[July 4th]

If you really want to let a country know that we're coming...

[P8riot]

My father flew chase on some of those test flights

[exit82]

Is that the XB-70 Valkrie?

We used to dream of what future aircraft could look like and be like in the late 60s.

After the Boeing 747, everything just stopped as far as design development, except for the Stealth programs.

From 1945 to 1970 aircraft design and development was at warp speed.
After that, poof!

Having loved 2001: A Space Odyssey, including the Mad Magazine version, it has been a disappointing 38 years since the 1970 unveiling of the 747. We got the Space Shuttle, one of the most ugly air/space craft ever devised.

[2ndDivisionVet]

Isn’t the fighter in the background similar to what President Bush flew in the TXANG?

[VOA]

“If you really want to let a country know that we’re coming...”

Just don’t let any of our smaller jets fly close to it.

I.e.,”Midair Disaster” at
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/XB-70_Valkyrie

[VOA]

Thanks for prompting me to do a little hunting for XB-70 info.

Even if it’s from Wikipedia, I do like the first photo they have of
the XB-70 flying over rocky mountains...looks like a futuristic
spaceship cruising some desolate, rocky moon.

Here’s a link to the full resolution version of the photo
(WARNING: pretty big image for dial-up users!)
http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/7/7c/North_American_XB-70_in_Flight_EC68-2131.jpg

[ProtectOurFreedom]

What’s that beast? A Concord derivative bomber?

[endthematrix]

"If you really want to let a country know that we're coming... "

Leave that to the President. Since the USA's job of late is just enforcing UN resolutions, we announce our plans ahead of time.

[Lexinom]

Unless I'm mistaken, that silver bird in the distance is a B-58 Hustler - one of the meanest bombers we've ever fielded.

I built a 1/48 scale of one, complete with airbrushed natural metal finish, for my son a couple of months ago. Marvelous airplane.