Archived posting to the Leica Users Group, 2007/08/07
[Author Prev] [Author Next] [Thread Prev] [Thread Next] [Author Index] [Topic Index] [Home] [Search]On Tue, 07 Aug 2007 10:02:19 -0400, Lawrence Zeitlin _lrzeitlin@optonline.net_ (mailto:lrzeitlin@optonline.net) wrote: "After you get done Googling the D-21, look up the B-70 to see a really futuristic large airplane. Built largely of stainless steel, almost as long as a football field, and looking like something out of a science fiction movie, it could cruise at Mach 3 for 5000 miles. Aircraft aficionados call it the "most beautiful airplane ever made." I have a bit of nostalgia connected with the B-70. I designed the CCM system for it nearly 50 years ago. It was obsoleted, along with the B-58, by ICBMs. The only remaining B-70 is in the Airforce Museum at Wright-Dayton." Hi Larry, Thank you for the kind words. The XB-70A Valkyrie has always been a favorite of mine, ever since I saw films of it in its prime. There's still a voice in the back of my mind that says the real reason the program was canceled was that it couldn't survive a mid-air collision with an F-104! This picture was taken in May 1977, when it was displayed outside at the entrance to the Air Force Museum at Wright-Patt. It has since moved indoors, where it is not nearly as accessible for photographers. _http://gallery.leica-users.org/v/Ira+Silverman/Aircraft/North+American+XB-70A +-+May_+1977.jpg.html_ (http://gallery.leica-users.org/v/Ira+Silverman/Aircraft/North+American+XB-70A+-+May_+1977.jpg.html) Tech Stuff: M4, 35mm 'cron, Kodacolor 64 If there's interest, I have additional transparencies that I can scan this weekend. Comments welcomed and appreciated. Best Regards, Ira Silverman Irvine, CA ************************************** Get a sneak peek of the all-new AOL at http://discover.aol.com/memed/aolcom30tour