What company could replace Lockheed as America’s secret aircraft manufacturer?

[Questerr]

Given a POD in the 1930’s, are there any other US aircraft manufacturers that could fill Lockheed’s role in the development of things like America’s first jet fighter, the secret spy planes of the Cold War, or pioneering stealth aircraft?

Northrop seems like an obvious answer, but the flying wing model isn’t going anywhere until fly-by-wire is invented. Do any other companies have the technical expertise? Does any here know of any competitors to Lockheed’s P-80, U-2, SR-71, or F-117 that could have shown more promise?

 

[Zincwarrior]

Boeing, Northrop, Grumman.

 

[USS_Ward]

I would say Boeing would probably be the most dominant.

 

[Questerr]

I would say Boeing would probably be the most dominant.

With all their focus on airliners and bombers though, do they have the room for it? Would the Air Force let them dominate that much of the aircraft industry?

 

[Questerr]

Boeing, Northrop, Grumman.

Did Grumman have any experience with the kind of high performance aircraft that Lockheed’s Skunkworks produced?

 

[marathag]

Convair, soon to be General Dynamics, had an entry against the SR-71 for OXCART
FISH

 

[M79]

Boeing, Northrop, Grumman.

If the PoD is early enough perhaps Rockwell, Martin Marietta, and Douglas are also viable candidates? Maybe Hughes as well?

 

[Questerr]

If the PoD is early enough perhaps Rockwell, Martin Marietta, and Douglas are also viable candidates? Maybe Hughes as well?

I didn’t think of Hughes. Maybe the nightmare of the Hercules and the spectacle in front of Congress doesn’t happen.

 

[Gunner's_Quadrant]

Well, Bell was on the ground floor with their Aircomet so if they could make their plane perform better they have a candidate. Also, McDonnell was an early jet pioneer with the 1st naval jet fighter.
I would think that North American Aircraft and Convair would be candidates for the spy plane, both had experience with high performance aircraft.
If there is no Skunk Works, then it it kind of a toss-up for a manufacturer; I'd consider General Dynamics, McDonnell Douglas, and maybe Grumman for the stealthy aircraft.

 

[M79]

I didn’t think of Hughes. Maybe the nightmare of the Hercules and the spectacle in front of Congress doesn’t happen.

Or he gets access to bigger/better engines, perhaps the other Hughes aircraft fare better too?

 

[marathag]

Or he gets access to bigger/better engines, perhaps the other Hughes aircraft fare better too?

No, his mental issues, esp. the ones for perfection would rule out any real success, and that's before hi crash in the XF-11 where his issues got turned up to 11

 

[Crowbar Six]

North American, they were cutting edge with their Navajo

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/SM-64_Navaho

 

[ivanotter]

If we could be allowed to look beyond US, we could point at a few UK based one's:

De Havilland
Short
Hawker

just a thought

 

[tomo pauk]

NAA probably, as mentioned by Crowbar 6. They were never afraid to push the boundaries.