I wokred on this project in 1968.  I was a new graduate of UCSB waiting to go on active duty in the Army and a new private pilot.  My usual jobs were go-fer assignments from maudlin to amanzing ("Go warm up the Corsair, a F4U Jack bought" to pick up a turboprop.  I drove to LA for the Garrett.  The concept in 1968 was a turboprop Air Force spotter with a clean front bay for avionics and, perhaps, arms.  This would outperform the 02.  Great guys to work with.  I recall a fellow named Kirby was the engineer, and had done the Kirby diving helmet.  And I think it was Clay Lacy was came up from time to time to fly it, commuting from Van Nuys in a purple P51, Snoopy.