1,000 RELOCATED TO NEW HIGH DESERT HOME : SKUNK WORKS TO ADD NEW BUILDING.

Byline: Jim Skeen Daily News Staff Writer

Lockheed Martin Skunk Works will add a 70,000-square-foot building to its Plant 10 complex as part of an effort to relocate 1,000 workers from Ontario to the Antelope Valley.

Expected to be completed in June and covering nearly two acres of floor space, the building will include hangar space plus offices for about 60 Air Force and government civilians and about 80 Skunk Works employees.

The building is part of an effort to relocate Lockheed Martin's Aircraft Services organization to Palmdale. That transfer started in October with the delivery of an EC-130H Compass Call aircraft and will continue through most of this year, said Skunk Works President Jack Gordon.

``The people will come with the work,'' Gordon said. ``Right now we have just the one airplane.''

The new building will house the 645th Materiel Squadron, Detachment 4 - part of the Air Force's ``Big Safari'' organization. ``Big Safari'' is a name given to a specialized management and contracting arrangement for getting special projects done on a quick-reaction basis, Lockheed Martin officials said.

Detachment 4 is responsible for all Big Safari projects with the Skunk Works.

Lockheed Martin officials announced in June that their Aircraft Services Division would move to Palmdale from Ontario International Airport, where it was established in 1952. Aircraft Services modifies airplanes for the U.S. military, private firms and other nations.

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Photo: (Ran in SAC and AV--color in AV only) Lt. Col. James N. Konyha, left, and Lockheed Martin Skunk Works President Jack Gordon visit the Palmdale site where a new building is being added to house Konyha's 645th Materiel Squadron, Detachment 4 - part of the Air Force's ``Big Safari'' special projects group.

Jeff Goldwater/Daily News