North American XB-70 Valkyrie
With the increasing efficiency of Soviet air defenses, the USAF's Strategic Air Command began looking at high-speed, supersonic bombers capable of dashing into Soviet airspace, dropping nuclear bombs, and dashing back out. The then-current fleet of B-47 and B-52 bombers were subsonic and were thought to be unable to survive the Soviet air defense network.
The XB-70 Valkyrie was North American's successful proposal for the new supersonic bomber, and it was a technological marvel. Six engines and an advanced wing design propelled the Valkyrie to speeds over Mach 3, allowing it to easily evade any Soviet fighter interceptor. Though the test program with the two XB-70 prototypes was successful, the development of surface-to-air missiles by the Soviet Union capable of hitting high-altitude aircraft, increasing costs, and the development of far cheaper and reliable ICBMs by the US ended the XB-70's story before it could even begin. Though a failure operationally, the Valkyrie contributed much to the knowledge of supersonic aircraft.
After a fatal midair collision that destroyed the second XB-70 prototype in 1966, the first prototype, 62-0001, was flown to the National Museum of the USAF at Wright-Patterson AFB, Ohio, in 1969. Dad and I got to see it in 1977 on our way to Germany. I remember it being my favorite airplane of the whole trip, because of its unique looks and sheer size! Since then, it has been moved inside, to better preserve it.
North American XB-70 Valkyrie
With the increasing efficiency of Soviet air defenses, the USAF's Strategic Air Command began looking at high-speed, supersonic bombers capable of dashing into Soviet airspace, dropping nuclear bombs, and dashing back out. The then-current fleet of B-47 and B-52 bombers were subsonic and were thought to be unable to survive the Soviet air defense network.
The XB-70 Valkyrie was North American's successful proposal for the new supersonic bomber, and it was a technological marvel. Six engines and an advanced wing design propelled the Valkyrie to speeds over Mach 3, allowing it to easily evade any Soviet fighter interceptor. Though the test program with the two XB-70 prototypes was successful, the development of surface-to-air missiles by the Soviet Union capable of hitting high-altitude aircraft, increasing costs, and the development of far cheaper and reliable ICBMs by the US ended the XB-70's story before it could even begin. Though a failure operationally, the Valkyrie contributed much to the knowledge of supersonic aircraft.
After a fatal midair collision that destroyed the second XB-70 prototype in 1966, the first prototype, 62-0001, was flown to the National Museum of the USAF at Wright-Patterson AFB, Ohio, in 1969. Dad and I got to see it in 1977 on our way to Germany. I remember it being my favorite airplane of the whole trip, because of its unique looks and sheer size! Since then, it has been moved inside, to better preserve it.