Of these, the b70 stands out a plane as big as a large jet liner with a top speed. The model is signed by pilots al white and don mallick on the left rear wing and original pilot joe cotton and final flight pilots fitzhugh fitz fulton and emil ted sturmthal on the rear right wing. The north american xb70 and millions of other books are available for. Media in category north american xb70 the following 9 files are in this category, out of 9 total. For both men, this would be their final flight in the majestic valkyrie. The incredible story of how a paperclip avoided the loss of an xb70 valkyrie. The xb 70 valkyrie was originally conceived as a highaltitude nuclear strike bomber capable of flight at 3 times the speed of sound in response to a 1954 us air force competition for a new strategic bomber to replace the b52. As av1 crossed the mach 3 threshold, her nose abruptly pitched upwards. North american aviation xb 70a valkyrie 620001 made 83 flights with a total of 160 hours, 16 minutes flight time. The north american xb70a has been called a pterodactyl for its flapping.
Av2, naa model number na278, usaf sn 620207, flew 46 times over 92 hours and 22 minutes, before it crashed in june 1966. Vintage supersonic xb70 bomber arrives to anchor new air. This image from chapter 7 of the book project terminated, depicts a proposed north american rockwell m 70 modified xb 70 launch platform for the proposed followon delta wing x153. Not only was it absolutely huge, with its six pack of general electric yj93 turbojet engines, but its long. The xb70s last supersonic flight took place on 17 december 1968. While the number two xb 70 was destroyed in an accidental midair collision on june 8, 1966, the first valkyrie continued to fly and generate valuable test data in the research program until its final flight which took place on on feb. Extreme care was taken to replicate as closely as possible the features and characteristics of this unusual and iconic aircraft. To achieve mach 3 performance, the b70 was designed to ride its own shock wave, much as a surfer rides an. This image shows the complexity of the xb70 valkyrie mid. Author of valkyrie north american xb70, his book provides.
The north american aviation xb70 valkyrie was a prototype version of the. The valkyrie is one of the most beautiful and complex aircraft ever flown. The first nasa xb70 flight occurred on april 25, 1967, the last one was on feb. North american xb70 valkyrie xplanes book 7 english edition ebook. Anything and everything you could want to know about the xb 70 is in this book. Program management of the nasausaf research effort was assigned to nasa in march 1967. But even as al white corrected, the nose just as sharply pitched downward. The xb 70 s last supersonic flight took place on december 17, 1968. With a sixpack of afterburning ge yj93 engines, wingtips and snout rigged to droopthe former for speed, the latter for slower speedsthe supersonic beauty 70 looked like it was busting mach with the parking brake set and chocks snugged around the tires. On february 4, 1969, av1 took its final flight to wrightpatterson air force base for museum display. Drawing paul matt north american xb701 valkyrie rc.
A last look at the telemetry for all systems go is made with the pilots on board when completing their cockpit checkout. Pdf xb 70 valkerie pilot s flight operating manual. Both teams went back to the drawing boards with what were the final. A sixth chase plane was here to take a photo, to make a good advertising for general electric. Very good book that provides lots of details about the xb 70 valkyrie. On 4 february 1969, av1 took its final flight to wrightpatterson air force base for. The north american xb 70 the usas illfated supersonic heavy bomber, on mar. During research flights, the xb 70 pilots had frequently experienced trim changes and buffeting during highspeed, highaltitude flights. In flight, the xb70 could lower the outer wing sections either 25 degrees for flying from 300. Air force, were the flight crew for this continue reading 4. The xb70 was to take off and perform a short series of flight test cards and then meet with the other four aircraft over the ocean just off santa barbara coast line. Equipped with drooping wingtips, and designed with one of the highest lifttodrag ratios in aviation history, the xb 70 challenged the known concepts of the flight envelope and demanded extraordinary developments in engineering and.
Impressive video of an xb70 valkyrie mach 3 bombers. It recounts the tragic 1966 midair collision with the xb 70. Taube, sd 72sh0003, b70 aircraft study final report, vol. Figure 1 shows the first xb 70 at its rollout ceremony on 11 may, 1964. The b70 valkyrie, with a planned cruise speed of mach 3 and operating altitude of 70000 feet, was to be the ultimate highaltitude, highspeed manned strategic bomber. The book covers his extraordinary aviation career that spanned more. Impressive video shows xb70 valkyrie mach 3 strategic. Loaded up, the xb 70 was more than a halfmillion pounds of pure sex appeal. The xb 70 valkyrie was an aircraft ahead of its time. Consequently, nasa decided that xb 70 testing would come to an end. Measuring just a bit over 20 feet at the trailing edge, these wingtips represent the. North american valkyrie xb70a, 2nd edition aero series 30. The 83rd and last xb 70 flight occurred on 4 february 1969, when the valkyrie made a subsonic structural dynamics test and ferry flight. Combat air rescues in vietnam and laos by the smithsonian institute press.
Air force retired, and lieutenant colonel emil sturmthal, u. Northrop flying wings xplanes book 10 english edition. Created by north american aviation, this historic film shows the flight test program for the xb 70 valkyrie at edwards afb in california including the first flight at supersonic speeds, and the various tests. The book is lavishly illustrated with photos, drawings. The pieces of walkers f104 came to rest nearly six kilometers. Designed by north american aviation later north american rockwell and still. Only two of the mach 3 replacements for the b52 were built and one was lost in a midair collision. One objective of my xb 70 project is to fly with flaps. The two xb 70s had logged just 1 hour and 48 minutes of mach 3 flight, while an sr71 could do this in a single flight. The north american aviation xb70 valkyrie was the prototype version of the planned b70. On this flight the xb 70 proved its capability of attaining mach 3 at 70,000 feet.
During take off, landing, and subsonic flight, they remained in the horizontal position. The north american aviation xb 70a1na valkyrie, 620001, made its very last flight from edwards air force base, california, to wrightpatterson air force base, ohio. Fulton closed out the log book and handed it over to the curator of the national museum of the united states air force. On june 8, 1966, the bomber flew in close formation with from top a t38 talon, f4 phantom, f. This new book by john cambell is an allcolor photo study of the xb 70, including production, flight tests, and the fatal crash of aircraft it was originally designed as a mach 3 highaltitude bomber, but was later used as a research aircraft. Originally printed by nasa and the air force, this handbook taught pilots everything they needed to know before entering the cockpit. A photo chronicle schiffer military aviation history. On the 4 th of february 1969 the north american aviation xb 70a1na valkyrie, 620001, made its very last flight from edwards air force base, california to wrightpatterson air force base, ohio usa. These resulted from clearair turbulence and rapidly changing atmospheric temperatures. Take a virtual 360 tour of the amazing xb70 valkyries. The xb 70 valkyrie is one of the most amazing machines that ever took flight. Achetez et telechargez ebook north american xb70 valkyrie xplanes book 7. The xb70 valkyrie makes its final landing at wrightpatterson air force base in dayton ohio.
M icrosoft flight simulators representation of aviation history overlooks a large supersonic aircraft from the 1950s that led to the development of the concorde passenger liner and the b1 bomber the north american xb 70 valkyrie bomber was larger than any previous supersonic aircraft of the 1950s and was approximately the size of the concorde and the b1. North american xb70 valkyrie xplanes book 7 english edition. The smell of kerosene tells the dramatic story of a nasa research pilot who logged over 11,000 flight hours in more than 125 types of aircraft. Front view of the xb 70 with all three wingtip angles in flight, the xb 70 could lower the outer wing sections 25 degrees for flying from 300 knots to mach 1. Av1, naa model number na278, usaf sn 620001, completed 83 flights spanning 160 hours and 16 minutes. The xb 70 underwent modifications after a final flight on march 21, 1968. North american aviation xb70a valkyrie archives this. Al white ejected in the final few seconds, but tragically, major cross lost his life when the xb 70 impacted the ground. The north american xb 70 valkyrie was conceived as the ultimate heavy bomber for the usaf to penetrate soviet defences and deliver its doomsday payload. Air force, he flew in the berlin airlift and korean war, tested the air forces newest bombers, launched every xplane from the x1 to the x15 and flew the mach 2 b58 hustler his classic ride and triplesonic xb 70 valkyrie. The impressive video in this post shows the iconic xb 70 valkyrie making its final landing at wrightpatterson air force base in dayton ohio where it will become a museum piece at the national museum of the u. Air force, were the flight crew for this final flight.
The stand for the model is shaped in a stylized xb 70 shape and has a plaque that reads to g. The crew of the xb70, initially unaware of the collision, continued in straight and level flight for 16 seconds, eventually to enter a unrecoverable flat spin. On 4 february 1969, av1 took its final flight to wrightpatterson air force base for museum display now the national museum of the united states air force. Al whites summary in the pilots report for flight 117. American xb70 valkyrie, blue ridge summit, pennsylvania, tab books. She was one of the most beautiful aircraft when in flight up there with the. The number two xb 70 was destroyed in a midair collision on june 8, 1966. The xb 70 valkyrie was an aircraft ahead of its time that challenged the known concepts of the flight envelope. The final mission of the other xb 70 prototype tail number 20207 was an air force photo shoot. Of these, the b70 stands out a plane as big as a large jet liner with a top speed over 3. Flight characteristics and flight modelling the virtavia xb 70 valkyrie was created using the original xb 70a flight manual, the cover of which is reproduced above. North americans mach 3 superbomber specialty press. The book covers his extraordinary aviation career that spanned more than four decades.