North American XB-70 Valkyrie - X-Planes
North American XB-70 Valkyrie - X-Planes
paperback
Published:
9 March, 2018
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Description
Of the many futuristic military aircraft concepts created in the 1950s the North American XB-70 still stands out as the most awe-inspiring. With its huge, white partially-folding delta wing, its fuselage resembling a striking cobra and its extraordinary performance, it was one of the foremost technological achievements of the 20th Century.
A strategic bomber built to outrun any Soviet fighter jet, it could reach Mach 3 with a full nuclear payload - as fast as the legendary SR-71 Blackbird but more than three times the size. However, its role as a nuclear bomber was limited after the introduction of Intercontinental Ballistic Missiles, and defence cuts eventually led to the project being scrapped in the mid-1960s.
The Valkyrie had a brief, costly decade of life but it proved the continuing value of developing manned bombers. However, almost half a century after the XB-70 its predecessor, the B-52, continues in service. Using full colour artwork and rigorous analysis, this is the complete story of the ultimate US Cold War military X-plane.
More Details
| Type | Book |
|---|---|
| ISBN13 | 9781472825032 |
| ISBN10 | 1472825039 |
| Number Of Pages | 80 |
| Item Weight | 280 g |
| Product Dimensions | 184 x 246 x 8 mm |
| Publisher / Reseller | Bloomsbury Publishing PLC |
| Format | paperback |
Media Reviews
Peter E. Davies provides a good introduction to the North American XB-70 Valkyrie with an easy to read style. I especially appreciated his use of first person accounts throughout the book as it puts the reader in the driver's seat. I ravaged the 80 pages in one night, staying up quite late. - IPMS / USA
GoodReads Reviews
Author's Bio
Peter E Davies is a specialist on Cold War American combat aircraft, having written or co-written more than 20 books on the subject, including the standard reference work on US Navy and Marine Corps Phantom II operations, Gray Ghosts. He is based in Bristol, UK.