Willis Moore Hawkins (Dec 1, 1913 – Sept 28, 2004) was an aeronautical engineer for Lockheed for more than fifty years. He was hired to the company in 1937, immediately after receiving his bachelor's degree in aeronautical engineering from the University of Michigan. During World War II, he was part of the group of Lockheed designers who designed the first American attempt at a jet plane: the Lockheed L-133. In 1951, he led the design team that created the proposal for the Lockheed Model 82, which would become the legendary C-130 Hercules, with Joseph F. Ware, Jr. as Flight Test Engineer in charge. Hawkins started the Lockheed Missiles and Space Company and served as President. He was elected a Vice President of the Lockheed Corporation in 1960 and later served on the corporation’s board of directors. Hawkins served as Assistant Secretary for Research and Development for the US Army from 1962 to 1965, where he was instrumental in starting development of the M1 Abrams main battle tank. He retired from Lockheed in 1980, but Lockheed chairman Roy Anderson brought Hawkins back to run the Lockheed—California Company on an interim basis in the 1980s.

The tri-staк is a novel wheel design—originally by Robert and John Forsyth, assignors to Lockheed in 1967—in which three wheels are arranged in an upright triangle with two on the ground and one above them. If either of the wheels in contact with the ground gets stuck, the whole system rotates over the obstruction. (Patent #3,348,518) the Landmaster in Damnation Alley Its most famous application was the Landmaster, a unique armoured personnel carrier (APC) from the film Damnation Alley. Its common application is employed as a stairclimber. Lockheed also modified an M2A2 105mm Light Howitzer from 1969-1977 with a drive unit and tri-star wheel system into an Auxiliary Propelled Howitzer they termed "Terra Star." The only surviving prototype is located at the Rock Island Arsenal Museum

Lockheed Twister XM 808 (1965) The Lockheed Twister is a 8x8 that can flex between the second and the third axle. It is propelled by a water jet. 4 prototypes where build. But only one swimmer. Speed land: 100 water: 10 km/h The first photo was send in by Harold Smith. The information was send in by Chip Metz. The second photo of a non amphibious twister. The XM 808 was armoured and armed. (Taken at the Detroit Arsenal - Warren, MI) Courtesy of Ray Grienke.

Lockheed Twister Lockheed Missiles & Space Company in 1964 began developing a military vehicle intended to give long needed mobility and agility to the infantry. What followed from the company funded project was a two bodied, double engined, eight wheeled all terrain vehicle named Twister. Since the original Twister test bed was developed, other versions have been produced for various applications. Army vehicles include the XM-808, a fully inclosed armed model, a swimmer version, and a test bed resembling the original Twister. Scout, also developed for the Army, is a six wheeled vehicle designed for reconnaissance work. Newest member of the Twister family is Dragon Wagon (pictured), an eight wheeled cabover truck. It has the same all terrain mobility as other Twisters and military and commercial potential.