The Valkyrie

Think it could ever come back? It was a quite valid foray into High Speed flight at high altitudes, but...well, what do ya think?

Nope. The B-1B took its place. It was a beautiful bird but I don't see it ever coming back again.

It was a great concept, one that could have gone places...if it didn't die so fast.

No, it was not stealthy it was fast but not stealthy, we already have stealth bombers and probably hypersonic ones so I don't see a need for the Valkyrie. It was one of the most futuristic planes of its time though.

Originally posted by AtomicGarden
Think it could ever come back?

- Naa, much as I myself think it was an amazing piece of kit ahead of its time, that time has definetly come and gone.

It's late 1950's - early 1960's tech, 40 - 50yrs ago/old now (wow, eh?!).

There's no way anyone would just re-do what they did back then, they'd want to put all that has been learned since into it = a total redesign, new materials, engines, computer flight controls etc etc.

Basically a brand new plane (which by the time they'd finished would probably have very little recognisable XB70 left in it).

Just be glad they were never needed and didn't really 'happen'; there's atmospheric research that says large fleets of high speed high altitude aircraft is something the earth could really do without.