North American Aviation's XB-70A

 
 

 

 

 

One of the world's most beautiful aircraft, the XB-70A.  This is air vehicle number 1 in flight during the mid-1960s.  USAF photo.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Very large.  XB-70A air vehicle number 2, at rollout from NAA's Palmdale CA plant.  Spring 1965.  USAF photo.

 

 

 

 

     

 

 

 

Ill-fated GE photo op with XB-70A air vehicle number 2, and F-104 (red tail).  Over the Mojave June 8, 1966.  USAF photo.

 

 

 

 

 

     

 

 

Moments after F-104 struck tail of XB-70A A/V 2.  F-104 in flames.  Note damage to right and near complete destruction of left vertical stabilizers on XB-70A.  XB-70A stayed straight and level for 16 seconds before losing control.  USAF photo.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

XB-70A A/V 2 final resting place in remote section of the Mojave desert.  June 8, 1966.  USAF photo.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 


 

 

 

 

Crash site visit in 2008

 

 

 

 

On the way to the A/V 2 crash site.  December 2008.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

View of A/V 2 crash site in 2008.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Memorial for XB-70A co-pilot Major Carl Cross.  December 2008.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

XB-70A A/V 2 artifacts recovered December 2008.  Note part numbers on clamp, and 'honeycomb' patterning on main (wing) fragment, peculiar to the XB-70A build.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Sole surviving example.  XB-70A air vehicle number 1, on display at US Air Force Museum near Dayton, Ohio.  December 2008.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

  For more information on this remarkable aircraft click here.  

 

 

 


 

© Herb Yeates 2009

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