The XB-70 Valkyrie, a US Air Force aircraft that reached speeds of 3,218 km/h, served as the inspiration for later civil supersonic aircraft like Concorde and Tupolev Tu-144. This experimental aircraft first took flight in September 1964, marking the beginning of the golden era for supersonic aircraft.
The XB-70 Valkyrie was born out of a competition between Boeing and North American Aviation, with the US Air Force ultimately selecting Boeing to develop a bomber capable of carrying weapons at high speeds and altitudes. However, political changes and the emergence of ballistic missiles led to a shift in the program towards high-speed flight research.
The aircraft’s unique design, featuring triangular wings and folding wingtips for reducing drag at supersonic speeds, had a significant impact on future supersonic passenger planes like Concorde and Tupolev Tu-144. Despite its advanced design and potential for a passenger transport version, the XB-70 program was cut short by a tragic accident in 1966 when two Valkyrie aircraft collided during a photo shoot, resulting in fatalities and the early end of its operational life.
Nevertheless, the legacy of the XB-70 Valkyrie lives on in the advancements it brought to supersonic flight technology and the inspiration it provided for future aircraft designs.