The Ware Lab

ABOUT JOE WARE

Virginia Tech
Mechanical Engineering
1937

Joe Ware received one of the first Aeronautical Option ME degrees offered by the University. He subsequently earned a Master's degree from Cal Tech and spent his career with Lockheed Corporation. In addition to testing the YP-80A, Ware continued as a flight test engineer at Lockheed on all variants of the Constellation, including but not limited to the following aircraft:

  • 049-the first pressurized 300mph airliner
  • President Eisenhower's Columbine, I and II
  • All military variants produced by Lockheed:
    • C-121C-passenger/cargo
    • RC-121D-early warning radar surveillance
    • WV-2E-experimental early warning aircraft
    • R7-V2-turbo prop variant
    • YC-130-four engine cargo turboprop
    • F-104 Starfighter-America's first machII+ production fighter
    • U-2
    • SR-71 Blackbird-the world's fastest and highest flying airplane

Joe Ware was one of the first engineers employed at the Skunk Works, starting as a flight test engineer on the YP-80A, which was one of America’s first production jet fighters.

Find out more about the history of the Blackbird