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. 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 considerable political pressure was brought to bear to save the program, the USAF canceled the Valkyrie in 1961. Two prototypes were allowed to be finished for research purposes.
As a research aircraft, the XB-70 contributed much to the knowledge of supersonic aircraft and future bombers. It could cruise comfortably at Mach 2, and reached Mach 3 on several occasions. The second prototype was lost in a fatal collision with a F-104 Starfighter during a photo shoot in 1966. The remaining Valkyrie continued on its flight test program until it ended in 1969; its final flight was to retirement at the National Museum of the USAF in 1970.
Though not the first time I've seen the mighty Valkyrie (Dad got this picture in 1977: www.flickr.com/photos/31469080@N07/16076429805/in/photoli...), it's even more impressive as an adult than it was when I was a kid. The XB-70 dominates everything in the NMUSAF's Experimental Gallery, just like the B-52 and B-36 do in their respective sections. It was really something of an aircraft. This is 62-0001, the first Valkyrie prototype, resplendent in overall white.
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. 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 considerable political pressure was brought to bear to save the program, the USAF canceled the Valkyrie in 1961. Two prototypes were allowed to be finished for research purposes.
As a research aircraft, the XB-70 contributed much to the knowledge of supersonic aircraft and future bombers. It could cruise comfortably at Mach 2, and reached Mach 3 on several occasions. The second prototype was lost in a fatal collision with a F-104 Starfighter during a photo shoot in 1966. The remaining Valkyrie continued on its flight test program until it ended in 1969; its final flight was to retirement at the National Museum of the USAF in 1970.
Though not the first time I've seen the mighty Valkyrie (Dad got this picture in 1977: www.flickr.com/photos/31469080@N07/16076429805/in/photoli...), it's even more impressive as an adult than it was when I was a kid. The XB-70 dominates everything in the NMUSAF's Experimental Gallery, just like the B-52 and B-36 do in their respective sections. It was really something of an aircraft. This is 62-0001, the first Valkyrie prototype, resplendent in overall white.