North American XB-70A ValkyrieSpecialty Press, 2002 - 104 pages The North American XB-70 Valkyrie was an attempt to build the ultimate offensive weapon fo the Cold War - a heavy bomber capable of flying at Mach 3 and reaching targets deep inside the Soviet Union. The aircraft that emerged was one of the most graceful large aircraft ever to fly, and one that looked everybit as fast on the ground as it ws in the air - over 2,00 mph at high altitude. It was years ahead of its time. But politics and changing requirements ultimately doomed the Valkyrie program to only two aircraft. Neighter was a true prototype of a weapons system, and instead was used to test the concept of such a large aircraft flying so fast.The authors have uncovered a great deal of new matierial on the XB-70 program - both on the aircraft as flown, and on what the proposed production aircraft would have looked like had they been built. Many never-before-seen photographs and drawings are included in the book. Details of the defensive perspective with the politics and economic realities that caused its cancellation. |
Table des matières
ANTECEDENTS | 7 |
Two AIR VEHICLES | 19 |
FLIGHT TEST | 34 |
Droits d'auteur | |
4 autres sections non affichées
Expressions et termes fréquents
additional afterburner ailerons Air Force aircraft airplane allowed August Aviation Boeing bomber called canard cancelled capsule carried Chief Collection Commander compartment complete contract cost Cotton crew directional doors early edge Edwards Electric engine equipment expected feet final flight forward Fulton fuselage gear ground high energy fuel History Office hydraulic improved increased inlet installed Item July landing landing gear later Lockheed lower Mach major March material minutes missile NASA North American nose Note operational paint panels percent performance pilot position pounds pressure problems production prototype range Rating reduced Report resulted roll Shepard shock shows side skin sonic speed stability structural Subject supersonic tanks temperature tion Tony Landis trim U.S. AIR FORCE Valkyrie vehicle vertical Volume WARBIRDTECH weapons weight wheels White wing wingtips