Aviation History Month

Where We've Been: A Foundation of Boundless Possibility

Over a century ago, on August 16, 1912, Glenn L. Martin founded the Glenn L. Martin Company in Los Angeles, California. From designing his first aircraft in a rented church, Martin took a visionary leap, encouraged by none other than Orville Wright. Just months later, on December 19, 1912, Allan and Malcolm Lockheed founded the Alco Hydro-Aeroplane Company, soon to become the Lockheed Aircraft Company. From a modest garage, they built seaplanes that would break speed and distance records, setting the stage for a revolution in aviation. A few years later, Igor Sikorsky took flight from a field in New York, setting him on a path to invent the first practical helicopter, a monumental breakthrough in vertical flight.

These innovators saw beyond their time, transforming their ideas into reality with an unshakable belief in innovation and excellence. Today, we honor their pioneering spirit, knowing it has laid the foundation for over a century of boundary-pushing achievements. But it is the future they dreamed of that we now work tirelessly to achieve-one where technology leads the way into new realms of possibility.

Today, Tomorrow, and Beyond: Advancing the Future

Lockheed Martin continues to transform innovation, driven by a commitment to anticipating the future needs of our customers and redefining what is possible. By combining the industry's best minds with cutting-edge technology, we deliver agile, effective, and pioneering products that surpass expectations. Our approach goes beyond aircrafts; we integrate advanced systems to provide precise, powerful solutions for our customers most critical missions. We're building a more advanced, resilient and collaborative defense industry, with our 21st Century Security® vision.

This dedication to precision, adaptability, and high performance ensures unmatched technological dominance, empowering those we serve to face any challenge with confidence and stay ahead of emerging threats.

As technology continues to evolve, we remain on the cutting edge, already leading and adapting to the demands of tomorrow. Our journey is one of continuous progression-shaping the future, guided by purpose, and built upon an enduring legacy of excellence.