Members of ARCS Foundation National Board and their guests were given an exclusive tour of the Lockheed Martin Aeronautics Company production plant in Fort Worth, TX during our March 2009 meeting in Dallas. The day began with a guided tour of the facility Museum which houses numerous photographs chronicling the history of the aerospace industry and the vital role the company has played in it’s development .
Lockheed Martin was founded in 1995 from the merger of Lockheed Corporation and Martin Marietta Corporation. After the Museum we were guided through a tour of the F-35 Lightning II Joint Strike Fighter jet assembly plant. A stealth aircraft, the F-35 is assembled on a moving assembly line that is one mile long! It was quite amazing to see this feat of engineering in action. The facility is also home of the F-16 Fighting Falcon. Manufacturing activities include F-16 Fighting Falcon and F-35 Lightning II final assembly and F-22 Raptor mid-fuselage assembly. Portions of the Japan F-2 fighter are also produced there.
Lockheed-Martin is a National Board and chapter level donor for ARCS Foundation. Dr. Ray O Johnson, Senior Vice President and Chief Technology Officer of Lockheed Martin Corporation states: “Our nation faces a critical shortage of scientists, engineers, and technologists. Lockheed Martin is committed to developing the future technical workforce by engaging students in science, technology, engineering, and math education. Achievement Rewards for College Scientists Foundation is serving a vital role in this effort.”