C-97 Stratofreighter

infobox Aircraft
name = C-97 Stratofreighter
type = Strategic freighter
manufacturer = Boeing

---

caption =
designer =
first flight = 1945
introduced = 1947
produced = 60
retired = 1978
status = Retired
primary user = United States Air Force
more users =
number built =
unit cost =
developed from = B-50 Superfortress
variants with their own articles = KC-97 Stratotanker
Boeing 377 Stratocruiser
Aero Spacelines Super Guppy
Boeing 367-80

The Boeing C-97 Stratofreighter was a militarized Model 377 optimized for long range heavy cargo transport. The C-97 was based on the B-29 bomber.

Development

The Boeing C-97 Stratofreighter was developed towards the end of World War II by fitting an enlarged upper fuselage onto a lower fuselage and wings which were essentially the same as the B-50 Superfortress with the tail, wing, and engine layout being nearly identical. It was built before the death of Boeing president, Philip G. Johnson

The prototype XC-97 was powered by the 2,200 hp (1,640 kW) Wright R-3350 engine, and was fitted with a built-in ramp and a hoist to help in the loading and unloading of supplies and personnel through the large clamshell-type doors in the belly. On January 9, 1945 the first prototype, piloted by Major Curtin L. Reinhardt, flew from Seattle to Washington, DC in 6 hours 4 minutes, an average speed of 383 mph (616 km/h) with 20,000 pounds of cargo, which was for its time rather impressive for such a large aircraft. Production models featured the 3500 hp (2,610 kW) Pratt & Whitney Wasp Major engine, the same engine as the B-50.

The C-97 had a useful payload of 35,000 lb (16 t) and could carry two normal trucks or light tanks. The C-97 was also the first mass produced air transport to feature cabin pressurization, which made long range missions somewhat more comfortable for the crew and passengers.

C-97s evacuated casualties during the Korean War. The USAF Strategic Air Command operated C-97 Stratofreighters from 1949 through 1978. Early in its service life, it served as an airborne alternative SAC command post. While only 60 C-97 transports were built, 812 were built as the KC-97 Stratotanker variant for inflight refueling. The civilian derivative of the C-97 was the Boeing 377 Stratocruiser, a very luxurious transoceanic air liner which featured a lower deck lounge and could be fitted with sleeper cabins.

Two C-97s are still airworthy at the present day, one operated as a privately-owned warbird, the other operated as a fire bomber in the United States.

Operators

imagestack

Military Operators

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

USAF UnitsRarenstein, Charles. (1984). Air Force Combat Wings: Lineage and Honors Histories 1947-1977. ISBN 0-912799-12-9

The following USAF wing organizations flew the various KC-97 models at some time during their existence:

Air National Guard

*105th Air Transport Group - Stewart AFB, New York (1962-1969)
**137th Air Transport Squadron
*106th Air Transport Group - Suffolk County Airport, New York (-)
**102d Air Transport Squadron
*109th Air Transport Group - Schenectady Airport, New York (-)
**139th Air Transport Squadron
*111th Air Transport Group - NAS Willow Grove, Pennsylvania (-)
**103d Air Transport Squadron
*116th Air Transport Group - Dobbins ARB, Georgia (-)
**128th Air Transport Squadron (Heavy)
*118th Air Transport Group - Nashville International Airport, Tennessee (-)
**105th Air Transport Squadron
*133d Air Transport Wing - Minneapolis-St Paul International Airport, Minnesota (-)
**109th Air Transport Squadron (Heavy)
*137th Air Transport Group - Will Rogers World Airport, Oklahoma (-)
**185th Air Transport Squadron
*138th Air Transport Group - Tulsa International Airport, Oklahoma (-)
**125th Air Transport Squadron
*139th Air Transport Group - , (-)
**180th Air Transport Squadron (Heavy)
*146th Air Transport Wing - NAS Point Mugu, California (-)
**115th Air Transport Squadron
*151st Air Transport Wing - Salt Lake City International Airport, Utah (-)
**191st Air Transport Squadron (Heavy)
*157th Air Transport Group - Grenier Field, New Hampshire (-)
**133d Air Transport Squadron
*161st Air Transport Group - Sky Harbor International Airport, Arizona (1966-1972)
**197th Air Transport Squadron
*162d Air Transport Wing - , Arizona (-)
**195th Air Transport Squadron
*164th Air Transport Group - Memphis International Airport, Tennessee (-)
**155th Air Transport Squadron (Heavy)
*165th Air Transport Group - Savannah International Airport, Georgia (-)
**158th Air Transport Squadron (Heavy)
*166th Air Transport Group - Greater Wilmington Airport, Delaware (-)
**142d Air Transport Squadron

Civil Operators

* Zantop Air Transport
* Hawkins & Powers Aviation
* Berlin Airlift Historical Foundation
* Balair

Survivors

* C-97G serial 53-0272 is on display at the Milestones of Flight Museum, Fox Field, Lancaster, California

* C-97G serial 52-2718 "Angel of Deliverance" is under restoration to flight status by Berlin Airlift Historical Foundation. [http://www.spiritoffreedom.org]

* C-97G serial 52-898 is on display at the Chanute Aerospace Museum in Rantoul, Illinois. [http://www.aeromuseum.org/aircraft_c97g.html]

Specifications (C-97)

aircraft specifications

plane or copter?=plane
jet or prop?=prop

crew=4:
length main=110 ft 4 in
length alt=33.7 m
span main=141 ft 3 in
span alt=43.1 m
height main=38 ft 3 in
height alt=11.7 m
area main=1,734 ft²
area alt=161.1 m²
empty weight main=82,500 lb
empty weight alt=37,410 kg
loaded weight main=120,000 lb
loaded weight alt=54,420 kg
max takeoff weight main=175,000 lb
max takeoff weight alt=79,370 kg
engine (prop)=Pratt & Whitney R-4360 Wasp Major
type of prop=radial engines
number of props=4
power main=3,500 hp
power alt=2,610 kW
max speed main=375 mph
max speed alt=603 km/h
cruise speed main=244 mph
cruise speed alt=212 knots, 393 km/h
combat radius main=
combat radius alt=
ferry range main=5,000 nm
ferry range alt=5,760 mi, 9,270 km
ceiling main=35,000 ft
ceiling alt=10,670 m
climb rate main=
climb rate alt=
loading main=69.2 lb/ft²
loading alt=337.8 kg/m²
power/mass main=0.117 hp/lb
power/mass alt=192 W/kg
guns=
bombs=

See also

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

References

External links