I have received enough feedback about my previous Iron Man post relating to the connection I drew (rather effortlessly, let’s admit) between Stark Industries and Lockheed Martin that I wanted to post about it individually.
And speaking of… did anybody besides me notice that Stark Industries was a completely un-subtle spoof of Lockheed Martin Corporation, the United States’ biggest defense contractor? Not only does the Stark Industries logo (complete with bold-italic capitals and elongated angle-point) look strikingly like Lockheed Martin’s, but they even make the same F-22 Raptor fighter jets!?
I checked Google and my blog was the first to make the direct connection between the two (albeit obvious). Since then, it has popped up on a few other blogs and the Stark Industries entry on Wikipedia has been updated to reflect the company logo’s peculiar likeness to Lockheed Martin’s.
I would say “you be the judge”, but is there any doubt?
Web designer and developer. Loud discerner. Software engineer and 
i cant tell the difrance… both planes look the same.
you know what? it would be awesome if the advertising poster of Lockheed Martin actually did have Negative99.com on it. Oh, and Gladiator, they are the EXACT SAME PLANES, that’s what WarAxe has been saying. F-22 Raptors, AKA JSF (Joint Strike Fighter) Sweet things, really, the best we got, (that’s declassified).
Wow, I totally thought this when I was watching the movie, and then here you are. Great minds, or something.
The joint strike fighter is NOT the same as the F-22 Raptor. Completely different planes.
Raptor > JSF
@gladiator
Exactly… they are indeed the same jets.
@John3Sobieski
I’ll have to send a letter to my CEO suggesting we include Negative99 logos on all company materials.
Actually, that’s a popular misconception, but the JSF project came after the F-22 Raptor. The Joint Strike Fighter contract competition between Boeing and Lockheed Martin was won by LM and became the F-35 Lightning II multi-purpose aircraft. The F-35 is going to be the long haul multi-platform workhorse and will be incredibly flexible (land-based, sea-based, vertical takeoff/landing, fighter, bomber).
The F-22 was designed for air-to-air superiority - plain and simple - and is the only bird that can take down an F-35.
@alissa
Nice review, BTW.
I like the way you think.
@mrpink
You are quite correct.
Interesting fact, War-Axe. Although, the F-22 and the F-35 look pretty much the same. I’m going to have to go to Wikipedia or google and compare pictures.
Well, I’m not an aircraft designer, so I’m obviously not the best qualified guy to judge, but the only really difference between the JSF and Raptor that I saw was that the JSF has a fatter belly.
“I checked Google and my blog was the first to make the direct connection between the two”
… congrats?
Love your website… It should be noted that Lockheed Martin gave Jeff Bridges spent a day with LM VPs and a VIP tour of its facilities, so he could get an idea of what its like to work for a DOD contractor!!
Nice work Lockheed PR!!! Did anyone bother to inquire about the script, next up is a grand tour for Michael Moore.
Although, overall I think it was a great movie and in many ways put a positive spin on aerospace technolgy.
the F-22 is clearly a different plane then the F-22. The intakes of the F-22 are much more squared, while there is only one engine on the jsf. Also the f-22’s exhaused are compeletly different. One of the varients of the jsf is STOVL while the other is VTOL, the only varient of the f35 that could come close to the capability of the raptor is the land varient. Now your Military equipment.
Whoever you are, I’ve already established planes and fighter jets as not being my area of expertise. As War-Axe said, “that’s a popular misconception,” that I fell into. I do know my military equipment and historical facts much better than most people much older than me, as a result of my being a history buff. History and military stuff is a hobby of mine, and i’d be willing to lay down money that I know my stuff better than most others (save for the vets themselves).
@ FattyMagee
Thanks?
@CfB
Thanks for letting me know that about Jeff Bridges. That was a win-win for all of them. I like to see things like that.
@get ur stuff right
Umm… were you drunk when you left that comment?
I find your intellectual posture highly dubious.
@John3Sobieski
I think it was too much Tequila.
That would do it.
Very nice guys, I was wondering about that myself. Take it a step further though.
Do you thing Tony Stark has anything to do with Howard Hughs?
And… What kind of plane was his private jet? The inside cabin (with stripper poles) was most likely a stage, but the outside shots looked pretty real.
@C-Dub
I can just imagine if Lockheed Martin stockholders got wind of Bob Stevens’ jet having a steady supply of dancing strippers.
The thing that clinched it for me was the animation of the symbol for Stark - it was very similar to the way Lockheed’s logo is animated. It’s just missing the rest of the star.
One question though. I never heard any claims in the movie that Stark made the Raptor. Did I miss that part? Sweet plane nonetheless.
The Raptor appeared in statue form in front of the Stark Industries headquarters building.
I do see the likeness to the Lockheed Martin logo in the portion of the star but in the lettering you’ve lost me a little. Although it is close, the spacing is quite different leading me to believe that they are ripping off the lettering of Northrop Grumman…another defense contractor. Possibly a combination of the two was used to create the Stark Industries logo.
I thought that as I was watching the movie too. A friend of mine and I laughed when we saw it, but the people around us didn’t get the joke. Unfortunately, only people who know about Lockheed Martin will catch the reference. I’m not sure if it was intentional or just a coincidence…probably intentional!!!!
@espionage
You are correct, in that the lettering is VERY close to Northrup Grumman. But the bold, italics, “helvetica-ish” is pretty similar to LM, too (larger, no added kerning, and some font-merging). The logo is really what ties it all together.
@Malaika
I’m sure it was intentional, although probably no harm meant.. if anything it’s a hat tip to LM for being #1 among defense technology companies.
Time to buy more stock!
“The Raptor appeared in statue form in front of the Stark Industries headquarters building.”
Actually, the model number on the tail stated as “YF-23″, ie Northrop/McDonnell Douglas.
@Bob
Yeah, I noticed that. Not sure exactly why they decided to do that… except maybe for trademark/copyright reasons.(?)
Besides the logo been a paradoy of Lockheed Martin which I doubt they appreciate, there is already a company named “Stark Industries” in Texas, the real Stark Industries that makes air compressors. I will bet Marvel has not asked for permission to use the name “Stark Industries” in their movie and it is possible they are infringing on their trademark. An interestin turn of events for Marvel who is notoriously famous for their legal mishaps. Will the real ‘Stark Industries” sue Marvel for millions of dollars and ask them to remove the name from the movie? Will see.
http://starkindustries.com/
@ “J Stark”
Actually, it’s common business law that two companies/businesses can share a name if they don’t share the same products/services or the same market reach. So Joe’s Grill restaurant and Joe’s Grill outdoor cooking supplies can be right next to each other. And the next town over can also have a Joe’s Grill restaurant.
I like your Iron Man Blog! Thanks! What could anyone say is the the Private Executive Jet of Stark Industries? Its Byond the G650 or X7. Great rear induction profile on the BisJet design!
Dear Stark Industries,
Stark Industries has been manufacturing fictional weapons since 1963, whilst you have been manufacturing air compressors since 69, it seems.
Will Stark Industries sue Stark Industries for millions of dollars?
Well… yeah.
Or my name isn’t Anthony Stark.
And it is.
Oh and the Lockheed thing?
Never noticed it.
Now if you’ll excuse me, I have to go drive.
With the top down.
Stark Industries didn’t make the Raptors, they were just sent by the United States Army to bring Iron Man down.
As I work for Boeing and build the aft section of the F-22, I just want to add a little legitimacy to the months-old discussion. The F-22 Raptor is basically the replacement for the F-15 Eagle. Just like it’s predecessor, the F-22 is primarily an air superiority aircraft, but the F/A-22 variant is capable of strike weapons delivery. The F-22 is a dual engine stealth fighter (more stealthy than the F117 Nighthawk) that features vertically variable exhaust. Basically, the exhaust nozzles can tilt up or down, allowing the aircraft to snap in and out of climbs and dives practically instantaneously.
I watched a pair take off recently, and they went from horizontal flight about 50 feet above the runway to 90 degrees straight up in NO TIME flat. Once pointed upwards, they rocketed up into the sky and disappeared. Most amazing thing I’ve ever seen. Check out the many YouTube videos showcasing the aircraft and you will see, as one of our engineers observed, that it looks like someone forgot to tell the pilot what an aircraft isn’t supposed to be able to do.
I don’t know much about the F-35, only that what has been said is correct. It’s going to be used heavily by the Navy as a supplement to the F/A-18 and a replacement for the Harrier. It’ll be able to dogfight, deep strike, Wild Weasel, and just about anything else a multirole fighter of its type will do. It’s also considered a stealth fighter, and like the F-22, is more stealthy than the F-117.
Hope that clears up some confusion.
You know what else? Lockheed Martin’s CEO is a super hero.
I believe going to the “Slippery Rock University of Pennsylvania” counts as being a hero, right?
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