XB-70 VALKYRIE
Shockwave Surfer
BONUS MISSIONCan you reach Mach 3? Adjust the wing tips as you speed up!
Mach 3 means flying three times the speed of sound! Near sea level, sound travels about the length of three football fields in just one second. Imagine flying three times that fast!
AIRSPEED Ready to flyREADY TO FLY
Simplified diagram • Light blue shows invisible high-pressure air.
Ready to surf on air?
Start your flight, then adjust the wing tips as you speed up.
Three positions. One very cool discovery.
WHISKERS SAYS
“Okay. That is WAY cooler than surfing on water.”
The real XB-70 used compression lift: high-pressure air behind its shockwave helped provide lift. Folding the outer wings helped with stability and drag. For the XB-70-1, NASA describes wing tips folded 25° down at around Mach 0.8–1.4, then 65° down at speeds above about Mach 1.4. Flight time is shortened here, and the game pauses for your choices. The wave glow is an illustration, not something a pilot would see. Watch the XB-70 land — video provided by NASA ↗
