Północnoamerykański XB-70 Valkyrie

North American XB-70 Valkyrie

KrajuStany Zjednoczone Ameryki
RoliBombowiec strategiczny – Naddźwiękowy samolot badawczy
Pierwszy lot21 września 1964 r.
Zbudowany2

Tthe Lotnictwo Północnoamerykańskie XB-70 Valkyrie był prototypową wersją planowanego bombowca strategicznego sił powietrznych Sił Powietrznych Stanów Zjednoczonych z bronią jądrową B-70. Zaprojektowany pod koniec lat 50-tych przez North American Aviation, sześciosilnikowy Valkyrie był w stanie przelecieć tysiące mil w Mach 3 + podczas lotu na 70.000 stóp (21.000 m).

Źródła: North American XB-70 Valkyrie na Wikipedii

North American XB-70 Valkyrie spacer
FotografówJohn Heck, Władimir Yakubov
LokalizacjaMuzeum Narodowe USAF
Zdjęcia134
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General Characteristics and Role

The North American XB-70 Valkyrie was the prototype version of the planned B-70 strategic bomber for the United States Air Force (USAF). Developed during the height of the Cold War, its radical design was intended to create an aircraft capable of penetrating Soviet airspace at sustained speeds of Mach 3 (three times the speed of sound) and altitudes above 70,000 feet (21,000 m). Its role was to serve as a high-speed, high-altitude strategic nuclear bomber, making it theoretically invulnerable to interception by Soviet fighters and early surface-to-air missiles of the time. However, the program faced rapid technological obsolescence and cost overruns, leading to its cancellation and reassignment as a research vehicle.

Property Typical Value (XB-70A)
Roli Experimental Strategic Bomber Prototype
National Origin Stany Zjednoczone
Producent North American Aviation (now part of Boeing)
First Flight 21 września 1964 r.
Załogi 2 (Pilot and Co-pilot)
Długość 57.6 m (189 ft 0 in)
Rozpiętość 32.0 m (105 ft 0 in)
Maximum Takeoff Weight 249,500 kg (550,000 lb)

Powerplant and Unique Aerodynamics

  • Engines: 6 x General Electric YJ93-GE-3 turbojet engines (in a common engine bay).
  • Maximum Speed: Mach 3.1.
  • Cruise Speed: Mach 3.0.
  • Thrust (Each Engine): 31,000 lbf (138 kN) with afterburner.
  • Compression Lift: The Valkyrie utilized a revolutionary design where the shockwave generated by the fuselage at Mach 3 was channeled under the large, fixed delta wing, providing up to 30% of its lift.
  • Movable Wing Tips: The outer 20 feet (6.1 m) of the wings could be folded down by up to 65 degrees at high speeds. This increased directional stability and, critically, helped trap the compression lift shockwave underneath the wing.
  • Construction: Largely built from stainless steel and titanium to withstand the extreme heat generated by sustained supersonic flight (thermal soak).

Program History and Legacy

  • Cancellation Drivers: The development of effective Soviet high-altitude surface-to-air missiles (like the S-75 Dvina, or SA-2 Guideline) made the high-altitude Mach 3 profile vulnerable. Coupled with the massive development cost, the bomber program was canceled in 1961.
  • Research Role: After cancellation, the two built prototypes (AV-1 and AV-2) were used as Mach 3 research aircraft for the supersonic transport (SST) program.
  • Tragedy: The second prototype, XB-70A AV-2, was destroyed in 1966 after a mid-air collision with an F-104 chase plane during a photo shoot.
  • Legacy: Although it never became an operational bomber, the XB-70 program provided invaluable aerodynamic, materials science, and flight control data crucial for future high-speed military and civilian aircraft development.
  • Preservation: The sole surviving aircraft, XB-70A AV-1, is preserved and displayed at the National Museum of the United States Air Force at Wright-Patterson AFB in Dayton, Ohio.

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