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Description
| Manufacturer: | Boeing | |
| Base model: | C-97 | |
| Designation: | KC-97 | |
| Version: | L | |
| Nickname: | Stratofreighter | |
| Designation System: | U.S. Air Force | |
| Designation Period: | 1925-1962 | |
| Basic role: | Transport | |
| Modified Mission: | Tanker | |
Specifications
| Length: | 117' 5" | 35.7 m | |
| Height: | 38' 4" | 11.6 m | |
| Wingspan: | 141' 2" | 43.0 m | |
| Gross Weight: | 152,998 lb | 69,387 kg | |
| Max Weight: | 153,000 lb | 69,387 kg | |
Propulsion
| No. of Engines: | 4 | ||
| Powerplant: | Pratt & Whitney R-4360 (& 2 J47 Jet engines) | ||
| Horsepower (each): | 3500 | ||
Performance
| Range: | 2,300 miles | 3,703 km | |
| Cruise Speed: | 230 mph | 370 km/h | 200 kt |
| Max Speed: | 400 mph | 644 km/h | 348 kt |
| Ceiling: | 30,000 ft | 9,143 m | |
Examples of this type may be found at
| Museum | City | State |
| Castle Air Museum | Atwater | California |
| Dyess Linear Air Park | Dyess AFB | Texas |
| Edward F. Beale Museum | Beale AFB | California |
| Eighth Air Force Museum | Barksdale AFB | Louisiana |
| Malmstrom AFB Museum and Air Park | Malmstrom AFB | Montana |
| March Field Air Museum | Riverside | California |
| Museum of Aviation | Warner Robins AFB | Georgia |
| United States Air Force Museum | Wright-Patterson | Ohio |
| Whiteman AFB | Whiteman AFB | Missouri |
| Wisconsin ANG - HQ | Volk ANGB | Wisconsin |
KC-97L on display
Castle Air Museum | Dyess Linear Air Park | Eighth Air Force Museum | March Field Museum | |
Museum of Aviation | United States Air Force Museum | Whiteman AFB | Wisconsin ANG - HQ |
Recent comments by our visitors
| R.G. Hayes , IL | I flew in KC-97's durinig the mid to late 50's out of Little Rock AFBand Whiteman AFB. Great plane. 08/01/2008 @ 11:16 [ref: 22323] |
| C Johnson , IL | The inside of the KC 97 C and L models I flew were green 11/14/2007 @ 17:36 [ref: 18537] |
| Wendell J. Harkleroad, Lt Col, Ret Overland Park, KS | I was proud to fly the KC-97L for the Tennessee ANG at McGee-Tyson Airport, Knoxville, Tennessee from August 1971 to June 1973. As a Captain, I logged 331 pilot hours in the aircraft. Our unit was one of several KC-97L ANG units around the USA; all tasked to man the station at Rhein-Main Air Base at Frankfurt, Germany, during the Vietnam war. Other units that I can recall were from Dallas, Salt Lake City, Milwaukee, and Columbus, Ohio, to name a few. While the active Air Force KC-135 refueling resources were pumping fuel in the skies over SEA, we, the Guard, performed all the refueling for the fighter units over Europe. As I recall, this was the case for about ten years until Vietnam was ended.
When it was our unit's time (about every two to three months) to rotate over to Frankfurt, we would fly enmass to Goose Bay, Labrador, from Knoxville where we would check the weather, winds, and flight plan. The crew would flush the jet fuel from the refueling tanks and fill the entire fuel system with avgas. When we took off for Europe at about five minute intervals, the co-pilot and flight engineer would set the power for a constant true airspeed as was flight planned. As the bird got lighter due to the burn off of the fuel, the co-pilot would moniter and sneak the number two J-47 throttle back a notch at a time until he got it to idle. He would then stopcock the jet! Then, he would start on the number one J-47 throttle until he could get it to idle and stopcock it, also. Before coasting in to Europe, we would do a status check. If the tail wind had proven strong enough, we made a go/no go decision to either proceed as filed direct to Frankfurt or land short in England, typically at Mildenhall, to take on fuel; then proceed on to Frankfurt. This happened once in a great while. I have met several fighter jocks who refueled behind the Tennesse Air Guard tankers. They have always been complimentary of the true professionalism of our crews and operations. In my 21 years of flying for the Air Force and Air Guard, and including some 30 years in the corporate world, I never experienced a better managed outfit than that Tennessee ANG tanker unit. God Bless America! Wendell J. Harkleroad, LtCol, Ret. 08/29/2007 @ 15:35 [ref: 17789] |
| C Johnson Richmond IL, IL | I flew as a boom operator on this AC when she was in Germany durning Ooeration Creek Party I was assigned to the 108 AR ILANG and this AC was over in Germany with the 128th ARW,WI GREAT AC 01/13/2007 @ 08:37 [ref: 15176] |
| David Kenagy Cleveland, OH | The KC-97 on display at Whiteman AFB, MO tells of an interesting 'coincidence'. In the 1960s, 1Lt Neil Kenagy and Capt Joe Biscone flew it for the 509th Bomb Wing.
But in 2001, Col David Kenagy was the commander of the 509th Medical Group and Col Greg Biscone was the commander of the 509th Operations Group. (In 2006 he's the commander of the Wing). The names of the dads are painted near the nose of that particular KC-97. (If any old friends are wondering, all are alive and well). 10/16/2006 @ 08:34 [ref: 14471] |
| TOM FOSTER, CMS USAF RET Columubs, OH | I'm proud to say that I was the Boom Operator on this aircraft when it was delivered to Wright Field AFB, Dayton OH.
Before exiting the aircraft I autographed the aft AR tank in front of my Boomer's seat. KC-97 aircraft were considered the Cadillac of the military aircraft at that time. 08/02/2006 @ 15:43 [ref: 13783] |
| Rob , WI | I remember seeing it one time while I was there at Volk Field for a trip with my father, there was a baseball diamond nearby at the time. 08/30/2005 @ 10:07 [ref: 11126] |
| Les Kenyon North Canton, OH | I'm Looking for a KC-97G or I have also found pictures indicating that it was modified to a C-97K, Tail Number 52-2666 or as a K Model 0-22666. My grandfather bailed out of this aircraft in Sep of 1956 with his crew from the 96th ARS based in Altus AFB and TDY to Elmendorf AFB AK. Only one member of his crew was located and the rest were lost in Cooke Inlet AK. I can find no information at all as to what happened to this aircraft. Thanks Again,
SrA Les Kenyon 02/22/2005 @ 18:45 [ref: 9508] |
| John Van Dyke , ME | Hi,
Does anyone know the location of KC-97L serial number 53-327? I'd also like to know its current status. Thanks... 01/01/2005 @ 10:39 [ref: 9027] |
| Gary Boyd missoula, MT | I am presently trying to restore part of a whit I believe is a KC-97L Flight Engineer panel anyone have a good photo of one to confirm that it is an L model and what the proper guages are for it.
Thanks 07/03/2004 @ 20:32 [ref: 7745] |
Recent photos uploaded by our visitors
