RON DUPAS COLLECTION No. 717. North American NA-278 XB-70A Valkyrie (62-0001 c/n 278-1) US Air Force
Photographed at the AF Museum, Wright-Patterson AFB, Dayton, Ohio, USA, 1970, by Ron Dupas
Remarks by Jack McKillop:
"This XB-70A-1-NA, the first of two XB-70As, was built as a
research aircraft for the advanced study of aerodynamics, propulsion
and other matters. It rolled off the assembly line on May 11, 1964 and
made its first flight on September 21, 1964. On October 14, 1965, the
aircraft achieved its design goals of flying at Mach 3.0 at 70,000
feet (21,336 meters).
Testing continued through 1968 and the aircraft was transferred to
the AF Museum on February 4, 1969."
