Xtreme Bombers: YB-49 Flying Wing XB-70A Valkyrie DVD covers the Northrop YB-49 "Flying Wing" and the North American XB-70A "Valkyrie" with four films and two flight manuals on DVD. These two bombers were outside the usual style of aircraft of this era. The YB-49 was literally a flying wing without a tail. The XB-70A was a very futuristic-looking aircraft.
Film #1 - Initial Flight of the YB-49 (1948, B&W, 5:15) This film shows the first test flights of the YB-49 Flying Wing at Northrop' s Hawthorne, California facility. The YB-49 was a redesign of the propeller driven B-35, upgraded with six GE Allison jet engines and various structural design improvements. The revolutionary design and almost other worldly, alien spacecraft-like lines of the jet powered Wing are highlighted in this very clean black and white footage. This aircraft is revealingly shown at all angles, including up close on the ground and in flight.
Film #2 - The Story of the Flying Wing (1949, Color, 24:00) It may be hard to believe today, but Flying Wing's innovative design was often used against it by detractors from competing aircraft companies ("An airplane that doesn't have a tail??!!") So, Northrop Aircraft produced this information film to extol the Wings virtues and answer her critics. The result is a film that gives a compelling overview of the principles of advantages of the Wing design, delivered by Northrop's Director of Engineering, Harrison F. Burke. You'll see color film of the jet powered Wing in operation, supplemented by an extensive use of instructive animations.
Film #3 - XB-70 Valkyrie Flight Test Program (1966, Color, 13:00) This film, produced by North American Aviation, gives a concise overview of the early phases of the XB-70A aircraft design, construction, development and testing in 1964. You'll see Phase one & two flight tests and "proof loading" structural tests. The use and testing of "folded wing tips" and retraction of the "windshield ramp"in supersonic flight is shown in detail along with the innovative air induction system. On 14 October 1965, the Valkyrie broke the Mach 3 barrier. The extensive use of flight test instrumentation in the program is also discussed.
Film #4 - XB-70A Valkyrie: Phase One Flight Testing (1966, Color, 26:00) The critical first four flight tests of the XB-70A over 34 days at Edwards AFB are shown in detail culminating in the aircraft's first supersonic flight (with an B-58 Hustler chase plane!). As might be expected, these early f lights included some dramatic moments, including an in flight engine flame out and one of the landing gear bursting into flames during touch down. But, as mission chief test pilot Col Al White says, "if there were no problems during testing, you wouldn't need test pilots or test flights." You'll see the unflappable Col White and copilot Col Joe Cotton work the sleek Valkyrie through a series of critical tests, including landing gear, flaps, flight controls, advanced hydraulic systems, first deployment of the folding wing tips and more. A highlight of the film is a press conference/debriefing by the XB-70 test flight team.
Flight Handbook for the Northrop YB-49 Airplane (77 pages) See detailed operating instructions, copious illustrations, cockpit photos, systems diagrams, flight characteristics, emergency procedures and much more in .pdf file format. North American XB-70A "Valkyrie" Flight Manual (380 pages ) See XB70A operating instructions, cockpit photos, systems diagrams, flight characteristics, emergency procedures, performance charts and more in Adobe Acrobat .pdf file format. Pilot's manual viewable on computer DVD player.
The DVD is in NTSC format and region-free. Total runtime is about 69 minutes. THe DVD is packaged in a plain clear plastic C-Shell DVD case without paper graphics.
