The XB-70 Valkyrie was a planned supersonic bomber that became known as a “technology demonstrator”. Its main descendant is the B-1 Bomber, and its technology has been used for civilian aircraft.
The XB-70 is a supersonic bomber that was never used. It was built in the 1960s by North American Aviation and Boeing, and it is one of the most iconic planes in aviation history.
The story of this aircraft involves many other events, too, including the Vietnam War, which helped shape how it was designed and built; Project Have Doughnut, a secret operation to detect Soviet nuclear tests from high above Earth’s atmosphere; and Project Bullet, another secret operation to develop an unmanned hypersonic reconnaissance aircraft (which became known as D-21).
The Valkyrie was a prototype, which meant it was used to test new technologies. The Air Force wanted the plane to be a high-speed bomber, but they also wanted it to have the capabilities of a long-range bomber and high-altitude bomber.
The XB-70 is significant because of its role as an experimental aircraft—it helped test innovations in airframe design, flight control systems, and engines that would later be used on future military planes and civilian jets.
The XB-70 Valkyrie was never used in combat. It was a prototype, and the Air Force only used it to test the plane. The plane’s engines were not powerful enough to carry bombs or missiles, so they could not be used for any military purposes like carrying weapons of mass destruction (WMDs) or dropping them on an enemy.
The XB-70 was retired in 1969 with a career spanning only five years. It was retired because it was too expensive to operate and maintain. The Air Force could not justify the operational costs of having the bomber flying all over the world, so they decided to retire this unique aircraft instead.
The XB-70 was first used as an experimental prototype for high-speed flight technology and military concepts. These included vertical take-off and landing; supersonic cruise at high altitudes, low speeds, and subsonic speeds; air refueling capability at supersonic speeds; a large payload capacity; high survivability; crew comfort during prolonged flights (including ejection seats); low noise signatures from inside and outside of the aircraft’s fuselage when carrying weapons loads or fuel tanks (for longer range missions).
The XB-70 Valkyrie was not the only plane to be built off of its legacy. Two other aircraft were also built based on this research: the B-1 Lancer and the F-111 Aardvark. The B-1 is still in service today, as are many other planes that were built off of its design.
As a testament to how much of an impact the XB-70 Valkyrie had on aviation, many technologies used in the XB-70 are still used today. This includes its use of titanium, which is 30% stronger than steel and lighter than aluminum. Titanium is also useful for its heat resistance, allowing it to be used in aircraft applications.
The XB-70’s legacy in aviation can also be seen in how it influenced other aircraft designs. The B-1A Lancer bomber (which entered service in 1986) was heavily inspired by the Valkyrie, with its wide fuselage using many similar design elements and proportions as the XB-70s did. And while the space shuttle orbiter required modifications so that it could land vertically at Edwards Air Force Base after its maiden flight (it lacked vertical thrust), this wouldn’t have been necessary if not for test flights with similar planes like the Bell X-5 – a predecessor of sorts for both projects!
The XB-70 was the first supersonic bomber, the first all-jet bomber, and the first bomber to use afterburners. It also used variable-sweep wings for high-speed performance and low drag at low speeds. These features were later adopted by many other aircraft including U.S., Russian, British, and Chinese military planes as well as commercial airliners like Concorde and Boeing’s 787 Dreamliner (the latter using a variant called “swing-wing”).
The XB-70 Valkyrie program may have been short-lived, but its impact is still felt today. Several planes have been built off of it, including the B-1B Lancer and the Rockwell B-1. The XB-70 was the first plane of its kind to reach Mach 3 speeds, and it paved the way for other planes to break that barrier as well. Its ability to inspire a generation of engineers has led us into a future where speed is no longer out of reach.
Reviewing the history of the XB-70, and more importantly, the people involved provides insight into the forces that moved both aviation and science forward. The XB-70 is evidence of the passion and dedication one can have to push the bounds of possibility, regardless of what anyone else says, but while being cognizant of all that technology and past achievements can provide. It is difficult to imagine a time when aviation technology was so fragile that it could be brought down by a single accidental spark. Wherever scientists go in the future, they will remember this lesson.
From the mere existence and design of the XB-70, a complex and interesting story emerges, one which we can learn from today. The boldness of its conception, the exorbitance of its procurement, the problems and intricacies of its design, and its ultimate triumph—are all things that have much to teach us about aircraft development in the Cold War United States.