- 80 pages
- English
- PDF
- Available on iOS & Android
North American XB-70 Valkyrie
About This Book
Of the many futuristic military aircraft concepts created in the 1950s the North American XB-70 still stands out as the most awe-inspiring. With its huge, white partially-folding delta wing, its fuselage resembling a striking cobra and its extraordinary performance, it was one of the foremost technological achievements of the 20th Century. A strategic bomber built to outrun any Soviet fighter jet, it could reach Mach 3 with a full nuclear payload - as fast as the legendary SR-71 Blackbird but more than three times the size. However, its role as a nuclear bomber was limited after the introduction of Intercontinental Ballistic Missiles, and defence cuts eventually led to the project being scrapped in the mid-1960s. The Valkyrie had a brief, costly decade of life but it proved the continuing value of developing manned bombers. However, almost half a century after the XB-70 its predecessor, the B-52, continues in service. Using full colour artwork and rigorous analysis, this is the complete story of the ultimate US Cold War military X-plane.
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Table of contents
- Cover
- Contents
- Chapter One: Bombs Away LeMay
- Chapter Two: Serpents and Spaceships
- Chapter Three: Design and Build
- Chapter Four: The Valkyrie's First Ride
- Chapter Five: NASA and Beyond
- Further Reading
- Index
- Imprint