North American XB-70 Valkyrie strategic bomber - photos

[Altair]

North American XB-70 Valkyrie prototype strategic bomber. Two were built in the 1960s. The second prototype was destroyed in a midair collision with other aircraft for a photoshoot.








Previously:

Myasishchev M-4 strategic bomber - GIF
Convair NB-36H nuclear-powered bomber - photos
North American F-107 prototype fighter-bomber - photos
Boeing XB-47D experimental bomber - photo
Witteman-Lewis XNBL-1 strategic bomber - photo and video

[TrickieDickie]

I remember watching an episode of "Wings" featuring XB-70 Valkyrie and I got to see it up close many years ago at the Wright-Patterson museum in Dayton, Ohio.

[cubcouper]

My Dad was part of a Civil Air Patrol group that flew to Wright-Patterson when they brought the Valkyrie to the museum (a friend of his was the delivery pilot). I've been looking at his old 35mm slides of the landing and the museum my whole life -- probably led to me getting my pilots license, buying airplanes, and visiting Wright-Patterson twice where I've stood in the same places he took those pictures! Miss you Dad!

[rdarrylb]

I was at the Air Force museum in 2010, and saw the Valkyrie in person as well. I was amazed at its size...the engine inlets are the size of large box culverts!

[TrickieDickie]

I agree and the B-36 was huge!

[Toolmaker51]

Speaking of size... Being sent to my first deployment 1972, we flew to Japan on a DC-10 (not a small airliner). Exiting that plane, saw what was parked adjacent, a C-5. Those were quite new at the time, intro'd '68.
Two newer examples flew into our Air Guard station, parked maybe 800-1000 feet from the tower among C-17's. The 'Memphis' 69-0014, couldn't read the other. The comparison is still dramatic.

Note: Disregard the crude nickname personnel affixed to those planes, we do not share traits contrary to the acronym!
Someone MIGHT start referring their Taylor forklift as such...