XB-70 Valkyrie - What are the markings / dots on the roof?

[docubyte]

Theres a pattern of black dots I see in this picture https://www.nasa.gov/sites/default/files/images/359332main_ECN-1814_full.jpg that I didn't see upon a visit to USAF museum recently, no longer visible or removed? Painted over perhaps? https://media.defense.gov/2016/May/19/2001541896/-1/-1/0/160519-F-IO108-002.JPG

They are clearly visible here too https://nationalinterest.org/sites/.../public/main_images/M48 (1).jpg?itok=oul8XZVc

Any info on what they might be hugely appreciated.

 

[drejr]

Probably something (explosive) to do with the ejection system.

 

[TomS]

I suspect they are the same as the black spots on the canards in your first image, which means they are probably tufting for visualizing aerodynamic flows over the aircraft. At the resolution of the image, all we see are the dots, not the strings sticking out from the dots.

 

[docubyte]

Thanks - so something potentially like this? https://www.vc10.net/Technical/Images/Nacellechanges_130664.jpg But circular? That would make some sense as I wondered why they'd be on the canards.

 

[aim9xray]

I suspect that these were the "lift points" used to hoist the ejection seat cover panels/doors away for removal/installation of the seats. Note that the positioning of the "dots" is identical on each of the doors. (Note that seats were installed in only the pilot/copilot positions, however the aft doors could have been used to test equipment/rack access.)

 

[docubyte]

In this model build - the builder has referred to them as 'observation markings' - maybe they are just for that?

 

[flateric]

"Aft doors" are ground escape hatches.

 

[Mark S.]

Think those were encapsulated seats like those on the B-58 as well.

 

[docubyte]

Further research from the Italeri 1/72 kit, shows them as some kind of cross-marking. I dont like to rely on models obvs - but its a pretty clear cross like shape with a line under it and that tallies with this better aerial photo - I found a slightly higher res there of the NASA site, shows the line as potentially even some wording.

 

[Dagger]

I have several books on the XB-70 and browsing through them I found a few photos that are interesting, and the relevant parts are attached here.

None of the photos that I have seen so far show crosses with or without a line under it.


There seem to be three dots on each of the four escape hatches, as well as five dots on each of the canards (on both photos two dots on the port canard are in the shadow of the fuselage but visible if one concentrates on them).

Note that the dots on the ground escape hatches are not in line with each other, so that seems to exclude mechanical origin as it would not make sense to do it different on two similar hatches.

On the photo below it can be seen that the dots were already visible on the mock-up which was built in 1959, five years before the rollout of the first prototype. It is not clear when this photo of the mock-up was taken, so the dots could have been be added later, but that still begs the question: what is so important about those dots that they were shown on the mock-up?

 

[flateric]

you may try to ask here https://www.facebook.com/groups/XB70Valkyrie/

 

[docubyte]

I have several books on the XB-70 and browsing through them I found a few photos that are interesting, and the relevant parts are attached here.

None of the photos that I have seen so far show crosses with or without a line under it.

View attachment 639221 View attachment 639222
There seem to be three dots on each of the four escape hatches, as well as five dots on each of the canards (on both photos two dots on the port canard are in the shadow of the fuselage but visible if one concentrates on them).

Note that the dots on the ground escape hatches are not in line with each other, so that seems to exclude mechanical origin as it would not make sense to do it different on two similar hatches.

On the photo below it can be seen that the dots were already visible on the mock-up which was built in 1959, five years before the rollout of the first prototype. It is not clear when this photo of the mock-up was taken, so the dots could have been be added later, but that still begs the question: what is so important about those dots that they were shown on the mock-up?

View attachment 639224

Thanks for this input - really thorough assessment - I'm led to think now, they're some kind of 'test marking', not tufts, nor mechanical.