The XB70 Valkyrie: Inspiration for the Moxham Hull

The XB70 Valkyrie was a supersonic bomber developed by North American Aviation for the United States Air Force in the 1960s. The aircraft was designed to fly at extremely high altitudes and speeds and was intended to be a key component of America's Cold War defence strategy. Despite the program's cancellation in the late 1960s, the XB70's impact on aviation and aerodynamics research was significant, and its legacy continues to this day.

One area in which the XB70 has had a lasting impact is The Moxham Hull, developed by renowned designer John Moxham, who was heavily influenced by the principles that were first explored during the development of the XB70.

John Moxham, the chief designer at Ultimate Boats, recognised the potential for applying the XB70's dynamic principles to boat design. The XB70 featured a unique wing design, the "drooped wingtip" improved lift and stability by trapping and compressing air beneath the wing. Moxham realized that this concept could also be applied to boat hulls, leading to the development of the patented

"Moxham Retaining Rails" and hydraulic lift effect on the Ultimate Boats' hulls.

The Moxham Hull is a revolutionary and patented technology that fundamentally redefines the way a planing hull interacts with the water. It applies dynamic principles that were conceived during the development of the XB70 to reimagine hull technology and hydrodynamic performance. The patented "golden ratio" and passive hydrodynamic performance modification system were developed to ensure that every craft is intelligently designed for its specific purpose.

By modifying and then manipulating water flow beneath the craft, a hydraulic lift is generated. This also produces better quality water flow across the propellers, increasing grip and providing superior manoeuvrability and tighter turning with little loss of speed. Its major practical advantage is the helm's ability to easily maintain a constant visual on the horizon through its linear transition onto the plane, which is derived by mitigating stern squat and associated bow lift. In addition, this craft has a substantially lower attack angle than conventional hulls and its 25o deadrise means that it will slice through rough water without launching and limited slamming.

The XB70 Valkyrie's legacy lives on in the Moxham Hull, and it serves as a reminder of the possibilities that can be achieved through innovative thinking and the application of advanced engineering principles. The XB70 Valkyrie has helped to shape the future of marine engineering and has led to the creation of boats that are safer, more efficient and more sustainable. The future looks bright for the boating industry and the XB70 Valkyrie will always be remembered as one of the key inspirations that helped to shape it.