Re: XB-70 and YF-12A at Edwards


Message posted by Peter Merlin on January 21, 2012 at 12:57:16 PST:

Changing political climates and budgetary considerations led to termination of B-70 production plans. It was eventually reduced to a two-vehicle test program. The second XB-70 airframe had better performance capabilities than the first. Parts for a third airframe were manufactured, but eventually ended up in a scrap yard.

The Air Force and NASA conducted 129 test flights with the two aircraft. AV-1 made 83 flights, logging only two minutes at Mach 3 speeds. AV-2 made 46 flights and logged one hour and 46 minutes of flight time at or above Mach 3.

The fastest flight took place on 12 April 1966 and included 20 minutes of Mach 3 cruise at 70,000 feet. The maximum speed achieved was Mach 3.08 (2,025 mph). The highest XB-70 flight, on 19 March 1966, reached a maximum altitude of 74,000 feet.


In Reply to: Re: XB-70 and YF-12A at Edwards posted by RickB on January 21, 2012 at 8:56:25 PST:

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