Boeing KC-97 Stratofreighter – Photos & Videos

The Boeing KC-97 Stratofreighter is a United States strategic tanker aircraft based on the Boeing C-97 Stratofreighter. It was succeeded by the Boeing KC-135 Stratotanker.

Source: Boeing KC-97 Stratofreighter on Wikipedia

The Boeing KC-97 Stratofreighter was a military aerial refueling aircraft that served with the United States Air Force (USAF) from 1950 to 1978. It was derived from the Boeing C-97 Stratofreighter, a transport aircraft based on the B-29 Superfortress bomber. The KC-97 had a double-deck fuselage with a cargo hold below and a pressurized cabin above. It could carry up to 96 passengers or 65,000 pounds of cargo. The KC-97 was powered by four Pratt & Whitney R-4360 radial engines, each producing 3,500 horsepower. The KC-97 had a maximum speed of 375 miles per hour and a range of 4,300 miles.
The KC-97 was equipped with a flying boom, a telescopic tube that could transfer fuel to another aircraft in flight. The boom operator controlled the boom from a windowed pod at the rear of the fuselage. The KC-97 could refuel one aircraft at a time, either from above or below, depending on the receiver’s configuration. The KC-97 could also carry fuel tanks in its cargo bay or under its wings, increasing its fuel capacity to 15,000 gallons. The KC-97 could refuel jet fighters, bombers, transports and other aircraft types.
The KC-97 entered service with the USAF in 1950 and saw action in the Korean War and the Vietnam War. It also supported various missions such as reconnaissance, weather monitoring, rescue and humanitarian aid. The KC-97 was replaced by the jet-powered KC-135 Stratotanker in the 1960s, but some remained in service until the late 1970s. Some KC-97s were converted to civilian use as aerial firefighters, cargo carriers or museum exhibits. The KC-97 was an important aircraft in the history of aerial refueling and military aviation.