1900's On December 17, 1903, the Wright brothers were the first to achieve powered, sustained, and controlled human flight.

 1910's Technology developed by early Lockheed Martin legacy companies and used during World War I changed the airplane from a sideshow novelty into an effective fighting machine.

1930's New construction processes and technologies allowed Lockheed Martin heritage companies to build faster, more reliable aircraft for civilian and military purposes in the 1930s.

 1950's The advent of jet propulsion.With the advent of jet propulsion and advances in aircraft design, Lockheed Martin heritage companies set the world standard for high-performance fighters and bombers. 

 1960's The cold war. The 1960s saw the United States in a space race with the Soviets. YF-12/SR-71 Blackbird (Lockheed) was the fastest jet aircraft in the world, used primarily in a reconnaissance role.