[A.A. Cunningham]

That's a TB-58 flying chase, not a fighter.

This photo shows XB-70A #1 taking off on a research flight, escorted by a TB-58 chase plane. The TB-58 (a prototype B-58 modified as a trainer) had a dash speed of Mach 2. This allowed it to stay close to the XB-70 as it conducted its research maneuvers. When the XB-70 was flying at or near Mach 3, the slower TB-58 could often keep up with it by flying lower and cutting inside the turns in the XB-70's flight path when these occurred.

[exit82]

You beat me by like nine seconds. Thanks for posting the photo with the caption. I’m not skilled in doing that.

I used to love the B-58 Hustler. One of my favorite models as a kid.

[Hillarys Gate Cult]

For those who wonder what's wrong with the paint on the XB-70 the answer is simple. It burned off on an earlier flight.

The B-58 was the fastest plane we had at the time. It held many world speed records until the SR-71 came along. The records were set by pilot Henry John Deutschendorf Sr. Many will recognize his son, Henry John Deutschendorf Jr. who sang under the name John Denver.

[Lexinom]

Ah, so that IS a Hustler accompanying the XB-70!

[Lexinom]

Oh, and to paraphrase Michelle Obama, seeing pictures like that makes me really proud to be an American! ;-)