Xb-70 visits Ft. Worth March 1966 plus Airshow pics

Ztex · **Posted:** Wed Apr 25, 2007 8:48 am

In March of 1966 it was decided that the XB-70 - AV/2 would be flown down to Carswell AFB in Ft. Worth, TX for the airshow there. It was to be the only airfield that Ship Two would fly to and return.

Looks like a great airshow!

Thanks to photographer John Williams for the use of his slides.
With permission.
Enjoy.

mustangdriver · **Posted:** Wed Apr 25, 2007 8:55 am

How cool is that.

vg-photo · **Posted:** Wed Apr 25, 2007 9:51 am

Very nice! Thanks for posting those. I always loved that bird.

K5DH · **Posted:** Wed Apr 25, 2007 9:52 am

Excellent set of photos, Zane! Thanks for posting them. The XB-70 was one of my "dream machines" as a boy. Its futuristic looks epitomized my view of the fast-changing aerospace industry in that era. A bonus in your photos is all of the great old cars! You know I'm a car guy!

I love that Champagne Gold '65 Mustang hardtop in one of the takeoff shots, and the red Corvette Sting Ray in the next shot!

Cheers!

Neal Nurmi · **Posted:** Wed Apr 25, 2007 11:10 am

Great stuff -- many thanks for those...

David_Aiken · **Joined:** Mon Jul 12, 2004 3:31 pm **Posts:** 403

Aloha All,
The Air Force Association anniversary air show at Carswell AFB was fantastic. I had little cash and just part of a roll of B&W film so I hitch-hiked to the show.

The USAF unbolted everything for that show...they had two of almost every aircraft type in their inventory.

The air show portion included a fly-by of the first of the same type plane with everytihing hanging...as slow as the plane could go...and as the plane was near the middle of its fly-by, another of the same type plane came from behind just under Mach 1.

F-86, F-89. F-94, F100, F-101, F102, F-104, F-106...

The U-2 flew real slow then in mid-runway, up came the plane into vertical flight and continued straight up and continued until I could no longer see it.

The YF-12 had its canopy open and a guy in the cockpit telling each of us..."no photos"... I obeyed.

The B-57F had all its sensitive stuff removed from the cockpit...

Thunderbirds were flying F-100s.

The line was too long to see inside the YB-70 and I appreciate seeing the post air show take-off...I had to hitch-hike back home so left the show 'before it was time'...sigh.

What a sun burn...

Six months later, I was manning the line as a new Airman 3rd Class at my USAF base air show. After the Thunderbirds flew, and after the show, I used my uniform as 'pass' to speak with the official Thunderbird photographer...he replied to me that they almost lost their 'slot' F-100 on the initial take-off at Carswell.

The trick was the initial three raise their gear and get in the diamond formation immediately on raising their gear...which gives the 'slot' F-100 enough time to move past the tail of the #3 plane and get into position, THEN raise his gear.

On THAT day, the slot plane hit his tail on the runway getting into position!

The photographer gave me some 8x10 glossys...and pointed out the "good formation" position marks in the photos. The F-100 had some stripes on the wing tips which, in a good formation, was to line up with the lead plane's wing tips.

Later, I saw the Blue Angels fly..and quickly noted that the BAs fly MUCH closer than the F-100 Thunderbirds!

Thanks for the March 1966 memory!
Cheers,
David Aiken

Kdmoo · **Posted:** Wed Apr 25, 2007 12:13 pm

Your pics just made my day. Thanks for posting!

Kevin

Ztex · **Posted:** Wed Apr 25, 2007 12:20 pm

Thanks all...Mr Williams was very kind in letting me post these..I was very excited to get them.

David...you want more of the show?

Early F-111 Pre-production model!

Look at this lineup!

These are the only T-Birds shots he had...

and the U-2 flight..

How about something fast and sexy!?

David_Aiken · **Joined:** Mon Jul 12, 2004 3:31 pm **Posts:** 403

Zane, You really know how to make my day!

Please give my greatest appreciation to your photo source!

Thank you sincerely,
David Aiken

CorsairFreak · **Posted:** Wed Apr 25, 2007 6:12 pm

Wow, great photos! I'm amazed that they let people right up to the U-2 and SR-71. :shock:

APG85 · **Posted:** Wed Apr 25, 2007 6:31 pm

An A-model C-141...wow!

TimAPNY · **Posted:** Wed Apr 25, 2007 6:55 pm

Those are some great shots, it was hard not to check out the cars besides the B-70 in the takeoff shots.

It is really sad that we'll never see an active fighter line up like that ever again. They made some really great shows when you could see a few generations of Fighters at a show (that was a bit before my time but i remember seeing a bit later line than that).

Tim

Misterg97 · **Posted:** Wed Apr 25, 2007 6:57 pm

If memory serves me right, only 2 XB-70's were built and one ended it a crash.

The remaining one is here in the Research & Development Gallery at the US Air Force Museum. Visitors can sign up and visit it along with the Presidential Aircraft when visiting the museum.

If your in the Dayton, OH area, the Museum is a must visit. Free Admittance and Free parking as well.

tom d. friedman · **Posted:** Wed Apr 25, 2007 7:18 pm

great pics!!! if my memory serves me correctly wasn't the significance of the xb 70's silver wheels due to it's being made of special material to counter the high heat ratio in landings????

David_Aiken · **Joined:** Mon Jul 12, 2004 3:31 pm **Posts:** 403

CorsairFreak wrote:

Wow, great photos! I'm amazed that they let people right up to the U-2 and SR-71. :shock:

Hi Corsair,
The SR-71 was not known yet...the plane in the photo was the YF-12, the FIGHTER version of the series.
HTH,
David Aiken

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Xb-70 visits Ft. Worth March 1966 plus Airshow pics

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