XB-70A #1 sits on the tarmac at Edwards circa 1965. Photo by Frank B Mormillo with his permission.

11 May 64: Rolled out at Palmdale, CA, factory. 21 Sep 64: First flight; flew to Edwards AFB, CA; assigned to NASA's Dryden Flight Research Center. From there test pilots from NASA and the USAF flew the plane during its test program. 14 Oct 65: First Mach 3 flight. 17 Dec 68: Last supersonic flight. 4 Feb 69: Ferried to the Air Force Museum, Patterson Field, Wright-Patterson AFB, OH.

11 May 64: Rolled out at Palmdale, CA, factory. 21 Sep 64: First flight; flew to Edwards AFB, CA; assigned to NASA's Dryden Flight Research Center. From there test pilots from NASA and the USAF flew the plane during its test program. 14 Oct 65: First Mach 3 flight. 17 Dec 68: Last supersonic flight. 4 Feb 69: Ferried to the Air Force Museum, Patterson Field, Wright-Patterson AFB, OH.

11 May 64: Rolled out at Palmdale, CA, factory. 21 Sep 64: First flight; flew to Edwards AFB, CA; assigned to NASA's Dryden Flight Research Center. From there test pilots from NASA and the USAF flew the plane during its test program. 14 Oct 65: First Mach 3 flight. 17 Dec 68: Last supersonic flight. 4 Feb 69: Ferried to the Air Force Museum, Patterson Field, Wright-Patterson AFB, OH.

11 May 64: Rolled out at Palmdale, CA, factory. 21 Sep 64: First flight; flew to Edwards AFB, CA; assigned to NASA's Dryden Flight Research Center. From there test pilots from NASA and the USAF flew the plane during its test program. 14 Oct 65: First Mach 3 flight. 17 Dec 68: Last supersonic flight. 4 Feb 69: Ferried to the Air Force Museum, Patterson Field, Wright-Patterson AFB, OH.

Preserved at the museum from 1969. Later moved inside the Research and Development Gallery.

On display in the Research and Development Gallery at the National Museum of the U.S. Air Force. Dwarfing the SR-71, this exotic Valkyrie was intended to be a Mach 3 nuclear bomber. A sharp-edged splitter plate of the wedge-fronted intake reduced airflow to Mach 1.3, the design helping the XB-70 to surf on its shockwave. The wingtips folded downward on the AV-1 at 25 and 65 deg. at supersonic speeds to add to stability, also adding to lift. It had a retractable visor, delta canards and all-moving vertical stabilizers. Power was from six YJ93-GE-3 turbojets using JP-6 fuel.

The first of two prototype Mach Three bombers. First flown 21.09.64. Max weight 542,000 lbs. Reached 77,000 feet. Retired 04.02.69 and flown to W-P AFB. Now exhibited indoors. The second example was lost in a mid-air collision.

The proposed fleet of B-70 deep penetration nuclear bombers was cancelled in 1961 due to high costs and the introduction of ICBMs, but two prototypes of this awesome six-engined Mach 3 beauty were used in supersonic test flights from 1964 to 1969. One crashed following a midair collision with an F-104 while filming in 1966, the other became an outstanding exhibit at the USAFM, arriving on 4.2.69. One of the most memorable sights of my first visit to the USA