x-Planes XB-70 Valkyrie and Others

**Pedro_The_Swift** · 10th October 2009, 05:41 PM

From Brian,,,

"Quote--Google search "Convair B58 Hustler" for a myriad of sites, or go to Convair B58 Hustler

Briefly first flew 1956, in service 1960-70, top speed 2229 km/h, ceiling 18290 metres, never configured for conventional bombs only nuclear weapons. The weapons were carried in a detachable pod which could be configured in various arrangements of fuel and weapon. Four nuclear weapons could be carried on external pylons. end quote"

it appears the weapons were a bit longer lasting than the carrier---

From Wiki,,,

The B61 NUCLEAR BOMB, originally known (before 1968) as the TX-61, was designed in 1963. It was designed and built by the [ame="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Los_Alamos_National_Laboratory"]Los Alamos National Laboratory[/ame] in [ame="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/New_Mexico"]New Mexico[/ame]. It began from a program for a lightweight, streamlined weapon launched in 1961. Production engineering began in 1965, with full production beginning in 1968 following a series of development problems.
Total production of all versions was approximately 3,155, of which approximately 1,925 remain in service as of 2002, and some 1,265 are considered to be operational.[[ame="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wikipedia:Citation_needed"]citation needed[/ame]] The [ame="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Warhead"]warhead[/ame] has changed little over the years, although early versions have been upgraded to improve the safety features.[[ame="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wikipedia:Citation_needed"]citation needed[/ame]]
Nine versions (or 'Mods') of the B61 have been produced. Each shares the same '[ame="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Physics_package"]physics package[/ame],' with different [ame="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nuclear_weapon_yield"]yield[/ame] options.
The newest variant is the B61 Mod 11, deployed in 1997, which is a ground-penetrating [ame="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nuclear_bunker_buster"]bunker buster[/ame].
The B61 gravity bomb should not be confused with the MGM-1 Matador [ame="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cruise_missile"]cruise missile[/ame], which originally was developed under the bomber designation B-61.
When the B61 was still classified, aircrew were not allowed to use the term "B61". Instead, it was referred to as a "shape", "silver bullet", or even "external delivery".

**350RRC** · 10th October 2009, 08:10 PM

One of my favourite books on this topic is 'Skunkworks' by Ben Rich, who was an engineer at Lockheed. (Amazon have it).

Details the development of everything from the U2 to the B1 bomber, but the best stuff is about the SR 71 Blackbird.

The story I remember most is about the Blackbird based in Britain that flew through the Gibraltar Strait to do a normal recon flight over Libya.

On the way back both oil pressure lights came so they slowed down and decided to take a short cut across France. Almost instantly a Mirage came up right alongside and the pilot was talking on the radio and gesturing the yanks to land.

Instead they lit the afterburners and left the Mirage like it was standing still, then landed safely in Britain a few minutes later.

The Blackbird pilot asked his co-pilot what he said to the Mirage pilot on the radio............. answer was 'nothing, I just gave him the bird'.

cheers, DL

**Disco Mick** · 10th October 2009, 09:55 PM

Pretty cool

[ame="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1PmYItnlY5M"]YouTube - Ride on a U2 spy plane[/ame]

Cheers

Michael

**Sprint** · 11th October 2009, 02:03 AM

Originally Posted by 350RRC

One of my favourite books on this topic is 'Skunkworks' by Ben Rich, who was an engineer at Lockheed. (Amazon have it).

Details the development of everything from the U2 to the B1 bomber, but the best stuff is about the SR 71 Blackbird.

The story I remember most is about the Blackbird based in Britain that flew through the Gibraltar Strait to do a normal recon flight over Libya.

On the way back both oil pressure lights came so they slowed down and decided to take a short cut across France. Almost instantly a Mirage came up right alongside and the pilot was talking on the radio and gesturing the yanks to land.

Instead they lit the afterburners and left the Mirage like it was standing still, then landed safely in Britain a few minutes later.

The Blackbird pilot asked his co-pilot what he said to the Mirage pilot on the radio............. answer was 'nothing, I just gave him the bird'.

cheers, DL

IIRC it was a recon flight over lebanon, they shut down an engine, cut across france untill they were intercepted by a Mirage demanding thier military overflight clearance number.... pilot restarted the 2nd turbine, flipped froggie the bird and left him wondering what happened....

my favourite SR71 tale is this one though:
The King of Speed

http://www.pprune.org/military-aircr...ml#post3888441

**JDNSW** · 11th October 2009, 06:48 AM

Originally Posted by Sprint

........
my favourite SR71 tale is this one though:
The King of Speed
.....

Very good - a bit like the U-2 pilot asking for clearance for a power off emergency landing after losing power - when he was a couple of hundred miles from the airfield; I seem to remember it was somewhere in Japan.

John

**Bigbjorn** · 11th October 2009, 08:12 AM

Originally Posted by JDNSW

Very good - a bit like the U-2 pilot asking for clearance for a power off emergency landing after losing power - when he was a couple of hundred miles from the airfield; I seem to remember it was somewhere in Japan.

John

And the B52 pilot who requested priority in the landing queue because he had lost an engine. An F16 pilot butted in with "Ah, the dreaded seven engine approach'.

**HowardSmall** · 11th October 2009, 10:06 AM

Originally Posted by Disco Mick

Pretty cool

YouTube - Ride on a U2 spy plane

Cheers

Michael

Interesting that they have modified them since their original mission design which only allowed one crew member.

Howard

**Sprint** · 11th October 2009, 10:47 AM

Originally Posted by HowardSmall

Interesting that they have modified them since their original mission design which only allowed one crew member.

Howard

i think there were a couple of 2 seat trainers

**350RRC** · 11th October 2009, 07:39 PM

Originally Posted by Sprint

IIRC it was a recon flight over lebanon, they shut down an engine, cut across france untill they were intercepted by a Mirage demanding thier military overflight clearance number.... pilot restarted the 2nd turbine, flipped froggie the bird and left him wondering what happened....

my favourite SR71 tale is this one though:
The King of Speed

SR-71 Blackbird Tales. - Page 3 - PPRuNe Forums

Thanks, more than a decade since I read it (while skippering a yacht around the Whitsundays and AH drinking beer).

Main points are the same............ total US air supremacy, awesome machine, disdain for the french.

cheers, DL

**350RRC** · 11th October 2009, 07:49 PM

Anyone read 'Chickenhawk', about flying Hueys in Vietnam? Have read that more times than I'm prepared to admit.

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