Henry Combs

[Libelle Driver]

I just finished reading "Skunk Works" about the development of the stealth
bomber and the SR-71.

It mentions a Henry Combs as one of the structural engineers on the SR-71.

Is he the same as the Henry Combs that has done all the numerous 500K
flights?

Thanks,
Fred

[Mike Koerner]

Fred,

Henry Combs made 205 straight-out diamond distance flights (500 km or more).
He made 499 straight-out cross country flights in all for a total of 122,609
statue miles (197,320 km)!

And yes, when he wasn't soaring across the southwestern United States in his
301 Libelle, he worked at Lockheed. He was Deputy Project Manager on the U-2
program, Head Structural Engineer on the SR-71, and later, Technical
Director of the "Skunk Works"!

Mike Koerner

"Libelle Driver" > wrote in message
...
> I just finished reading "Skunk Works" about the development of the stealth
> bomber and the SR-71.
>
> It mentions a Henry Combs as one of the structural engineers on the SR-71.
>
> Is he the same as the Henry Combs that has done all the numerous 500K
> flights?
>
> Thanks,
> Fred
>
>

[303pilot]

Yeah, but if he was using external combustion transonic thrusters it's not
really a 301.
;-)

Thanks for the seriously cool info

"Mike Koerner" > wrote in message
news:qdlZb.4339$4K3.1110@fed1read06...
> Fred,
>
> Henry Combs made 205 straight-out diamond distance flights (500 km or
more).
> He made 499 straight-out cross country flights in all for a total of
122,609
> statue miles (197,320 km)!
>
> And yes, when he wasn't soaring across the southwestern United States in
his
> 301 Libelle, he worked at Lockheed. He was Deputy Project Manager on the
U-2
> program, Head Structural Engineer on the SR-71, and later, Technical
> Director of the "Skunk Works"!
>
> Mike Koerner
>
> "Libelle Driver" > wrote in message
> ...
> > I just finished reading "Skunk Works" about the development of the
stealth
> > bomber and the SR-71.
> >
> > It mentions a Henry Combs as one of the structural engineers on the
SR-71.
> >
> > Is he the same as the Henry Combs that has done all the numerous 500K
> > flights?
> >
> > Thanks,
> > Fred
> >
> >
>
>

[Paul Repacholi]

"Mike Koerner" > writes:

> And yes, when he wasn't soaring across the southwestern United
> States in his 301 Libelle, he worked at Lockheed. He was Deputy
> Project Manager on the U-2 program, Head Structural Engineer on the
> SR-71, and later, Technical Director of the "Skunk Works"!

Oh bingo! :) Any chance you could ask him where the code name
`Dragon Lady' for the U-2 came from?

--
Paul Repacholi 1 Crescent Rd.,
+61 (08) 9257-1001 Kalamunda.
West Australia 6076
comp.os.vms,- The Older, Grumpier Slashdot
Raw, Cooked or Well-done, it's all half baked.
EPIC, The Architecture of the future, always has been, always will be.

[Mike Koerner]

Paul,
Henry's response was that the U-2 program had a lot of "nick names". He
ascribed that one, "Dragon Lady", to the English author and historian Chris
Pocock. You might check in Mr. Pocock's books on the U-2, or alternately,
perhaps you can contact the author and ask him.
Mike

"Paul Repacholi" > wrote in message
...
> ....Any chance you could ask him where the code name
> `Dragon Lady' for the U-2 came from?