XB-70 Valkyrie Mid-air collision June 8, 1966

On 8 June 1966, XB-70A #2 was in close formation with four other aircraft (an F-4, F-5, T-38, and F-104) for a photoshoot at the behest of General Electric, manufacturer of the engines of all five aircraft. With the photoshoot complete, the F-104 drifted into contact with the XB-70's right wing, flipped over, and rolling inverted, passed over the top of the Valkyrie, struck the vertical stabilizers and left wing and exploded, destroying the Valkyrie's rudders and damaging its left wing. With the loss of both rudders and damage to the wings, the Valkyrie entered an uncontrollable spin and crashed into the ground north of Barstow, California. NASA Chief Test Pilot Joe Walker (F-104 pilot) and Carl Cross (XB-70 co-pilot) were killed, while Al White (XB-70 pilot) ejected, sustaining serious injuries, including one arm being crushed as it was caught in the clamshell-like escape capsule as it closed around him just before ejection from the aircraft.

The USAF summary report of the accident investigation stated that, given the position of the F-104 relative to the XB-70, the F-104 pilot would not have been able to see the XB-70's wing, except by uncomfortably looking back over his left shoulder. The report concluded that Walker, piloting the F-104, likely maintained his position by looking at the fuselage of the XB-70, forward of his position. The report estimated that the F-104 was 70 ft (21 m) to the side of, and 10 ft (3 m) below, the fuselage of the XB-70. The report concluded that from that position, without appropriate sight cues, Walker was unable to properly perceive his motion relative to the Valkyrie, leading to his aircraft drifting into contact with the XB-70's wing. The accident investigation also pointed to the wake vortex off the XB-70's wingtips as the reason for the F-104's sudden roll over and into the bomber.

Category:

Education

Tags:

• XB-70
• Valkyrie
• Mid-air
• collision
• June
• 1966
• California
• science

[Hotshotowen]

Such a great aircraft. Shame there's only one left now.

[murphytime]

@Hotshotowen Right? Such a crazy tragedy. Looks like something out of the sci-fi show Thunderbirds.

[AVMamfortas]

A tragedy. Flying and testing new aircraft is a dangerous business. These are brave men. They deserve our sympathy and thanks.

[sdietri22]

The photos were shot from Frank Sinatra's Lear Jet.



[Aturayd]

@ThatAdelaideGuy no he mentioned the pilots' widows. He was talking about the B-70 platform.

[gamerbwoi]

@Eagle1Division2 You wot? The valkyrie couldnt fly at 90,000 feet.. its capabilites were averaging 75.. And as for mach 3, were talking an hour max!

The Xb-70 was a trollop of a plane, that would have flown for 5 maybe ten years before it was scrapped..

And the B1 tactically outclassed the Valkyrie, the xb70 could only fly 3.5k miles, B1 gets to 6k..

And thats flying at mach 1.2 all the way.. Wake up David son'!

Give or take 50k pounds, both planes carry the same weight...

[gigaboat]

it looks like a copy of russian jet . i know its not . it just looks that bad ..

[Eagle1Division2]

@TheDavidsimo Hmm. Good case. Great case. But the B1B Doesn't cruise at 90,000 feet at mach 3 :P

[TheDavidsimo]

@Eagle1Division2 What about the B1B Lancer.?

[Eagle1Division2]

0:19

OF IT'S TIME!?

NO!

The most impressive bomber EVER!

Maybe even most impressive aircraft. Tight competition with the SR-71. But the SR-71 wasn't a bomber.

[ThatAdelaideGuy]

"Cost flight research the use of an invaluable tool" I assume he's talking about the two dead test pilots?

[442hoeky]

@BuildYourMind Apology accepted.

[442hoeky]

@BuildYourMind Muppet? lol Anyway, obviously they weren't exact copies, but when you decide you want to build a Mach 2 plus aircraft of this size, you first look to see if anyone else has done it successfully. The Concorde and Tu-144 were under development at the same time (although the Tu flew sooner). I don't think it's pure coincidence that both aircraft have a strong resemblance to the XB-70 and each other. You can save the derogatory comments.