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

[mustangdriver]

You are correct. There were only two built and after the mid-air the only remaining one went to the NMSUAF. It looks like something out of starwars.

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.

[lmritger]

**swoons**

What a tremendous series of pics... one of the most amazing static lineups I have ever seen in photos. Thanks SO much for posting these- between these pics and the simply GORGEOUS B-58 prototype photos earlier this week, I've been getting a serious AF buzz lately!

Lynn

[B-29 Super Fort]

Amazing photos. Love the B-58 photos also.

[T33driver]

Great shots! That shot of the row of century series tail feathers reminds me of all the models I built as a kid. Awesome!

[Beachy]

This may seem like a stupid observation, but everyone appears to be dressed so nicely for an airshow! Very unlike some of the sights I've seen at shows in the past few years!

[Karpis]

Great photos!! I remember my dad had some shots of the 70 from the day she landed at WPAFB to be retired to the museum. Unfortunately he passed away in 1992 and I haven't been able to locate them. Maybe one day I'll finally find their hiding place!

[b29flteng]

Boy, does that bring back memories! We need more photos from years past to be posted.

[Warbird Mechanic]

Those photos are really cool. They actually built three XB-70 prototypes but Defense Secretary "Mack the Knife" MacNamara cancelled the program before the third plane was completed. The third plane was to have a revised cockpit for 4 crewmen according to the book XB-70 Valkyrie: The Ride to Valhalla by authors Jeannette Remak and Joe Ventolo Jr. Last I heard assemblies of the third plane were placed in storage somewhere. These photos of the 2nd XB-70 clearly show the increased dihedral on the wingtips that the number one prototype does not have.

Those photos of the Thunderbirds flying F-4 Phantom II's is way cool. I can only imagine what those more powerful J-79 engines sounded like back then. They later revised the J-79's so they would not leave a smoke trail behind, but this came at a price of less powerful engines.

Jim

[RickH]

Hmmm, never heard that the later smokeless J-79s had less power. The -17s run a higher EGT at the expense of slightly less engine life. But as far as I know they all put out the same thrust.

We run the -15Es, which are considered semi smokeless, I've been told they are souped up models. No one has ever told me what is different from the -15s and 15As.

[Warbird Mechanic]

The power difference between the two J-79's was only minor. It was mostly attributed to when the Air Force converted the F-4's to running on JP-9 synthetic fuel, which is mainly comprised of chemicals, over the original JP-4 fuel that the earlier F-4 engines ran on back in the late 1960's, early '70's.

Jim

[RickH]

JP-9 ? My understanding is that this synthetic fuel was used primarily in cruise missiles but has been replaced with JP-10

We currently run JP-8 because that's what is readily available.

JP-4 was more volatile as it contained a high percentage of Avgas. It might cause any jet engine to run a little stronger due to increased BTU output but the fuel controllers are set for fuels with different specific gravity so it is probably a moot point.

Definition : JP-4, or JP4 (for "Jet Propellant") was a jet fuel, specified in 1951 by the U.S. government (MIL-J-5624E). It was a 50-50 kerosene-gasoline blend. It has lower flash point than JP-1, but was preferred because of its better availability. It was the primary U.S. Air Force jet fuel between 1951 and 1995. Its NATO code is F-40. It is also known as avtag.

JP-8 definition : JP-8, or JP8 (for "Jet Propellant") is a jet fuel, specified in 1990 by the U.S. government. It is kerosene-based. It is a replacement for the JP-4 fuel; the U.S. Air Force replaced JP-4 with JP-8 completely by the fall of 1996, in order to use less flammable, less hazardous fuel for better safety and combat survivability. U.S. Navy uses a similar formula to JP-8, JP-5. JP-8 is projected to remain in use at least until 2025. It was first introduced at NATO bases in 1978. Its NATO code is F-34. It is specified by MIL-DTL-83133 and British Defence Standard 91-87.

The Navy went to JP-5 because it was less flammable. It is primarily used on carriers.

[bipe215]

Those aren't F-4's. They are F-100's. The Tbirds didn't switch to
F-4's until 1969.

Steve G

[Ztex]

Those photos of the Thunderbirds flying F-4 Phantom II's is way cool.

These are F-100's !

[Warbird Mechanic]

Yor're right, those are definitely F-100 Super Sabres now that I see them better in a close up shot. My bad! From a distance they looked like F-4's to me.

They did run JP-9 in the F-4's during Desert Storm. A buddy of mine was a crew chief on them in Saudi Arabia and the fumes from that fuel would sometimes make him sick to his stomach when he had to service the engines. Its nasty stuff from what I have heard. He said even the B-52's ran on JP-9. Its true, cruise missiles run on the JP-10 fuel.

Jim

[mjanovec]

Anyone recall who were in the cockpit of the XB-70 on this day?