Podcast: Ben Harber's XB-70 Valkyrie!

by FliteTest | March 4, 2019 | (4) Posted in Podcasts

In 2017, Ben Harber started an epic project to build a giant XB-70 in foam board. Here's a conversation about it.

We're all for making huge, hilariously large, ambitious airplane projects to push our personal boundaries and see what's possible. With a handful of tools and some basic materials, it's amazing what we can create. Ben Harber is no stranger to testing the limits of basic materials like foam board. His Flite Test-sponsored project in 2017-18 is evidence that with some grit and determination, the boundaries between dreams and reality can collide. Here's a podcast to talk about the ups and downs of Ben's journey. 


Build

If you haven't read through this article series, you should do. Find out about how the Valkyrie project happened (as it happened) through these four parts. 

Part 1

https://www.flitetest.com/articles/ben-harber-s-huge-xb-70-valkyrie-build-part-1

The planning stage. 

Part 2

https://www.flitetest.com/articles/ben-harber-s-xb-70-valkyrie-build-update-wings

Building the wings, tail and, EDF pods. 

Part 3

Completing the MK.1

https://www.flitetest.com/articles/ben-harber-s-9ft-xb-70-part-3-it-s-nearly-done


Part 4 

https://www.flitetest.com/articles/ginormous-xb-70-valkyrie-project-part-4-flight

The crash, the Mk.2, and the second go. 


Flight of the Valkyrie

To cut to the chase, here is the full story of the Valkyrie MK.2 told by Ben himself. 


Massive congratulations to Ben for a successful flight of the second Valkyrie. It's projects like these (along with the thousands of smaller builds) that are illustrative of the passion from this wonderful community for educating, elevating and entertaining through the medium of flight. 


If you're considering building something epic, let us know! 

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Article by James Whomsley

Editor of FliteTest.com

Contact: james@flitetest.com

YouTube Channel: www.youtube.com/projectairaviation 

COMMENTS

trucknut10 on March 13, 2019
The SR 71 BLACKBIRD , the rc ducted fan one if I recall its got 2 gyros , thry help to make it more stable so it wont wash back & forth , your build & the SR 71 have pretty much the same design challenges. I believe even on the 1:1 , the real one its got gyros too.
Good luck next time,,
Terry
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Katman179 on March 4, 2019

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Podcast: Ben Harber's XB-70 Valkyrie!