In October, the National Museum of the U.S. Air Force faced a rare logistical challenge: it needed to perform maintenance work on one of its storage hangars, a task that required temporarily moving one of the most significant aircraft in aviation history—the world’s only remaining XB-70 Valkyrie. The six-engine supersonic bomber, an experimental marvel from the 1960s, has long been one of the museum’s crown jewels, drawing visitors and aviation enthusiasts from around the world. Moving it, however, is no small task.
The XB-70, designed by North American Aviation, was once the pinnacle of Cold War aeronautical innovation. Originally conceived as a high-altitude, Mach 3 strategic bomber capable of outrunning enemy interceptors, the Valkyrie represented the cutting edge of design and engineering. With its distinctive white titanium skin, delta wings, and foldable wingtips, it was as much an artistic statement as a military prototype. Only two XB-70s were ever built, and after the tragic loss of one in a midair collision in 1966, the surviving aircraft became a test platform before eventually finding its permanent home at the National Museum of the U.S. Air Force in Dayton, Ohio.
For nearly thirty years, the Valkyrie has rested inside the museum’s fourth building, surrounded by other icons of experimental flight. But with scheduled maintenance and structural upgrades planned for the hangar, museum staff had to coordinate a delicate move. This meant devising a plan to safely transport a 185-foot-long, 136-ton aircraft that hasn’t flown since 1969. The museum’s restoration and logistics teams spent weeks preparing, conducting structural assessments and consulting original North American Aviation schematics to understand the aircraft’s weight distribution and stress points.
The move took place early one morning to minimize disruption and ensure safety. Specialized equipment, including multi-axle transporters and custom cradles, was used to lift and shift the aircraft. Because of the Valkyrie’s size, even the slightest misalignment could cause damage to its airframe or landing gear. Each step was slow and deliberate, with crews communicating constantly and checking clearances by inches. Museum officials noted that the process resembled more of an engineering ballet than a standard relocation.
Once the XB-70 was secured in its temporary location, staff began the hangar work—inspections, surface repairs, and upgrades to environmental controls that help preserve historic aircraft. For the museum, these improvements are essential to maintaining one of the world’s most extensive collections of aerospace artifacts. For visitors, it means continued access to an extraordinary example of American ingenuity and ambition.
The Valkyrie’s temporary move also provided an unexpected opportunity. While the aircraft is normally displayed in its designated gallery, the relocation allowed museum specialists to perform close-up inspections and minor conservation work that are difficult under normal conditions. It’s a reminder that preservation involves constant care and precision, especially for one-of-a-kind artifacts like the XB-70.
When the hangar work is complete, the Valkyrie will return to its permanent position—gleaming under the lights, an awe-inspiring symbol of what once was and what might have been. For the museum, the effort underscores its commitment to safeguarding aviation history, even when that means moving mountains—or in this case, moving the last of the Valkyries.
