The amazing and cool photo thread
- Thread starter UnoMOTO
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- Maldives
- zedextreme8177
Regarding the Valkyrie:
And those contrail pics
And those contrail pics
- 2,359
- Rossell2
Saw the Valkyrie and wondered if it was the same one I was thinking in seeing in a documentary a while back. It was, and I remember it purely for a horrible accident that befell it:
And the Wiki article on the incident:
Mid-air collision
On 8 June 1966, XB-70A No. 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. After the completion of the photoshoot, the F-104 drifted into contact with the XB-70's right wing, flipped over and rolled inverted over the top of the Valkyrie, striking the vertical stabilizers and left wing of the bomber. The F-104 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. Al White (XB-70 pilot) ejected, sustaining serious injuries, including one arm crushed by the closing clamshell-like escape capsule moments prior to ejection.[101]
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 said that Walker, piloting the F-104, likely maintained his position by looking at the fuselage of the XB-70, forward of his position. The F-104 was estimated to be 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.[91][102] The accident investigation also pointed to the wake vortex off the XB-70's right wingtip as the reason for the F-104's sudden roll over and into the bomber.
And the Wiki article on the incident:
Mid-air collision
On 8 June 1966, XB-70A No. 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. After the completion of the photoshoot, the F-104 drifted into contact with the XB-70's right wing, flipped over and rolled inverted over the top of the Valkyrie, striking the vertical stabilizers and left wing of the bomber. The F-104 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. Al White (XB-70 pilot) ejected, sustaining serious injuries, including one arm crushed by the closing clamshell-like escape capsule moments prior to ejection.[101]
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 said that Walker, piloting the F-104, likely maintained his position by looking at the fuselage of the XB-70, forward of his position. The F-104 was estimated to be 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.[91][102] The accident investigation also pointed to the wake vortex off the XB-70's right wingtip as the reason for the F-104's sudden roll over and into the bomber.
- 2,436
- Atlanta
- atomicjellyfish
Most likely with a very big ladder that let them in through a door on the side.
My guess is they had the nozzle opened up for maintenance judging by what's going on there.
The only XB70 left in the world is on display at Wright Patterson AFB in Ohio. I went there many years ago and was completely blown away by how big that thing is. Every time I see a photo I remember standing underneath the wing and feeling the neck cramps from looking up so much. Still one of the greatest experiences of my life 👍
If anyone is ever near Dayton, Ohio you will want to visit the air museum there.
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- zedextreme8177
^ That's just the 4th engine nozzle being wide open compared to the others. I believe it's for maintenance or testing.
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- atomicjellyfish
Believe it or not, this guy survived.
Keef
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- GTP_KeefRacer
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It's actually a bit bigger than the B-52, though it's limited to taking off at over 70,000 pounds lighter. We've got one of each here at the Air Force Museum.
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- atomicjellyfish
Small image warning 
The number of things that can go wrong here is immense.
The number of things that can go wrong here is immense.
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- Ilikewaffles_11
^ That's awesome!
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- Ultimetal
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- AnotherStory
Maybe posted before but it`s new for me:
That`s what I call a cool table.
That`s what I call a cool table.
RocZX
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- atomicjellyfish
I don't always consider a career change when I look at pictures, but when I do, these are the ones responsible...
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- NotThePrez
- NotThePrez
