Message posted by RickB on January 19, 2012 at 19:16:39 PST:
I just found a historically fascinating book called "Edwards AFB: Open House at the USAF Flight Test Center 1957-1966". This is a large 232 page, color photo essay documentary reference book (photographed by one man!!) of each Edwards Open House during that ten year period, and appears to have at least one photograph of every jet, airplane and aircraft that participated and/or was displayed at each show. Incredible! Of particular note is the chapter on the 1966 Edwards Open House. Both the XB-70 (aircraft no. 2) and a YF-12A (aircraft no. 1) were participants at this show, each doing a flight demonstration. The XB-70 did a supersonic fly-by with sonic boom over the base, while the YF-12A's performance was "more restrained". YF-12A aircraft no. 2 also did a fly-by. This is the first and only time that two Mach 3 aircraft participated in a show before the public. Although designed to do so, I did not know that the XB-70 had actually been tested and flown at Mach 3 speed! XB-70 (aircraft no. 1) famously crashed in June 1966, one week after this Open House.
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