| Designed
to replace the B-52, the USAF ordered 3 prototype Valkyries on October
4, 1961, although the third was never built. The first prototype of the
B-70 Valkyrie was flown on September 21, 1964, and first achieved its design
speed of Mach 3 on October 14, 1965. Tragically, on June 8 1966, the No
2 Valkyrie was operating a photo sortie for General Electric, when one
of the escort planes, an F-104, was caught in the XB-70's turbulent wake
and instantly flipped on its back, colliding with the Valkyrie, with both
planes crashing to earth. The No. 1 Valkyrie continued to carry out a number
of test programs, but on February 4, 1969 it was flown to retirement at
the U. S. Air Force Museum at Wright Patterson AFB in Dayton, Ohio. |
All airplane models are Hand Carved, Hand Painted
Mahogany and comes fully assembled with removable desk stand. |