[Robert A Cook PE]

If it looks better, looks meaner, and looks “righter”, it will probably fly “righter”.

Saw the Discovery channel “competition” TV show about the Boeing version and this one (Lockheed/Northrup/General Dynamics) F-35: As soon as I saw that puke-ugly lower scoop on the Boeing with his “chin and cheeks” fuselage, I knew this version (very similar to the F-22 in looks and “feel” would win.

Let me see if I've got their heritage right: Republic became Northrup, General Dynamics bought LTV (Ling-Tempco-Vought - who grew up from the Vought Naval fighters), who had bought Convair (builder of out Fort Worth of the B-36 and eventual builder of the F-16), Lockheed-Martin bought out Martin-Marietta, who were created from Martin and (?) Marietta), and then later bought Douglas - Continental out of St Louis (Douglas created the DC line of planes, but who was "continental - the airline?) - except Lockheed-Martin is making the F-22 using Skunk works technology from LA to build the F-22 in Marietta GA using an old Bell Bomber plant that used to make C5's, C-141'a and (still makes) C-130's, Boeing kept their original name, but were trying to get into fighters after being a large-plane builder since the 1920's ....

[BenLurkin]

"As soon as I saw that puke-ugly lower scoop on the Boeing with his “chin and cheeks” fuselage..."

You mean...the Flying Monica?

[patton]

Not quite - Boeing bought MDC, including the Phantomworks, in STL.

[norton]

McDonnell bought Douglas, Boeing bought McDonnell-Douglas as well as Rockwell (B-1) which had previously picked up North American (F-86).

Northrup-Grumman bought TRW.

PS: Boeing built a pot load of fighters between the wars. One of the first kills in WWII was by a Philippine NG P-26 on December 8th.

[VRWCmember]

(Ling-Tempco-Vought - who grew up from the Vought Naval fighters), who had bought Convair (builder of out Fort Worth of the B-36 and eventual builder of the F-16),

Actually the Fort Worth Division of General Dynamics (previously Consolidated Vultee Aircraft -- or Convair) was bought by Lockheed before the merger of Lockheed and Martin Marietta.

[VRWCmember]

and then later bought Douglas - Continental out of St Louis (Douglas created the DC line of planes, but who was "continental - the airline?) -

That part was incorrect. McDonnell Douglas was bought by Boeing.

[PAR35]

Lockheed-Martin bought out Martin-Marietta

It was more the other way around. Martin corporate came out on top in the deal. Martin-Marietta was formed by the merger of Martin with 'American Marietta Corp', which I'd never heard of before. American Marietta had previously taken over Superior Stone - both companies were into building products. See http://www.martinmarietta.com/Corporate/history.asp, start at the bottom.

bought Douglas - Continental out of St Louis (Douglas created the DC line of planes, but who was "continental - the airline?) DC stood for 'Douglas Company'. I am not familiar with the Douglas - Continental merger. I would have guessed it would have been the aircraft engine maker, but they are now part of Teledyne, and I haven't been able to locate a good corporate history on them.

Bell Bomber plant that used to make C5's, C-141'a and (still makes) C-130's

Don't forget the Jetstar that was also built at that facility, but at a smaller building on the site. The factory is more properly known as Air Force Plant 6. And if you want some trivia on the site, after the runway was orginally built there, Eastern Air Lines leased the facility for freight operations until it was needed for war production.