Wiki History Listing
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The [i]North American Aviation[/i] [b]XB-70 Valkyrie[/b] was an experimental, large bomber jet made for a USAF requirement of a nuclear-armed, deep-penetration strategic bomber for the Strategic Air Command of the U.S. Air Force during the 60s. Only two were built. The Valkyrie was a very advanced for its time six-engine bomber aircraft jet with [[canards]] capable of reaching Mach 3+ while flying at 70,000 feet (21,000 m). Its maiden flight was on 1964. The program was canceled due to cost overruns, changing needs of the air-force, improvements in high-altitude surface-to-air missiles (SAMs), the introduction of intercontinental ballistic missiles (ICBMs) to the U.S. nuclear arsenal and the unfortunate mid air collision of one of the prototypes with an [[F-104 Starfighter]]. The remaining one served as a research plane for NASA before being retired to the National Museum of the United States Air Force in 1969. h4. See also * [[MiG-25]] - A [[Soviet]] [[fighter jet]] designed to intercept it. * [[VF-1]] Updated by bot Sun, Sep 18 '22, 02:55 |