Overview
During the 1950s, at the time Elvis Presley was rocking the world with Hound Dog and the USA was aiming to become the world's only superpower, plans were being drawn at North American Aviation in Southern California for an incredible Mach-3 strategic bomber. The concept was born as a result of General Curtis LeMay's desire for a heavy bomber with the weapon load and range of the subsonic B-52 and a top speed in excess of the supersonic medium bomber, the B-58 Hustler. If LeMay's plans came to fruition there would be 250 Valkyries in the air; it would be the pinnacle of his quest for the ultimate strategic bomber operated by America's Strategic Air Command. The design was a leap into the future that pushed the envelope in terms of exotic materials, avionics and power plants. However, in April 1961, Defence Secretary McNamara stopped the production go-ahead for the B-70 on grounds of rapid cost escalation and the USSR's new-found ability of destroying aircraft at extremely high altitude by either missiles or the new Mig-25 fighter. Nevertheless, in1963 plans for the production of three high-speed research aircraft were approved and construction proceeded. In September 1964 the first Valkyrie, now re-coded A/V-1 took to the air for the first time and in October went supersonic. This book is the most detailed description of the design, engineering and research that went into this astounding aircraft. It is full of unpublished details, photographs and first-hand accounts from those closely associated with the project. Although never put into full production, this giant six-engine aircraft became famous for its breakthrough technology, and the spectacular images captured on a fatal air-to-air photo shoot when an observing Starfighter collided with Valkyrie A/V-2 which crashed into the Mojave Desert. The loss of the $750 million aircraft and two lives stopped future development, although there were several attempts to redesign it as an airliner to compete against the European Concorde. AUTHOR: Graham Simons is a highly respected aviation historian and author. He as many contacts within the aviation industry which has resulted into him accessing the many previously unpublished photographs within this book. He lives near Peterborough. 170 illustrations
Full Product Details
Author: Graham M. Simons
Publisher: Pen & Sword Books Ltd
Imprint: Pen & Sword Aviation
Dimensions:
Width: 15.60cm
, Height: 1.80cm
, Length: 23.40cm
Weight: 0.544kg
ISBN: 9781473822856
ISBN 10: 1473822858
Pages: 256
Publication Date: 15 May 2014
Audience:
General/trade
,
General
Format: Paperback
Publisher's Status: Active
Availability: In Print
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Reviews
"""Graham Simons' latest entry covers the exciting development and test history of this important aeronautical masterpiece in fine detail.""-- ""Flight Line Book Review"""
""Graham Simons' latest entry covers the exciting development and test history of this important aeronautical masterpiece in fine detail.""-- ""Flight Line Book Review""
Graham Simons' latest entry covers the exciting development and test history of this important aeronautical masterpiece in fine detail. -- Flight Line Book Review
Author Information
Graham Simons is a highly respected aviation historian and author. He has penned a host of Pen and Sword titles focussing on aviation themes, including; London's Airports: Useful information on Heathrow, Gatwick, Luton, Stansted and City (2011), Mosquito: The Original Multi-Role Combat Aircraft (2011); B-29: Superfortress: Giant Bomber of World War 2 and Korea (2012) and Northrop Flying Wings (2013). He lives near Peterborough.
