KC-97L
STRATOFREIGHTER
| The C-97 was the AAF cargo/transport
version of the B-29. Between 1943 and 1950, 74 Stratofreighters were ordered;
the first flight occurred on Nov. 15 1944.
A tanker version (KC-97)
was introduced in 1950 using the "flying boom" refueling system, and all
subsequent USAF contracts for C-97s were for tankers. In all, 890 aircraft
were ordered, 74 C-97s and 816 KC-97s.
After 1956, USAF KC-97s were
gradually replaced by KC-135 jet tankers, but some were modified for continued
use in other roles. In 1964, selected aircraft were returned to a tanker
configuration (KC-97L) primarily for the Air National Guard.
Two jet engines were added
to increase speed and altitude, making the tankers more compatible with
high performance jet aircraft. |
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Although the last USAF C/KC-97
was retired in 1973, examples remained in use with the AF Reserve and ANG
as tankers or air-sea search and rescue aircraft.
Based on a B-29 airframe,
the lines were lost due to the large upper fuselage.
First flown in 1944, the
KC-97 was introduced in 1950. When jets started coming into service, the
KC-97 was too slow to be safe, so two jet engines were added to reach higher
speeds. When a KC-97 would refuel a B-52, the B-52 would have to drop its
landing gear, not to overshoot the tanker.
Our KC-97 was the first to
have the jets added and was flown by the Illinois Air Guard from O’Hare
Field in Chicago. Jet fuel was carried in tanks in the fuselage and belly,
and AvGas was carried in the wings. |
| SPECIFICATIONS |
|
| Span: |
141 ft. 2 in. |
| Length: |
117 ft. 5 in. (with boom
retracted) |
| Height: |
38 ft. 4 in. |
| Weight: |
153,000 lbs. normal max. |
| Armament: |
None |
| Engines: |
Four Pratt & Whitney
R-4360s of 3,500 hp. ea. and Two General Electric J47s of 5,970 lbs. thrust
each |
| Crew: |
Four; Pilot, Co-Pilot, Navigator,
and Boom-Operator. |
| Cost: |
$ 1,205,000 |
| Tail Number: |
52-2697 |
| Years in Service: |
1950-1973 |
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| PERFORMANCE |
|
| Maximum Speed: |
400 mph |
| Cruising Speed: |
230 mph |
| Range: |
2,300 miles |
| Service Ceiling: |
30,000 feet |
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