The US Secret Aircraft That Made Everyone Go Crazy

The North American Aviation XB-70 Valkyrie is a retired prototype version of the planned B-70 nuclear-armed, deep-penetration supersonic strategic bomber for the United States Air Force Strategic Air Command. Designed in the late 1950s by North American Aviation, it was intended to replace the aging B-52 Stratofortress.

[johngalt]

Designed in the late 1950s to replace the "aging" B52....that was still in production.

[robertpesche]

"Designed in the late 1950s to replace the aging B-52..." You mean the B-52 that first flew in 1952 and entered service in 1955? Aging? Who writes this stuff? You need to fire your writers.

[BelugaChonky]

The fact we went from prop plane's in 1945 to mach 3 with nukes amazes me

[homefrontforge]

I first met this beautiful bird in 1970. She sat outside the old museum facility on the other side of Wright-Patt. For years she sat outside the museum's present location. I was very happy to see her cleaned up and inside, next to my other favorite bird, the SR-71. Growing up near the base was and is a privilege. So much history!

[LostAnFound]

It's so crazy when you look at aircraft like this and the SR-71 and compare them to the cars developed at the same time

[amdreallyfast]

B-52 70 years later: "I can do this all day."

[darthgamer]

The XB 70. Living proof that the BUFF is forever 😂

[rolandreynoso]

lol the aging B52 is still here, going strong🤣

[juandiegoprado]

It’s absolutely insane that in 15 years, long-range bombers went from the propeller-driven B-29 to a bomber that could cruise at mach 3 at 70, 000 feet, and was immediately deemed obsolete because self-guided, intercontinental nuclear warheads delivery systems were invented. The pace in which technology has been advancing ever since the industrial revolution is astonishing.

[chrisjordan]

Like the SR-71 and concord, this is a one of a kind piece of art combined with raw thrust! 🔥☄️⚡️

[Xeonicks]

It’s also sad how the main prototype got destroyed during a photoshoot

[modelmanfrank]

Your facts are all wrong. It was not built to replace the B-52 . It built to fly into Russia at Mach 3 speeds and work along side the B-52 which was not Aging. The XB-70 cancelled because of the addition of longer range nuclear missles. Even though the bomber program was cancelled the plane still flew with NASA for a bit before being retired and sent to the Airforce museum.

[Rvenom]

I love how retrofuturistic the plane looks! Definitely a big change from the B-52

[andylewis]

To think that aviation went from wood and cloth to THIS in half a century is absolutely mind-boggling!

[paddymalky]

Those engines look like a star destroyers

[dr.ptrkjc]

Plot twist, B-52 is still in service 😅

[JDemonpbt]

There were only 2 of the XB-70’s made. The first one was destroyed during a photo op mission. The only remaining one is on permanent display at The National Museum of The United States Air Force, at Wright-Patterson AF Base, Dayton OH.

[BK-dyjk]

I CAN tell you for sure that the coating that goes on the aircraft at that speed makes all the difference from a turtle to a cheetah. I recommend a Teflon coating. It won’t get ripped off at those speeds. It will slice through air like butter. Take it from my ex race car driver, I know…

[craigcorson]

IMO, the most beautiful airplane ever flown, bar none - providing that one ignores it's reason for existing.

[jeffputman]

The B-70's capabilities forced the Soviets to build a fleet of jets that could intercept it. Canceling the B-70 made the Soviets' expenditure useless. Mission accomplished.