Will the XB-70 ever fly again?
The Pentagon ultimately canceled the XB-70 due to several factors. The plane proved expensive and technically difficult to develop, and advances in Soviet air defenses made it unlikely that the plane’s “high and fast” penetration tactic would keep the big bomber safe.
Did the XB-70 ever reach Mach 3?
The wing tips were also lowered partially in this flight. XB-70 No. 1 surpassed Mach 3 on 14 October 1965 by reaching Mach 3.02 at 70,000 ft (21,000 m)….Operational history.
| Longest flight | 3:40 hours | 6 January 1966 |
|---|---|---|
| Highest altitude | 74,000 ft (23,000 m) | 19 March 1966 |
| Highest Mach number | Mach 3.08 | 12 April 1966 |
How many XB-70 are there?
Only two aircraft were ever built, and the program was cancelled before production had a chance to begin. The XB-70 was powered by six General Electric YJ93s capable of generating 30,000 lbs. thrust each, with afterburner.
What is the fastest aircraft?
Lockheed SR-71 Blackbird
The Lockheed SR-71 Blackbird is the fastest jet aircraft in the world, reaching speeds of Mach 3.3–that’s more than 3,500 kph (2,100 mph) and almost four times as fast as the average cruising speed of a commercial airliner.
Where is the last XB-70 Valkyrie?
There remains only one Valkyrie jet, and it lives at the National Museum of the United States Air Force in Riverside, Ohio.
What was the XB-70 built for?
Named Valkyrie, after the female battle spirits of Norse mythology, the bomber was built to penetrate Soviet air defenses in a nuclear war and deliver thermonuclear bombs on targets. The XB-70 was 196 feet long, 31 feet tall at the tail, and had a maximum gross weight of 521,000 pounds.
How much does the XB-70 cost?
The XB-70 was also considered expensive, with each production bomber projected to cost an estimated $24.5 million, or $237 million today.
What kind of plane is the XB-70 Valkyrie?
The supersonic XB-70 Valkyrie was the prototype version of the proposed B-70 nuclear-armed for the United States Air Force’s Strategic Air Command.
Is the Italeri XB-70 Valkyrie a toy?
This is an Italeri 1 1/72 scale plastic model kit. The supersonic XB-70 Valkyrie was the prototype version of the proposed B-70 nuclear-armed for the United States Air Force’s Strategic Air Command.
Where is the XB-70 Valkyrie in Dayton Ohio?
As such, two prototype aircraft, designated XB-70A, were built; these aircraft were used for supersonic test-flights during 1964–69. In 1966, one prototype crashed after colliding with a smaller aircraft while flying in close formation; the remaining Valkyrie bomber is in the National Museum of the United States Air Force near Dayton, Ohio.
What was the speed of the Armstrong B-70 Valkyrie?
NASA Armstrong Fact Sheet: XB-70 Valkyrie The B-70 Valkyrie, with a planned cruise speed of Mach 3 and operating altitude of 70,000 feet, was to be the ultimate high-altitude, high-speed manned strategic bomber. Events, however, would cause it to play a far different role in the history of aviation.