XB-70 Valkyrie: 8 Defining Moments of Cold War Innovation

The XB-70 Valkyrie wasn’t just an aircraft—it was a declaration of Cold War audacity. Capable of Mach 3 and cruising at 70,000 feet, it promised to make Soviet defenses obsolete. But the dream of this supersonic marvel died before it could truly take flight.

Eight pivotal moments defined its rise and fall. Each tells a story of ambition, triumph, and heartbreak that shaped aviation history forever.

1. The Birth of a Supersonic Concept

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Image Credit: James St. John, CC BY 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons

In the late 1950s, the U.S. Air Force sought a bomber capable of flying faster and higher than the B-52 Stratofortress. North American Aviation answered the call with a design that would push the boundaries of aerospace engineering.

The concept promised a bomber that could “ride” on its own shock wave, (ref) effectively surfing at Mach 3.

2. Naming the Beast

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Image Credit: Andreas Stroh/Shutterstock

The moniker “Valkyrie” wasn’t just pulled out of thin air. In early 1958, the Air Force held a “Name the B-70” contest that garnered 20,000 entries. The winning submission, invoking the spirit of Norse mythology’s warrior maidens, perfectly captured the aircraft’s formidable presence and potential.

3. Rolling Out the First Prototype

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Image Credit: Andreas Stroh/Shutterstock

On May 11, 1964, the first XB-70 prototype (AV-1) was unveiled to the public at North American’s Palmdale facility. The sight of this gleaming, 185-foot-long behemoth with its distinctive delta wing design left onlookers in awe.

Its graceful lines belied the raw power of its six turbojet engines, each nestled in an air intake large enough for a person to stand in.

4. Maiden Flight Takes to the Skies

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Image Credit: Andreas Stroh/Shutterstock

At 8:24 AM on September 21, 1964, the XB-70 lifted off for its first flight. Piloted by Al White and Colonel Joseph Cotton, the 387,620-pound aircraft soared into the blue skies above the Mojave Desert, marking the beginning of a new era in aviation history. 

5. Breaking the Sound Barrier

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Image Credit: Wikimedia Commons

The Valkyrie first went supersonic on its third test flight on October 12, 1964, reaching Mach 1.1. This milestone demonstrated the aircraft’s potential, but it was just the beginning.

The XB-70 would continue to push the envelope, inching closer to its design speed with each successive flight.

6. Achieving Mach 3

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Image Credit: Clemens Vasters from Viersen, Germany, CC BY 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons

On October 14, 1965, the XB-70 finally reached its design speed, hitting Mach 3.02 at 70,000 feet. This achievement validated the concept behind the Valkyrie’s unique design and showcased its potential as a high-speed, high-altitude bomber.

However, the journey to this point had not been without its challenges.

7. Tragedy Strikes

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Image Credit: Andreas Stroh/Shutterstock

June 8, 1966, marked a dark day for the XB-70 program. During a formation flight for a publicity photo shoot, the second prototype (AV-2) collided with an F-104N Starfighter. The crash resulted in the loss of both aircraft and key personnel, dealing a severe blow to the program’s future prospects.

8. Final Flight & Retirement

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Image Credit: James St. John, CC BY 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons

On February 4, 1969, the remaining XB-70 made its final flight to Wright-Patterson Air Force Base in Ohio. This 20-minute journey marked the end of the Valkyrie’s flying career.

Today, this sole surviving prototype stands as a testament to American aerospace innovation at the National Museum of the United States Air Force, (ref) a silent sentinel of a bygone era of aviation ambition.

Nancy Maffia » nancy
Nancy Maffia
Author & Editor | + posts

Nancy received a bachelor’s in biology from Elmira College and a master’s degree in horticulture and communications from the University of Kentucky. Worked in plant taxonomy at the University of Florida and the L. H. Bailey Hortorium at Cornell University, and wrote and edited gardening books at Rodale Press in Emmaus, PA. Her interests are plant identification, gardening, hiking, and reading.