KC-97 Stratotanker

infobox Aircraft
name = KC-97 Stratotanker
type = Strategic tanker
manufacturer = Boeing

---

caption = KC-97 in Ohio Air National Guard markings
designer =
first flight =
introduced =
produced =
retired =
status =
primary user = United States Air Force
more users = Spanish Air Force
number built = 816
unit cost =
developed from = C-97 Stratofreighter
variants with their own articles =

The Boeing KC-97 Stratotanker was a United States strategic tanker aircraft. For many years, it was the backbone of the United States Air Force's tanker fleet until replaced by the KC-135.

Design and development

The KC-97 Stratotanker was an aerial refueling tanker variant of the C-97 Stratofreighter, greatly modified with all the necessary tanks, plumbing, and "flying boom." The cavernous upper deck was capable of accommodating oversize cargo accessed through a very large left-side door, or transferrable jet fuel was contained in tanks on the lower deck. Both decks were heated and pressurized for high altitude operations.

Operational history

The USAF began operating the KC-97 in 1950. It purchased a total of 816 KC-97s from Boeing, as opposed to only 74 of the C-97 cargo version. The KC-97 used piston engines, fueled by aviation gasoline, but it carried jet fuel for its refueling mission. It therefore used independent systems for both types of fuel.

These tankers were vitally important to the world-wide B-47 strategic operations. An example is the support of Arctic reconnaissance flights from Thule Air Base. The struggle to start and operate this complex airplane at temperatures of -40^o F was a triumph. Navigation in the Arctic conditions required great skill.

While it was an effective tanker, the KC-97's slow speed and low operational altitude complicated refueling operations with jet aircraft. B-52s typically lowered their flaps and rear landing gear to slow the aircraft enough to refuel from the KC-97. In addition, a typical B-52 refueling engagement profile would involve a descent that allowed the aircraft pair to maintain a higher airspeed (220-240 knots). In the early 1960s, TAC added J-47 jet pods from retired KB-50 tankers to produce the KC-97L. The jet pods increased performance and made the KC-97 more compatible with jet aircraft.

In 1956, SAC began phasing out the KC-97 in favor of the KC-135. KC-97s continued operating with TAC, the Air Force Reserves, and Air National Guard units. They were finally retired completely in 1978, when the Texas and Utah Air National Guards exchanged their KC-97Ls for C-130s and KC-135s, respectively.

Variants

[AIRTime Publishing. (2006). International Air Power Review, Vol 20. ISBN 1-880588-91-9] ;KC-97A:Three C-97As were converted into aerial refueling tankers with rear loading door removed and a flight refulling boom added. After the design was proven, they were converted back into the standard C-97A configuration.;KC-97E:Production aircraft were factory-built as aerial refueling tankers with rear loading doors permanently closed, 60 built;KC-97F:As KC-97Es but with 3800hp R-4360-59B engines and minor changes, 159 built;KC-97G:Production aircraft were factory-built as dual-role aerial refueling tankers/cargo transportation aircraft. KC-97G models carried underwing fuel tanks. Many models were converted into full transport (i.e. aeromedical) or rescue roles, 592 built, 135 later had refuelling equipment removed and designated C-97G.;GKC-97G:Five KC-97Gs were used as ground instruction airframes.;JKC-97G:One aircraft was modified to test the underwing J47 jet engines, and was later designated KC-97L. ;KC-97H:One KC-97F was experimentally converted into a hose-and-drogue refueling aircraft.;KC-97L:81 KC-97Gs were modified with a pair of J47 turbojet engines on underwing pylons.

Operators

;ESP
* Spanish Air Force;USA
* United States Air Force

The following USAF wing organizations flew the various KC-97 models at some time during their existence: Rarenstein, Charles. (1984). Air Force Combat Wings: Lineage and Honors Histories 1947-1977. ISBN 0-912799-12-9

Active Duty

*2d Bombardment Wing (Medium) - Hunter AFB, Georgia (1953-1963)
**2d Air Refueling Squadron
*9th Bombardment Wing (Medium) - Mountain Home AFB, Idaho (1954-1965)
**9th Air Refueling Squadron
*11th Air Refueling Wing - Altus AFB, Oklahoma (1957-1958)
**96th Air Refueling Squadron
*19th Bombardment Wing (Medium) - Homestead AFB, Florida (1955-1961)
**19th Air Refueling Squadron
**100th Air Refueling Squadron
**303d Air Refueling Squadron
*22d Bombardment Wing (Medium) - March AFB, California (1952-1962)
**22d Air Refueling Squadron
**320th Air Refueling Squadron
*26th Strategic Reconnaissance Wing (Medium) - Lockborne AFB, Ohio (1953-1955; 1956-1958)
**26th Air Refueling Squadron
**321st Air Refueling Squadron
*28th Bombardment Wing (Heavy) - Ellsworth AFB, South Dakota (1962-1964)
**
*40th Bombardment Wing (Medium) Schilling AFB, Kansas(1953-1960)
**40th Air Refueling Squadron
*42d Bombardment Wing (Heavy) - Limestone AFB, Maine (1955-1957)
**42d Air Refueling Squadron
*43d Bombardment Wing (Medium) - Davis-Monthan AFB, Arizona (1953-1960)
**9th Air Refueling Squadron
**43d Air Refueling Squadron
*44th Bombardment Wing (Medium) - Lake Charles AFB, Louisiana (1953-1960)
**44th Air Refueling Squadron
*68th Bombardment Wing (Medium) - Lake Charles AFB, Louisiana (1953-1957)
**68th Air Refueling Squadron
*70th Strategic Reconnaissance Wing (Medium) - Little Rock AFB, Arkansas (1955-1961)
**70th Air Refueling Squadron
*90th Bombardment Wing (Medium) - Fairchild AFB, Washington (1955-1960)
**90th Air Refueling Squadron
*91st Bombardment Wing (Medium) - Glasgow AFB, Montana (1952-1957)
**26th Air Refueling Squadron
**68th Air Refueling Squadron
**91st Air Refueling Squadron
**100th Air Refueling Squadron
*93d Bombardment Wing (Medium) - Castle AFB, California (1953-1957)
**90th Air Refueling Squadron
**93d Air Refueling Squadron
*96th Bombardment Wing (Medium) - Altus AFB, Oklahoma (1954-1958)
**11th Air Refueling Squadron
**96th Air Refueling Squadron
**321st Air Refueling Squadron
**380th Air Refueling Squadron
*97th Bombardment Wing (Medium) - Biggs AFB, Texas (1954-1957)
**97th Air Refueling Squadron
*98th Bombardment Wing (Medium) - Lincoln AFB, Nebraska (1954-1963)
**98th Air Refueling Squadron
**307th Air Refueling Squadron
*100th Bombardment Wing (Medium) - Portsmouth AFB/Pease AFB, New Hampshire (1956-1966)
**100th Air Refueling Squadron
**349th Air Refueling Squadron
**350th Air Refueling Squadron
**351st Air Refueling Squadron
**418th Air Refueling Squadron
**509th Air Refueling Squadron
*301st Bombardment Wing (Medium) - Barksdale AFB, Louisiana/Lockborne AFB, Ohio (1953-1963)
**301st Air Refueling Squadron
*303rd Bombardment Wing (Medium) - Davis-Monthan AFB, Arizona (1953-1956; 1960)
**9th Air Refueling Squadron
**43d Air Refueling Squadron
**96th Air Refueling Squadron
**303d Air Refueling Squadron
*305th Bombardment Wing (Medium) - MacDill AFB, Florida (1951-1959)
**68th Air Refueling Squadron
**70th Air Refueling Squadron
**305th Air Refueling Squadron
*306th Bombardment Wing (Medium) - MacDill AFB, Florida (1951-1962)
**305th Air Refueling Squadron
**306th Air Refueling Squadron
*307th Bomardment Wing (Medium) - Lincoln AFB, Nebraska (1955-1960)
**305th Air Refueling Squadron
**306th Air Refueling Squadron
*308th Bombardment Wing (Medium) - Hunter AFB, Georgia (1953-1959)
**303d Air Refueling Squadron
**308th Air Refueling Squadron
*310th Bombardment Wing (Medium) - Smoky Hill AFB/Schilling AFB, Kansas (1952-1963)
**40th Air Refueling Squadron
**310th Air Refueling Squadron
*320th Bombardment Wing (Medium) - March AFB, California (1952-1960)
**320th Air Refueling Squadron
*321st Bombardment Wing (Medium) - Pinecastle AFB, Florida (1954-1956)
**307th Air Refueling Squadron
**321st Air Refueling Squadron
*340th Bombardment Wing (Medium) - Sedalia AFB, Missouri (1954-1962)
**34th Air Refueling Squadron
**340th Air Refueling Squadron
*341st Bombardment Wing (Medium) - Dyess AFB, Texas (1956-1960)
**11th Air Refueling Squadron
*376th Bombardment Wing (Medium) - Barksdale AFB, Louisiana/Lockborne AFB, Ohio (1953-1963)
**91st Air Refueling Squadron
**376th Air Refueling Squadron
*379th Bombardment Wing - Homestead AFB, Florida (1956)
**19th Air Refueling Squadron
*384th Air Refueling Wing (Heavy) - Little Rock AFB, Arkansas (1961-1963)
**70th Air Refueling Squadron
**544th Air Refueling Squadron
**545th Air Refueling Squadron
**546th Air Refueling Squadron
**547th Air Refueling Squadron
*397th Bombardment Wing (Heavy) - Dow AFB, Maine (1963-1964)
**19th Air Refueling Squadron
**71st Air Refueling Squadron
**341st Air Refueling Squadron
*407th Strategic Fighter Wing - Great Falls AFB, Montana (1957)
**407th Air Refueling Squadron
*497th Air Refueling Wing - Plattsburgh AFB, New York (1962-1964)
**26th Air Refueling Squadron
**380th Air Refueling Squadron
*499th Air Refueling Wing - Westover AFB, Massachusetts (1963-1965)
**11th Air Refueling Squadron
**19th Air Refueling Squadron
**99th Air Refueling Squadron
**303d Air Refueling Squadron
**305th Air Refueling Squadron
**384th Air Refueling Squadron
*500th Air Refueling Wing - Selfridge AFB, Michigan (1963-1964)
**44th Air Refueling Squadron
**307th Air Refueling Squadron
*509th Bombardment Wing (Heavy) - Walker AFB, New Mexico/Pease AFB, New Hampshire (1954-1965)
**34th Air Refueling Squadron
**509th Air Refueling Squadron
*4397th Air Refueling Training Wing - Randolph AFB, Texas (1958-1963)
** XX Air Refueling Squadron
*4397th Air Refueling Training Wing - Randolph AFB, Texas (1958-1963)
** XX Air Refueling Squadron
*4050th Air Refueling Wing - Westover AFB, Massachusetts (1955-1962)
*4060th Air Refueling Wing - Dow AFB, Maine/Plattsburgh AFB, New York (1955-1962)
*4108th Air Refueling Wing - Plattsburgh AFB, New York (1961-1965
*4045th Air Refueling Wing -
*4061st Air Refueling Wing
*4081st Air Refueling Wing - Ernest Harmon AFB, NFLD (19?? - 1966)
**376 Air Refueling Squadron

Air National Guard

*106th Air Refueling Group - Suffolk County Airport, New York (19-19)
**102d Air Refueling Squadron
*126th Air Refueling Wing - O'Hare International Airport, Illinois (19-19)
**108th Air Refueling Squadron
*128th Air Refueling Wing - Mitchell International Airport, Wisconsin (19-19)
**126th Air Refueling Squadron
*134th Air Refueling Wing - McGhee Tyson Airport, Tennessee (19-19)
*146th ATW Van Nuys, California 1962 - 1967
**151st Air Refueling Squadron
*136th Air Refueling Wing - NAS Dallas, Texas (1965-1978)
**181st Air Refueling Squadron
*139th Air Refueling Group - Rosecrans Municipal Airport, Missouri (1969-1976)
**180th Air Refueling Squadron
*151st Air Refueling Group - Salt Lake City International Airport, Utah (1972-1978)
**191st Air Refueling Squadron
*160th Air Refueling Group - Lockborne AFB, Ohio (1965-1975)
**145th Air Refueling Squadron
*161st Air Refueling Group - Sky Harbor International Airport, Arizona (1972-1977)
**197th Air Refueling Squadron
*171st Air Refueling Wing - Pittsburgh International Airport, Pennsylvania (1972-1977)
**147th Air Refueling Squadron

urvivors

A number of KC-97s survive, at least two of which are airworthy: the "Angel of Deliverance" operated by the Berlin Airlift Historical Foundation, and N1365N known as "Tanker 97" and operated until recently as an aerial firefighting airtanker by Hawkins & Powers.

Static displays include the KC-97L "Zeppelinheim" at the National Museum of the United States Air Force at Wright-Patterson AFB near Dayton, Ohio, the [http://www.amcmuseum.org/ Air Mobility Command Museum] Dover AFB, Delaware, March Field Air Museum in Riverside, California, the Museum of Aviation at Robins Air Force Base in Georgia, Rogue Valley International-Medford Airport in Central Point, Oregon, Carolinas Aviation Museum in Charlotte, North Carolina, Grissom Air Museum in Peru, Indiana, Dyess Air Force Base in Abilene, TX, and at Castle Air Museum in Atwater, California.

Photo Gallery

pecifications (KC-97L)

aircraft specifications
plane or copter?=plane
jet or prop?=both
ref=USAF Museum [cite web | work=USAF Museum | url=http://www.wpafb.af.mil/museum/outdoor/od18.htm | title=Boeing KC-97L | accessdate=2006-05-03 ] "and" FAS [cite web | url=http://www.fas.org/nuke/guide/usa/bomber/kc-97.htm | title=KC-97 Stratotanker | accessdate=2006-05-03 | work=Federation of American Scientists WMD Resources] .
crew=five (two pilots, navigator, flight engineer, boom operator)
capacity=9,000 gal (34,000 L) of jet fuel
length main=117 ft 5 in
length alt= m
span main=141 ft 2 in
span alt= m
height main=38 ft 4 in
height alt= m
area main= ft²
area alt= m²
airfoil=
empty weight main=82,500 lb
empty weight alt= kg
loaded weight main=153,000 lb
loaded weight alt= kg
useful load main=
useful load alt=
max takeoff weight main=175,000 lb
max takeoff weight alt= kg
more general=
engine (jet)=General Electric J47-GE-23
type of jet=turbojets
number of jets=2
thrust main=5,790 lbf
thrust alt= kN
engine (prop)=Pratt & Whitney R-4360-59
type of prop=radial engines
number of props=4
power main=3,500 hp
power alt= kW
max speed main=400 mph
max speed alt= km/h
cruise speed main=230 mph
cruise speed alt= km/h
range main=2,300 mi
range alt= km
ceiling main=30,000 ft
ceiling alt= m
climb rate main= ft/min
climb rate alt= m/s
loading main= lb/ft²
loading alt= kg/m²
thrust/weight=
thrust/weight main= lbf/lb
thrust/weight alt= N/kg
power/mass main= hp/lb
power/mass alt= kW/kg
more performance=

ee also

aircontent
related=
* C-97 Stratofreighter
* B-50 Superfortress
* Boeing 377 Stratocruiser
* Aero Spacelines Pregnant Guppy
* Aero Spacelines Super Guppy
similar aircraft=
* C-124 Globemaster II
sequence=
lists=
* List of military aircraft of the United States
see also=

References

External links

* [http://www.nationalmuseum.af.mil/factsheets/factsheet.asp?id=374 KC-97 page at the National Museum of the United States Air Force]
* [http://www.spiritoffreedom.org/c97.html Airworthy KC-97 "Angel of Deliverance"]