And what country can preserve its liberties if their rulers are not warned from time to time that their people preserve the spirit of resistance? Let them take arms. The remedy is to set them right as to facts, pardon and pacify them. What signify a few lives lost in a century or two? The tree of liberty must be refreshed from time to time with the blood of patriots and tyrants.
Monday, September 29, 2025
Rare historical USAF photo of one of the two XB-70 Valkyrie supersonic strategic nuclear bombers taken during take-off with all six engines on full afterburner.
I disagree. While conceding they would be expensive to operate there was, early on, a real possibility the design would have gone into production. Both aircraft were reasonably reliable once the teething troubles like fuel leaks and undercarriage cycling were sorted. The bombing mission profile changes made it obsolete - high and really fast became low and fast which didn't suit the aircraft. There were studies into making them personnel transports and supersonic airliners but they would have been too expensive to operate. The SR71 succeeded but its a big performance notch above the XB 70 and routinely operated significantly above the XB 70's peak performance. I remain amazed at the fantastic designs and products originating from America at about this time. It seemed that if you dreamed of it someone would build it.
An ambitious design that was too far ahead of the available technology.
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I disagree. While conceding they would be expensive to operate there was, early on, a real possibility the design would have gone into production. Both aircraft were reasonably reliable once the teething troubles like fuel leaks and undercarriage cycling were sorted. The bombing mission profile changes made it obsolete - high and really fast became low and fast which didn't suit the aircraft. There were studies into making them personnel transports and supersonic airliners but they would have been too expensive to operate.
DeleteThe SR71 succeeded but its a big performance notch above the XB 70 and routinely operated significantly above the XB 70's peak performance.
I remain amazed at the fantastic designs and products originating from America at about this time. It seemed that if you dreamed of it someone would build it.
I only see one airplane.
ReplyDeleteOps re-read the caption, never mind. Great image.
ReplyDeleteImagine the rate per second in fuel it used.
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