XB-70A 'Valkyie' by junge1
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Description
After my induction physical during the Cuban Crisis in October 1962 I went to the Air Force recruiter in Paterson, NJ. In his office was a model of the XB-70. A plane that looked like it came straight out of star wars.
The XB-70 program was started in the 1950s to replace the B-52 and North American built two prototypes. The program was cancelled in 1961 for a number of reasons.
The two aircraft built were used in supersonic test flights from 1964 to 1969 performing research for the design of large supersonic aircraft, i.e. the American SST. This program was also cancelled due to environmental and other concerns.
We saw the landing of the maidenflight of the XB-70A #1 on 21 September 1964 during Commanders Call where the aircraft blew some tires of the main gear and the landing gear caught fire.
The XB-70 was made obsolete before its first flight by the A-11, later used as the SR-71 which used more exotic materials and innovations.
One of the XB-70 crashed following a midair collision with a F-104 on 8 June 1966 during a photo flight requested by General Electric.
Specifications:
Crew: 2
Length: 185ft 10 inches
Wingspan: 105-ft.
Height: 30ft 9 inches
Max. takeoff weight: 550,000 lbs.
Powerplants: Six General Electric YJ93-GE 3 afterburning turbojets with 28,000 lbs thrust each
Max. Speed: Mach 3.1 - 2,056mph (3,309m/h)
Cruise Speed: Mach 3.0
Service ceiling: 77,350-ft. (23,600m)
The XB-70 was constructed with honeycomb stainless steel material and titanium was used only at high temperature areas such as the leading edge of the horizontal stabilizer, the nose and the air intakes.
The drooping wing tip panels were lowered at high speed as much as 65 degrees to increase stability, and the aircraft had canards, small airfoils in front of the wing that also increased the aircraft stability.
This picture was taken at the US Air Force Museum at Wright-Patterson AFB, Dayton, Ohio in May 1981 and later scanned.
Thank you for viewing and commenting on my uploads and a special 'Thank you' to those that may have added some of them to their favorites,
Sig...
Note:
When I took these pictures with a little Olympus camera I had no idea that I would post these pictures 27 years later, scanned no less. I had no idea that I would own a computer, gee I didn't even know what a PC was lol!!!!!!!!!!!!
Comments (38)
Dianthus
Ashame the plane wasnt functional. Nice image and toning:)
THROBBE
Cool History!
erlandpil
Good capture erland
Bill_Wa
I remember this plane as being designed to be a high speed Nuke delivery aircraft. A pity it was never made operational, but I am also glad it was never used for it's intended purpose. Hoo Yah!
artaddict2
Awesome sight Sig!
ralph49
That is one mean looking spacey machine....cool capture
Meisiekind
Looks like a mean machine Sig - lovely image and fascinating narrative! :)
saretta
Awesome plane and wonderful shot,great description too!!!!
pixelmeister
Stunning plane!
flora-crassella
...und wieder ein super Flieger Foto für meinen Gatten ;.))
PIERRE25
Superbe appareil! excellente photo
bmac62
Outstanding photo Sig. Thanks for popping this into the aviation genre...hopefully more will see it. I got my private pilot's license in California in 1964. One of my cross country flights took me right over the top of the airfield at Edwards Air Force base in southern California. I looked down and there was one of these two beauties taxiing into position for take off...quite a rare sight. 12,000 foot runway as I recall. And yes, believe it or not, it was legal for me to fly over 3000 feet above ground level at that time. Bet you couldn't do the same today. Bill
timtripp
marvelous airplane
Janiss
Stunning capture and postwork Sig!
Ravenlady
A cool capture!!! nice
TwoPynts
The program may have never really "got off the ground" but I still think it is a gorgeous aircraft. Reminds me of my youth and my dad in the Air Force.
virginiese
very nice shot Sig
chuter
Was looking (very closely) at this plane recently and . . . MY GOODNESS !!! What killed this plane, if not the whole program, was the disbonding and wrinkling of the stainless steel sandwich panels. I wouldn't want to be on an overhaul crew for 'that' puppy (well . . . maybe I would ;), buckets of work there. Great plane, tho . . . and I particularly like the rear view of the six-pack.
flaviok
Isto é fantástico, narrativa e captura, aplausos (5)
MrsLubner
Awesome capture and awesome plane. I can't stop thinking of a mutant mosquito with that dagger-like nose and slim, sleek body. It could pick up the pace, it seems, and stretch your face back into your hairline. What fun! LOL Super info and capture.
beachzz
Great shot of this fantastic plane--!!
tennesseecowgirl
Nice capture, and history~~ :)
jeroni
Great shot and postwork
lucindawind
wow awesome plane and shot !
junge1
@chuter. They had a lot of problem with honeycomb stainless steel bonding. It was also notorious for fuel and hydraulic leaks. A job working on this baby would mean job security, lol.
Tamarrion
An amazing, ambitious feat of design & engineering. Even today, it looks futuristic. It's a relief that there's still one left for display. The Arrow and TSR 2 weren't so lucky. Thanks for sharing!
mermaid
a fascinating story Sig and oh yes I know about this compi thing...lol some 15 years agow I can still hear myself say I will never learn how to operate these machines...lol
Kaartijer
Gee, in '81 I was interested only on flying saucers, girls and soccer... but guess what? I was officially a rugby player! Actually in the summer of '81 I quit playing rugby due to some health problems... Great shot and description! I see that you're passionate about planes!
thevolunteer
What a hunk of machinery. I have never seen one like this before. Awesome stuff. Great shot Sig. Aloha and have a great weekend.
katy555
Very nice picture. Excellent colors...