The Rise and Fall of the XB-70

The XB-70 was an incredibly fast strategic bomber, capable of completing missions in just a few hours thanks to its supersonic speed. Designed to outrun enemy defenses, it represented a leap forward in aviation technology.

However, the program was canceled after a tragic collision during a test flight and the growing effectiveness of ballistic missiles. With missile technology advancing, the need for such a high-speed bomber diminished, marking the end of the XB-70's promising potential.

#XB70 #AviationHistory #MilitaryTech #ColdWar #BallisticMissiles #Aviation #Aerospace
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[jolemite]

Valkyrie was a straight up marvel of its day. Shit, even today, damn near 70 years later it’s a marvel

[jacoboconnell]

I’m driving to Alabama from Minnesota right now. I’d already have my work done if I had one of these!

[pariahzero]

The XB-70 was canceled (as a bomber) long before it ever flew. Its continued development was as an experimental and high speed research aircraft.

Even then it faced cancellation at every turn. The two airframes built cost literally more than their weight in gold (each).

They were amazing aircraft, and building them was obscenely expensive - but it also taught us some extremely advanced materials, manufacturing techniques, and aeronautics.

Pity the "good" airframe was wrecked for a photo-op (effectively to make an ad for General Electric engines)

[ambassadorofreee]

Impressive, able to do it in such a short time even by taking a detour like illustrated on the map.

[Die_Eternality]

By the time it return it would be Hell on earth

[Kevil]

It's huge! The Air Force museum in Ohio has it and it's amazing.

[Sukhoi-w]

It would be kinda nice if they made a fast big payload stealth fighter

[BeerWorshipingCult]

They used part of how the landing gear retracts on the C-5.

[Lord_Diabetes]

and when they return the world is on fire.

[CONIXYT]

Was the black bird as fast or even faster?

[AirbusO-L]

So a Concorde, but for the military (in my opinion)

[UnstableEmu]

I know one of the guys who designed that plane

[TimoteiE]

Now that assuming it is going at probably more than Mach 2 but I doubt it's engines would survive a lot of trips being pushed so much.

[RaikoTechnologies]

6 hours for back and forth is slower than a Concorde airliner btw.

[DakotaWilson-qy]

So that’s like three hours and 30 minutes one way

[patrickboyN]

Flying at high speed at high altitude it would be shot down as the b2 would make it home, reload and go on an other mission.

[notaftershook]

sometimes i wish leaders used the cool factor alongside the money too. like imagine having a badass plane like this.

[tbone]

How fast can the SR-71 do the same mission

[Alif-ubj]

No military project have any intention to make any financial sense

[DhineshKumarSelvaraj]

Back by 2PM where?? To a mushroom cloud??