North American XB-70 Valkyrie
North American Aviation · United States · first flew 1964 · bomber
The six-engined Mach 3 bomber that rode its own shockwave — one of the most spectacular aircraft ever built, cancelled into a research role after two were completed.
Recognition (WEFT)
| W — Wings | Low-mounted, delta |
|---|---|
| E — Engines | 6 × turbojet, embedded-mounted |
| F — Fuselage | 57.6 m fuselage |
| T — Tail | Twin fin |
WEFT is AircraftIQ's four-point recognition method — how it works.
Spot it by:
- Six engines in a single huge box under the delta (schema caps at 4)
- Folding wingtips drooped down in supersonic flight
- Long forward neck with canard foreplanes
Nothing else looks like it: a white dart with a long neck, canards, a vast delta with drooping tips, and a six-jet engine box making up the whole rear underside.
Specifications
- The North American XB-70 Valkyrie has a length of 57.6 m (189 ft).
- It has a wingspan of 32 m (105 ft).
- Its maximum speed is 3310 km/h (2057 mph).
- Typical crew: 2.
Figures are for the representative variant described above; marks differ. See how AircraftIQ sources figures.
History
Conceived as a B-52 replacement able to cruise at Mach 3, the XB-70 flew in 1964 just as missiles and SAMs made high-fast bombers obsolete. The second prototype was lost in a 1966 mid-air collision during a photo flight; the first retired to research work until 1969.
Variants
Two prototypes only (AV-1 and AV-2); the planned B-70 fleet was never ordered.
Where you'll see it
The survivor dominates the National Museum of the USAF at Dayton, Ohio — worth the pilgrimage on its own.
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