Simons, Graham M. North American XB-70 Valkyrie in Pictures

America's Cold War Mach 3 Nuclear Bomber

With a cruising altitude of 70,000 feet and a speed of Mach 3+ over thousands of kilometres, the North American Aviation XB-70 Valkyrie not only rewrote military aviation, but also redefined the nature of warfare itself. The XB-70 flew so fast and so high that it only appeared on radar screens for a brief moment, making it impossible for enemy air traffic controllers to guide their interceptors to the target before it was out of range. When it was first designed in the 1950s, the enemy, at that time the Soviet Union, had no aircraft that could match the capabilities of the XB-70, making it virtually invulnerable. But as the US continued to develop its technologies, so did the Soviets. The introduction of their first surface-to-air missiles led the US to switch to low-altitude flights in order to stay under the radar. This neutralised the main features of the XB-70, and ultimately the programme, which had cost the United States an incredible $800 million (equivalent to $8.4 billion in today's currency), was discontinued. In this book, aviation historian and author Graham M. Simons uses a unique collection of images to examine the entire development history of this remarkable supersonic bomber. He highlights and explains in detail the many challenges that North American engineers faced, particularly with regard to engines and fuel. In addition to the technical and operational characteristics of the XB-70, Simons' book also includes eyewitness accounts and analyses of the accidents and incidents involving the aircraft. A detailed timeline allows readers to follow the protracted history of the XB-70. Only two examples of this elegant machine were ever built, with the first flight taking place on 21 September 1964. This full-colour book allows readers to admire this unique supersonic aircraft in all its glory.