter
12
November 2014
"Our results suggest the safety and promise of [human embryonic stem cells] to alter
progressive vision loss in people with degenerative diseases and mark an exciting step
towards using [these] stem cells as a safe source of cells for the treatment of various
medical disorders requiring tissue repair or replacement," study co-lead author Dr.
Steven Schwartz, of the Jules Stein Eye Institute in Los Angeles, said in the news
release.
The study is a "major accomplishment," Dr. Anthony Atala, director of the Wake Forest
Institute for Regenerative Medicine, Wake Forest School of Medicine, added in an
accompanying commentary. He said that much research "remains to be done but the
path is now set in motion."
Two other experts were also cautiously optimistic:
"Vision loss from damage to the retina, whether from macular degeneration or diabetes,
is irreversible with currently available treatment options," noted Dr. C. Michael Samson,
co-director of Ocular Immunology and Uveitus Service at The New York Eye and Ear
Infirmary of Mount Sinai, New York City. "Stem cell technology offers such patients the
best hope in recovering lost vision," he said. "This pilot study suggests that progress is
being made in making stem cell technology to recover vision a reality."
While Samson agreed that much more research into this technique is needed, "the fact
that studies are being done on patients means we are starting what is hopefully the
final stage of learning how to reverse vision loss in patients with retinal disease."
Dr. Mark Fromer, an ophthalmologist at Lenox Hill Hospital in New York City, said that
"this early study offers great promise in the successful utilization of stem cells for the
treatment of degenerative diseases in the future."
~end~
ONTARIO STAR DUSTERS OCTOBER 14TH LUNCHEON
By James Taylor.
The Fall reunion luncheon of the Ontario Star Dusters was held on 14th October at the
Doubletree Hotel in Claremont, California. It was attended by 42 Star Dusters who
braved a beautiful Fall day in Southern California. The lunch provided by the hotel was
excellent and received many compliments.
Likewise our speaker, Alicia Allbaugh, from the Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL) in
Pasadena was also excellent and received many compliments. Alicia’s presentation
covered the adventures of the Curiosity Rover since it landed on Mars about a year
ago. It has established that there once was water on Mars but has not yet found any
signs of life. The day that it does find Martian life will change our perception of the
universe forever.
It was a pleasure to have the current and former Star Dusters Presidents in attendance
from Burbank. Their support of the Ontario Star Dusters is greatly appreciated.
Our next Star Dusters meeting will be on April 21st, 2015 at the Doubletree Hotel. We
look forward to seeing you all again at that time, and promise to have an exciting and
informative agenda.
Star Dusters Newsletter
13
November 2014
Ontario Fall Luncheon, - October 14th, 2014
By James Taylor
Alicia Allbaugh, Speaker
Bill Komush,Alicia Allbaugh, Steve &
Brenda Weber
Don & Sandi Richmond, Joan & Bill
Jones
Sharon Chapman, “Nes Sabouhi, Alicia
Allbaugh, Buie Kindle, Linda Bowling, Peter
& Pat Bamberger
Jack Bamberger, Bill Solyan, Skip
Bowling, Jerry de la Cruz, Tom Medeiros
Jenny & Chuck Antoniak, Jack Bamberger
Star Dusters Newsletter
14
November 2014
Ontario Fall Luncheon, - October 14th, 2014
By James Taylor
Linda Liechti, Roy & Carol Smith
Linda Bowling, Pat Fox, Dan & Nancy
Spitzer
Rich McCubbins, Flora Magnon, Sandy
Pepin, Kay Van Zant, Sandi & Bill
Solyan, Lewis Judson, Craig Smyser
Lynne & Ed Glasgow, Vic & Mickie
Saucedo
~end~
STAR DUSTERS WRITE – RAQUEL (ROCKY) TRUJILLOHere’s a little trivia for your readers:
Did you know that back in the early 1940s every Sunday at noon, on radio station CBS,
there was a program called, “Ceiling Zero” which was narrated by actor Joseph Cotton
and was sponsored by Lockheed Aircraft and the commercial was for the P-38?
Editor Note: I didn’t know it and I’m sure that the majority of our Stars Dusters family
didn’t know it, either.
~end~
Star Dusters Newsletter
15
November 2014
Fall Luncheon at the Castaway - October 16th, 2014
By Rich McCubbins
Cheryl O’Leary
Michael Cawood
Gerald Ruppert, Pat Allen, Ed Pitro and
Ramon Valdes
Roger Merideth, Susan Jones, Barbara
Christie and Ed Beutler
Mickie Saucedo, Vic Saucedo, Lynne
Glasgow and Ed Glasgow
Glen Newell, Raquel Trujillo, Mary Ruiz,
Gloria Grizzelle and Paula Atkins
Star Dusters Newsletter
16
November 2014
Fall Luncheon at the Castaway - October 16th, 2014
By Rich McCubbins
Edna Coe, Bernie Ellrodt, Gloria Szabo
and Mike DeBry
Mike Lawler, Laura Lawler, Shirley Elliot
and Dave Elliot
Kathy Hagemann, Karl Hagemann, Gary
Ervin and Michelle Ervin
Larry Dilger, Heather Dilger, Ruth Lehnhoff
and Dennis Fernandez
Ed Madison, Rene Laurencot, Ryan
Moore and Brijesh Patel
Mike DeBry, Lee Nicolai and John
Simmons
Star Dusters Newsletter
17
November 2014
Fall Luncheon at the Castaway - October 16th, 2014
By Rich McCubbins
Robert Zelenka, Natalie Zelenka and Bill
Zelenka
Beverly Castleberry, Kathy Ekker, Judia
Mullin and Sherm Mullin
Bill Edwards, Tom Spanos, Chuck
Johnson and Nancy Johnson
Joan Emily Gaspar, Steve Gaspar and
Betty O’Connor
John Dennis, Betty Dennis, Joe Duarte
and Ed Jameson
Sue Clauss, John Clauss, Grant Carichner,
Carl Carter and Sandy Carter
Star Dusters Newsletter
18
November 2014
Fall Luncheon at the Castaway - October 16th, 2014
By Rich McCubbins
Cheryl O’Leary, John Shelton, Dora
Arndt and Helen Basile
Andy Baker and Rochelle Reiseck
Nicolas Craven, Irene Helley, Bradley
Helley and Tom Spanos
Joe Sullivan, Bill Guske and Tom Oatway
Quita Gonzalez, Terry Kleintop and
Steve Bird
Laird Weaver, Marg Rathfelder and Bill
Rathfelder
Star Dusters Newsletter
19
November 2014
Fall Luncheon at the Castaway - October 16th, 2014
By Rich McCubbins
Mel Kovnat, Jackie Kovnat and Imran
Bidiwala
Alex Loewenthal and Victor Lyman
Gary and Nanette Belie
Vic Saucedo, Dora Arndt, Mickie Saucedo
Jim Baker, Kathy Baker, Cookie
McCubbins and Rich McCubbins
Lee Nicolai, Ed Madison and Len
Gottschalk
Star Dusters Newsletter
20
November 2014
JET PROPULSION LABORATORY - 23 OCTOBER 2014
By Gary Belie
Twenty-two Star Dusters made a return trip to JPL for an interesting tour of the facilities
and activities.
JPL is the NASA center for the construction and operation of robotic planetary
spacecraft and conducts Earth orbit and astronomy missions. JPL also operates
NASA’s Deep Space Network.
The tour began with a briefing on the mission of JPL and its history including a video on
JPL’s inter-planetary exploration. The Star Dusters then visited the JPL Mission Control
where JPL spacecraft are managed. The next stop was a chance to view a full-size
mockup of the Curiosity rover now exploring the surface of Mars followed by a visit to
the JPL museum. The museum includes a mix of spacecraft mockups, technologies,
and missions including a full-sized Galileo vehicle and side-by-side Opportunity and
Pathfinder Rovers. The tour concluded with a view of the spacecraft assembly clean
room.
The tour provided many interesting facts about the JPL’s vehicles and missions. They
include:
 In Mission Control it was pointed out that the Opportunity Rover was
designed for a three month mission and is now in its 11th year of operation
on Mars. The longer life was enabled by the same winds that deposit dust
on the solar panels also blowing it off.
 Voyager 1 launched in 1977 is now the furthest manmade object from
Earth as it travels through interstellar space. It takes over 18 hours for a
signal traveling at light speed to reach Voyager 1.
 JPL uses two types of power sources for its vehicles, solar panels and
RTGs (Radioisotope Thermoelectric Generator).
 The distant Jupiter moon Europa has large amounts of water.
As in the past, NASA provided an informative and enjoyable experience for the Star
Dusters.
Star Dusters Being
Briefed on JPL’s
Mission Control
Facility.
Star Dusters Newsletter
21
November 2014
Star Dusters Gather Around A
Mockup Of The Curiosity Rover
Currently Exploring Mars
A Full-Scale
Mockup Of The
Curiosity Mars
Rover Shown In
3D Cross-Eyed
Stereo. The
Finned Area On
The Back Of
The Rover
Contains The RTG Power Source.
The Opportunity Rover
Sits Next To The
Earlier Pathfinder
Rover In The JPL
Museum For An Easy
Comparison of the
Rover Sizes
Star Dusters Newsletter
22
November 2014
Star Dusters Pose For A Group Picture In
The JPL Museum
The Final Stop on the Star Dusters JPL Visit
Was The Vehicle Assembly Building Clean
Room. The Shields On The Wall In The Back
Of The Room Represent Mission Vehicles That
Have Been Built In The Facility.
~end~
FALL REUNION 2014 GOLF TOURNAMENT
By Tom Oatway
Thirty-six golfers enjoyed pleasant weather under sunny skies as they participated in
the Fall Reunion Golf Tournament, held on October 13, 2014 at the Santa Anita golf
course in Arcadia, California. Prizes were awarded for first and second place winners in
Handicap Flights for both Ladies and Men. Lady’s flight prizewinners were Donna
Dominguez (1st) and Denise Rankin (2nd). The low net score winner in the Men’s Flight
A were Mike Rankin (1st place) and Tom Oatway (2nd place). Low net score winner
Men’s Flight B was Ed Dominguez, with Wally Esser taking 2nd place. June Rice won
the Lady’s Closest to the Pin on a par 3 hole, with Wally Esser taking the prize for the
Men. Eleven golfers hit the par three fourth green with their tee shot, and two Shootout
Pool winners were selected at random drawing: Richard Kearny and Lee Donaldson
The Star Dusters wish to thank our key sponsors for their generosity and continued
support for our golf tournaments, including Lockheed Martin Aeronautics-Palmdale, and
Logix Federal Credit Union-Burbank, California.
See pictures on the following pages.
Star Dusters Newsletter
23
November 2014
FALL REUNION GOLF TOURNMENT - SANTA ANITA
By Tom Oatway
Colton Cronin; Joe Bella; Grant
Carichner; Dave Nadsady
Mike Rankin; Denise Rankin; Wally Esser;
Ricardo Olszewski
Jim Kingsley; Don Meena; Bernie Ellrodt;
Gary Ervin
Dick Olmstead; Cheryl Olmstead; June
Rice; Ron Sablowski
Ed Dominguez; Donna Dominguez; Art
Dominguez; JoeVilaubi
Richard Kearney; Bob Castle; Rick Pardi;
Don Pardi
Star Dusters Newsletter
24
November 2014
FALL REUNION GOLF TOURNMENT - SANTA ANITA
By Tom Oatway
Tom Oatway; Roger Craig; Mike
Courtemarsh; Lee Donaldson
Ted Koscheski; Rich McCubbins; Andy
Romanisky; Roger Meredith
Dave Holmes; Roland Bassett; John Chady; John Price
~end~
REAGAN LIBRARY DRAWS DISTINCTIVE CARS
By Dana Bartholomew, Los Angeles Daily News, 10/22/2014
Some super hot wheels, from the world’s first race car to a papal phaeton known as the
“Popemobile,” just rolled into the Ronald Reagan Presidential Library and Museum as
part of an upcoming exhibit.
The new “Amazing Automobiles: The Ultimate Car Exhibit” will feature 35 cars from the
Petersen Automotive Museum in Los Angeles while it undergoes a yearlong makeover.
The exhibit opens Tuesday and runs through May 1 in the Presidential Museum in Simi
Valley, where the cars arrived Wednesday.
“Whether you’re an enthusiast of the movies, history or just beautiful cars, this exhibit is
a must-see,” said John Heubusch, executive director of the Ronald Reagan
Presidential Foundation.
Star Dusters Newsletter
25
November 2014
The cars will be divvied up into three categories, including Hollywood, History and
Heads of State. They include a 1956 Jaguar XKSS, one of 16 built, owned by actor
Steve McQueen; Pope John Paul II’s 1998 Cadillac Papal Parade Phaeton; and a 1913
Mercer Raceabout, considered the world’s first race car
Workers move a 1963 VW Bug used in the
movie “Herbie: Fully Loaded” for display at
the exhibit “Amazing Automobiles: The
Ultimate Car Exhibit” at the Ronald Reagan
Presidential Library and Museum,
Wednesday, Oct. 22, 2014. The exhibit is in
partnership with the Petersen Automotive
Museum to showcase some of The
Petersen’s cars at the Reagan Library while
The Petersen is closed for renovation. (Photo by Michael Owen Baker/Los Angeles
Daily News)
Workers watch as a crane moves a
1946 custom Ford for display at the
exhibit "Amazing Automobiles: The
Ultimate Car Exhibit" at the Ronald
Reagan Presidential Library,
Wednesday, Oct. 22, 2014. The custom
Ford was used by John Travolta and
Olivia Newton John in the movie
"Grease." (Photo by Michael Owen
Baker/Los Angeles Daily News.
Workers move a 1946 custom
Ford for display at the exhibit
"Amazing Automobiles: The
Ultimate Car Exhibit" at the
Ronald Reagan Presidential
Library and Museum,
Wednesday, Oct. 22, 2014. The
custom Ford was used by John
Travolta and Olivia Newton John
in the movie Grease.
~end~
Star Dusters Newsletter
26
November 2014
IN THE NEWS
By Marie Schumacher
NON-PRODUCT RELATED
Lockheed Martin CEO Outlines Technology Priorities — Lockheed Martin
Chairman, President and Chief Executive Officer Marillyn Hewson shared her vision for
the future in a speech to 500 of the Corporation’s top engineering, technical and
scientific professionals at the eighth annual Lockheed Martin Fellows Conference.
Nearly $500,000 Raised To Stop Diabetes In Annual Tour De Cure Rides — From
Silicon Valley to Washington, D.C., Lockheed Martin teams pedaled in 32 Tour de Cure
rides across the country, raising more than $477,000 for the American Diabetes
Association (ADA). The top fundraising team was the Silicon Valley Riders, raising
nearly $129,000 with 179 riders, followed by teams in Orlando, Florida, Longmont,
Colorado, Fort Worth, Texas, and Long Beach, California, which each raised more than
$30,000.
HENAAC Honors Three Lockheed Martin Innovators — The annual Hispanic
Engineer National Achievement Awards Conference (HENAAC) honored three
Lockheed Martin engineers for their innovative technology achievements and
contributions to their communities. The awards were presented on Oct. 3 at HENAAC
2014, hosted by Great Minds in STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Math) in
New Orleans.
Lockheed Martin CEO Highlights U.S.-Japan Partnership — Lockheed Martin
Chairman, President and Chief Executive Officer Marillyn Hewson highlighted the
company’s commitment to supporting an enduring partnership between the United
States and Japan during her keynote address at the 2014 U.S.-Japan Council Annual
Conference in Honolulu, Hawaii on Oct. 10.
Lockheed Martin Donates $10,000 for U.S. Army Families at AUSA Annual
Meeting — Lockheed Martin donated $10,000 to the Association of the United States
Army (AUSA) Family Readiness organization on the final day of the AUSA Annual
Meeting at the Walter E. Washington Convention Center. The donation will be used to
provide resources and support to families of active duty Army personnel at bases
around the country.
During the AUSA Annual Meeting, Lockheed Martin promoted a social media event in
which the company agreed to donate $10 for every “selfie” photograph posted on social
media channels of its Joint Light Tactical Vehicle (JLTV). During the show, hundreds of
attendees took photos and posted them on Twitter, Instagram, Facebook, etc., with the
hashtag #JLTVandme.
Feds Grant $450M To Community Colleges For Training Partnerships —
"Community colleges received $450 million in federal job-training grants under an
initiative that Vice President Joe Biden unveiled Monday. The 71 award recipients will
partner with employers, including IBM, ExxonMobil, CVS, Lockheed Martin and Habitat
for Humanity." reported The Huffington Post/The Associated Press, and The
Hill/Briefing Room blog.
Star Dusters Newsletter
27
November 2014
N.J. Weighs $100M Tax Break For Lockheed To Locate In Camden — Philly.com
reports "Lockheed Martin is in line to receive a $100 million state tax break to expand
its role in Camden County. The New Jersey Economic Development Authority is to
vote Tuesday on whether to award $100.7 million in tax credits over 10 years to the
defense contractor to operate in the city of Camden. Lockheed Martin has local
headquarters in Moorestown and an advanced-technology laboratory in Cherry Hill."
Senate Space Staffer Ann Zulkosky Leaving for Lockheed Martin — Space News
reports "The U.S. Senate Commerce Committee’s top Democratic staffer on science
and space issues is stepping down Nov. 7 to take a government affairs position with
Lockheed Martin."
Lockheed Martin To Forgo Pension Contributions In 2015 Through 2017 —
"Lockheed Martin Corp., Bethesda, Md., announced Tuesday it has contributed $1
billion in contributions to its defined benefit plans thus far in 2014 out of an expected $2
billion and does not expect to make further contributions for at least three more years."
Reported Pensions & Investments.
INFORMATION SYSTEMS & GLOBAL SOLUTIONS
Asia-Pacific ICT Engineering Hub in Australia — Lockheed Martin announced it is
establishing an Asia Pacific Information Communications Technology (ICT) engineering
hub in Melbourne in close partnership with the government of Victoria. The new
engineering hub is expected to generate up to 150 new ICT jobs in Lockheed Martin
Australia’s operations in Melbourne, more than doubling its current workforce. The new
Asia Pacific ICT engineering hub will be operated by Lockheed Martin’s Information
Systems and Global Solutions (IS&GS) business.
Battlefield Intelligence Enterprise Upgrades Testing — The U.S. Army’s primary
intelligence system is testing software developed by Lockheed Martin that will help
them sort through terabytes of intelligence gleaned from manned and unmanned
sources, improving their ability to efficiently analyze data. As part of their ongoing test
and evaluation process the Army is working with Lockheed Martin to update the
Distributed Common Ground System (DCGS-A), as the service prepares for fielding in
2015.
Lockheed, Israel's Yissum Partner On Quantum Information Science — Reuters
reports "Lockheed Martin will work with Israel's Yissum, a technology transfer firm, to
collaborate on quantum information science -- a branch of science that's the marriage
of quantum mechanics and information science. 'This is another step in Lockheed
Martin Israel's long-term plans to develop additional partnerships outside the defense
market and partner with the industry and academia in Israel,' said Joshua Shani,
Lockheed Martin Israel CEO."
MISSILES AND FIRE CONTROL
High Definition Lockheed Martin Sensor Focuses on Flexibility — Lockheed Martin
has developed a new high definition 15-inch sensor system called INFIRNO™. The
sensor system’s modular components can be removed and replaced in the field to meet
changing mission requirements and reduce operation and maintenance costs.
Star Dusters Newsletter
28
November 2014
INFIRNO is a turret-mounted system with high performing optical sensors that enable
users to identify, track and engage multiple targets at long range and conduct
intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance missions.
Qatar Apache Targeting and Pilotage Systems Contract — Lockheed Martin
received a foreign military sale contract from the U.S. Army to provide Modernized
Target Acquisition Designation Sight/Pilot Night Vision Sensor (M-TADS/PNVS)
systems to the Qatar Emiri Air Force. Qatar marks the 14th international customer for
the M-TADS/PNVS system. Lockheed Martin has delivered more than 1,250 MTADS/PNVS systems and spares to the U.S. Army and international customers.
Qatar Becomes 8th International Customer for PAC-3 Missile — The Government
of Qatar has selected Lockheed Martin’s PAC-3 Missile, becoming the newest
international customer for the program. The initial contract is for missile and command
launch system production
Central Florida’s Largest Company-Led Day of Caring — About 1,000 Lockheed
Martin employees, family and friends revived Quest’s Camp Thunderbird in Apopka,
Florida. As part of the largest company-led United Way Day of Caring event in Central
Florida, Lockheed Martin volunteers completed 92 projects, from renovating buildings
to landscaping to improving wheelchair accessibility. Quest’s Camp Thunderbird has
been in Central Florida since 1969 and provides a residential camp experience serving
adults with developmental disabilities and children of all abilities
Lockheed Martin Teams with Roketsan of Turkey on New Standoff Missile for the
F-35 — Roketsan and Lockheed Martin signed a teaming agreement for collaboration
on the SOM-J, a new generation air-to-surface Standoff Cruise Missile for the F-35
Lightning II. The SOM system is an autonomous, long-range, low-observable, allweather, precision air-to-surface cruise missile. The SOM-J variant is tailored for
internal carriage on the F-35 aircraft. The companies will jointly develop, produce,
market and support SOM-J for internal carriage on the F-35 aircraft or external carriage
on other aircraft.
MISSION SYSTEMS AND TRAINING
First-Ever Digital Air Ground Integration Range Capability Delivered to U.S. Army
— Lockheed Martin has enabled the U.S. Army to conduct more realistic live fire
training and accelerate learning with the delivery of the Digital Air Ground Integration
Range (DAGIR). DAGIR is the first range in U.S. Army history to integrate air and
ground assets across a digitally powered range, providing higher-fidelity performance
data so soldiers receive more comprehensive feedback during training.
Future USS Detroit Launched — The Lockheed Martin-led industry team launched
the nation's seventh Littoral Combat Ship (LCS), Detroit, into the Menominee River at
the Marinette Marine Corporation (MMC) shipyard. Following christening and launch,
Detroit will continue to undergo outfitting and testing before delivery to the Navy in
2015.
Star Dusters Newsletter
29
November 2014
Lockheed Martin Extends Aerostat Mission — Working with the Army, Lockheed
Martin is providing operational support for a Persistent Threat Detection System
(PTDS) aerostat system that is being evaluated by the Department of Homeland
Security (DHS) Customs and Border Protection (CBP) along the Southern border of the
United States. Currently protecting coalition forces overseas, the U.S. Army uses
PTDS in theater. With the troop drawdown, more of the systems are becoming
available for other uses.
Lockheed Martin Challenges Contract To Raytheon — Reuters reports "Lockheed
Martin Corp on Wednesday said it had filed a formal protest with the U.S. Government
Accountability Office (GAO) challenging the Air Force's decision to pick Raytheon Co to
develop a new long-range radar."
Lockheed Martin Signs Contract To Manufacture Concord Blue Advanced
Gasification Reformer — "Lockheed Martin [NYSE: LMT] recently signed a
manufacturing agreement with Concord Blue to provide all manufacturing support for
the Concord Blue Reformer® technology, which converts waste to energy using
advanced conversion technology. The company is now the exclusive manufacturing
provider of the Concord Blue Reformer®." reported the Towanda Daily Review.
SPACE SYSTEMS
IKONOS Imaging Satellite Achieves 15 Years of On-Orbit Operation — IKONOS,
built by Lockheed Martin for DigitalGlobe, Inc., celebrated its 15th birthday on-orbit.
IKONOS, the first satellite to collect and publicly share high-resolution earth images,
was launched on Sept. 24, 1999, and has taken thousands of photos of Earth for
applications including national security, disaster relief, agriculture, and mapping.
Orion Spacecraft Transfers To Launch Abort System Facility — NASA and
Lockheed Martin have finished fueling the Orion spacecraft at Kennedy Space Center’s
Payload Hazardous Servicing Facility. Orion has now been moved to the Launch Abort
System Facility for integration with the launch abort system (LAS). Orion’s LAS is a
critical launch safety technology designed to immediately pull the capsule and crew out
of harm’s way in the event of an emergency. The LAS is the highest thrust and
acceleration escape system ever created.
Payload for Fourth SBIRS Missile Defense Early Warning Satellite Delivered —
Prime contractor Lockheed Martin and payload provider Northrop Grumman have
delivered the payload for the fourth Geosynchronous Earth Orbit (GEO) satellite of the
U.S. Air Force’s Space Based Infrared System (SBIRS). The payload will now be
integrated with the SBIRS GEO-4 satellite bus in final assembly, integration and test at
Lockheed Martin’s Sunnyvale, California satellite manufacturing facility.
Team Delivers First Geostationary Lightning Mapper Instrument for Weather
Satellite — A Lockheed Martin team delivered the first Geostationary Lightning Mapper
(GLM) instrument that will provide earlier alerts of developing severe storms and
contribute to more accurate tornado warnings. The sensor will fly on the National
Star Dusters Newsletter
30
November 2014
Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s (NOAA) next-generation Geostationary
Operational Environmental Satellite (GOES) satellite missions, known as the GOES-R
Series.
The team is preparing integration with the first GOES-R spacecraft at Lockheed
Martin’s facility near Denver. The satellite is expected to launch in early 2016.
AERONAUTICS
Upgraded P-3 Orion Delivered Ahead Of Schedule — Lockheed Martin delivered a
U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) P-3 Orion aircraft 34 days ahead of
schedule on Sept. 23. This is the 10th of 14 aircraft in the program to receive Mid-Life
Upgrade (MLU) modifications and phased depot maintenance.
Exclusive Engine Maintenance Service Agreement With European Aviation —
European Aviation has signed a four-year exclusive agreement with Lockheed Martin
Commercial Engine Solutions for jet engine maintenance, repair and overhaul (MRO)
services for their fleet of 60 CFM56-3 jet engines. The agreement includes extensive
CFM56-3 turbofan repair services provided on-site for European Aviation, with most of
the MRO work performed in Montreal, Canada and the remainder in San Antonio,
Texas.
Lockheed Martin reports progress in nuclear fusion project — Reuters and
Bloomberg have reported "Lockheed Martin has shown the feasibility of a 100megawatt nuclear fusion reactor small enough to fit on the back of a truck. The
company said the project could be ready for use in 10 years. 'Our compact fusion
concept combines several alternative magnetic confinement approaches, taking the
best parts of each, and offers a 90% size reduction over previous concepts,' said Tom
McGuire, compact fusion lead for Revolutionary Technology Programs at Lockheed's
Skunk Works."
C-130 Community Gathers For 26th Annual Hercules Operators Council —
Lockheed Martin hosted the 26th annual Hercules Operators Council (HOC). . More
than 900 representatives from 32 nations attended to discuss C-130 Hercules
operations, support, upgrades and new fleet acquisition.
This year’s theme of “Transforming Partnerships” provides insight into how
relationships between Lockheed Martin, Hercules operators, suppliers and support
teams have defined the C-130’s first 60 years of flight and how these partnerships will
shape the next several decades of Hercules operations.
F-22 Completes Its First Combat Mission — Defense News reports "An F-22 Raptor
was used for the first time in a combat operation for a mission over Syria on Monday.
Pentagon officials had previously held back on using F-22s in combat operations,
partially due to the fleet's small size."
Lockheed Martin Set To Sell 40 F-35A Fighter Jets To South Korea — "South
Korea is set to purchase 40 F-35A fighter jets from Lockheed Martin. South Korean
officials had originally planned to buy 60 jets after deciding against buying F-15 Silent
Eagle jets from Boeing last year. Initial delivery of the new jets is expected in 2018."
reported Defense News, Bloomberg and The New York Times (tiered subscription
Star Dusters Newsletter
31
November 2014
model).
F-35 Cost Is Dropping As Jet Nears 2015 Release, Lockheed Says — "The F-35
joint strike fighter jet will be ready to enter combat by the middle of next year -- and it
will be cheaper to acquire by then, says manufacturer Lockheed Martin. Israel is said to
be near a decision to add to its order for the jet, while South Korea this week opted to
buy 40 of the aircraft, a move which reduces the program's price." reports. Reuters and
Investor's Business Daily.
Lockheed To Buy Satellite As Offset To South Korea F-35 Sale — Reuters reported
"Lockheed Martin has agreed to buy a European-made satellite in an offset agreement
for South Korea's deal to buy 40 F-35 fighter jets for $7 billion. The military
communications satellite 'offset commitment ... directly benefits Korean national
defense requirements, enables substantial Korean industrial activity and transfers a
large amount of high technology to the Republic of Korea,' Lockheed said."
F-22 Will Stay In The Air Force's Arsenal For Syria, Official Says — "The Air
Force's F-22 Raptor will be available for operations in Syria for the foreseeable future,
Maj. Gen. Jeffrey Harrigian said recently. The aircraft carried out its first combat
mission this month after being operational since 2005." reported Defense News and
Military Times.
Defense Department Ends Fiscal 2014 By Awarding $2.85B In New Contracts —
Seapower magazine online reports "U.S. Defense Department agencies have awarded
93 contracts worth a total of $2.85 billion to end fiscal 2014. One of the largest U.S.
Navy contracts -- $246.6 million -- went to Lockheed Martin to develop drag chute
systems for the F-35 Lightning II joint strike fighter. In addition, AAI Corp. received
$33.9 million for littoral combat ship mine sweeping systems."
Norway Moving Ahead On F-35 Acquisition — "Norway estimates it will cost about
20% more to own and operate a fleet of F-35 fighter jets than it does the F-16 fleet the
country now has, but the government is pressing forward with its F-35 plans because,
as Lt. Col. Sigurd Fongen of the Norwegian F-35 Program Office said recently, modern
threats demand the plane's fast response. 'Look at recent conflicts, the warning times
are shorter, there is not much time to train or mobilize,' he said. 'These are 'come as
you are' conflicts [and] we need to be able to counter that.'" reported Aviation Week &
Space Technology.
C-130J Delivery — Lockheed Martin delivered another C-130J Super Hercules to the
61st Airlift Squadron at Little Rock Air Force Base, Arkansas.
~end~
Happy Thanksgiving
Star Dusters Newsletter
32
November 2014
Star Dusters Newsletter
P. O. Box 10310
Burbank, CA 91510-0310
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PAID
COMING EVENTS
12-3-14
12-8-14
Ronald Reagan Presidential Library Day Trip (See Pages 1,
24 and 25 and Insert 1.)
Star Dusters Board of Directors Christmas Luncheon, Elks
Club
MARK YOUR CALENDARS!!!
LOGIX
Home Equity Rates Lowered
Logix lowered rates on new Home Equity Lines of Credit, and expanded its
“no closing costs” option to both fixed and variable-rate owner-occupied
loans. Save with a terrific rate, no closing costs or fees and flexible
payments. Some conditions apply. For more information, please visit
www.lfcu.com or call (800) 328-5328..
Logix Federal Credit Union is pleased to support the Star Dusters newsletter
publication.
_____________________________________________________________________
Editor: Betty O’Connor
bjoc54@verizon.net or (818) 361-0419
Associate Editor: John Shelton
editor@lmstardusters.org
Star Dusters Newsletter
Insert 1
November 2014
Registration Form
The Ronald Reagan Presidential Library Day Trip
3 December 2014
Member Name_________________________________
Phone # ______________________________________
Cell Phone #___________________________________
Email ________________________________________
# of seniors (62 and older) @ $13 ea _______ Subtotal $___________
# of adults (18 to 61) @ $16 ea ________
Subtotal $___________
# of youth (11 to 17) @ $9 ea ________
Subtotal $___________
# of Reagan Library Paid Members (free) ________
# of Turkey Box Lunches @ $14.95 ________
Subtotal $___________
# of Black Forest Ham Lunches @ $14.95 ____ Subtotal $___________
Total number in party __________
Total Payment Enclosed $___________
Mail this form and checks made out to LM Star Dusters to Gary Belie, 11564
Coralberry Ct, Moorpark, CA 93021 to arrive no later than 15 November 2014.
Confirmation and trip details will be provided no later than 20 November 2014.