C-97 Stratofreighter
Type	Strategic freighter
Manufacturer	Boeing
Maiden flight	1945
Introduced	1947
Retired	1978
Status	Retired
Primary user	United States Air Force
Produced	60
Developed from	B-50 Superfortress
Variants	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. An aerospace manufacturer is a company or individual involved in the various aspects of designing building testing selling and maintaining Aircraft, Aircraft parts The Boeing Company is a major Aerospace and defense corporation originally founded by William E The maiden flight of an Aircraft is the first occasion on which an aircraft leaves the ground of its own accord WikipediaWikiProject Aircraft. Please see WikipediaWikiProject Aircraft/page content for recommended layout WikipediaWikiProject Aircraft. Please see WikipediaWikiProject Aircraft/page content for recommended layout WikipediaWikiProject Aircraft. Please see WikipediaWikiProject Aircraft/page content for recommended layout WikipediaWikiProject Aircraft. Please see WikipediaWikiProject Aircraft/page content for recommended layout WikipediaWikiProject Aircraft. Please see WikipediaWikiProject Aircraft/page content for recommended layout WikipediaWikiProject Aircraft. Please see WikipediaWikiProject Aircraft/page content for recommended layout 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. World War II, or the Second World War, (often abbreviated WWII) was a global military conflict which involved a majority of the world's nations, including WikipediaWikiProject Aircraft. Please see WikipediaWikiProject Aircraft/page content for recommended layout 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. Philip G Johnson ( November 5, 1894 - September 14, 1944) was an American executive president of Boeing. WikipediaWikiProject Aircraft. Please see WikipediaWikiProject Aircraft/page content for recommended layout On January 11. Events 1055 - Theodora is crowned Empress of the Byzantine Empire. 1945 the first prototype 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. This is a list of Aviation -related events from 1945: Events January January 1 - the Luftwaffe begins targeting Washington DC ( formally the District of Columbia and commonly referred to as Washington, the District, or simply D Production models featured the 3500 hp (2,610 kW) Pratt & Whitney Wasp Major engine, the same engine as the B-50. WikipediaWikiProject Aircraft. Please see WikipediaWikiProject Aircraft/page content for recommended layout

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 Korean War refers to a period of military conflict between North Korean and South Korean regimes with major hostilities lasting from June 25 1950 until the The USAF Strategic Air Command operated C-97 Stratofreighters from 1949 through 1978. The Strategic Air Command (SAC was both a major command and a "specified command" in the U 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. WikipediaWikiProject Aircraft. Please see WikipediaWikiProject Aircraft/page content for recommended layout 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. WikipediaWikiProject Aircraft. Please see WikipediaWikiProject Aircraft/page content for recommended layout

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. For the comic book superhero see Ms Marvel.For the Romulan starships in Star Trek see D'deridex-class warbird.

Operators

C-97 in MATS markings

Military Operators

 Israel

• Israeli Air Force

 Spain

• Spanish Air Force

 United States

• United States Air Force

USAF Units^[1]

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 at the Milestones of Flight Museum, Fox Field, Lancaster, California

• 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. Military Air Transport Service (MATS was a command of the US Air Force from 1948-65 which superseded the Army Air Force's Air Transport Command, its For a topic outline on this subject see List of basic Israel topics. The Israeli Air Force ( IAF; Hebrew: זרוע האויר והחלל Zroa HaAvir VeHahalal, "Air and Space Arm" commonly known as חיל Spain () or the Kingdom of Spain (Reino de España is a country located mostly in southwestern Europe on the Iberian Peninsula. The Spanish Air Force ( Spanish: Ejército del Aire; literally "Army of the Air" is the Air force of Spain. The United States of America —commonly referred to as the The Air National Guard ( ANG), often referred to as the Air Guard, is the air force militia organized by each of the several states and Not to be confused with Sewart Air Force Base. For the civil use of this facilty see Stewart International Airport Stewart New York ( is a state in the Mid-Atlantic and Northeastern regions of the United States and is the nation's third most populous Year 1962 ( MCMLXII) was a Common year starting on Monday (the link is to a full 1962 calendar of the Gregorian calendar. Year 1969 ( MCMLXIX) was a Common year starting on Wednesday (link will display full calendar of the Gregorian calendar. Francis S Gabreski Airport is a county-owned public-use Airport located three miles (5 km north of the Central business district of Westhampton Beach New York ( is a state in the Mid-Atlantic and Northeastern regions of the United States and is the nation's third most populous Schenectady County Airport is a public Airport located three miles (5 km) north of the city of Schenectady in Schenectady County, New York ( is a state in the Mid-Atlantic and Northeastern regions of the United States and is the nation's third most populous Naval Air Station Joint Reserve Base Willow Grove or NASJRB Willow Grove is a Naval Air Station owned by the U The Commonwealth of Pennsylvania ( often colloquially referred to as PA (its abbreviation by natives and Northeasterners is a state located in the Northeastern The State of Georgia ( is a state in the United States and was one of the original Thirteen Colonies that revolted against British rule Nashville International Airport is an airport in southeastern Nashville Tennessee. Tennessee ( is a state located in the Southern United States. Minnesota ( Native Americans demonstrated the name to early settlers Will Rogers World Airport is located in southwestern Oklahoma City Oklahoma. Oklahoma ( is a state located in the South Central region of the United States of America. Tulsa International Airport is a city-owned public-use Airport located five miles (8 km) northeast of the Central business district of Tulsa Oklahoma ( is a state located in the South Central region of the United States of America. Naval Air Station Point Mugu or NAS Point Mugu is an Airbase located in Point Mugu, Ventura County, California, United California ( is a US state on the West Coast of the United States, along the Pacific Ocean. Salt Lake City International Airport is a major public Airport in Utah. The State of Utah (ˈjuːtɔː or) is a western state of the United States. Manchester-Boston Regional Airport, commonly referred to simply as " Manchester Airport," is a public Airport located three miles (5 km south of the New Hampshire ( is a state in the New England region of the northeastern United States of America. Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport is a joint civil-military public Airport located three miles (5 km east of the Central business district of Phoenix The State of Arizona ( is a state located in the southwestern region of the United States. Year 1966 ( MCMLXVI) was a Common year starting on Saturday (link will display full calendar of the 1966 Gregorian calendar. Year 1972 ( MCMLXXII) was a Leap year starting on Saturday (link will display full calendar of the Gregorian calendar. The State of Arizona ( is a state located in the southwestern region of the United States. Memphis International Airport is a public Airport located three miles (5 km) south of the Central business district of Memphis, a city Tennessee ( is a state located in the Southern United States. Savannah/Hilton Head International Airport, formerly Savannah International Airport, Travis Field and Chatham Field, is a joint civil-military airport The State of Georgia ( is a state in the United States and was one of the original Thirteen Colonies that revolted against British rule New Castle Airport, also known as the New Castle County Airport, is a public Airport located in unincorporated New Castle County, Delaware Delaware ( is a state located on the Atlantic Coast in the Mid-Atlantic region of the United States. Zantop Air Transport was formed from Zantop Flying Service in 1962 Swissair ( Swiss Air Transport Company Limited) was the former national Airline of Switzerland. General William J Fox Airfield, locally known as "Fox Field" is an airport located in Lancaster California serving the Antelope Valley region of Lancaster is the eighth-largest city in Los Angeles County and the 9th fastest growing city in the United States General William J Fox Airfield, locally known as "Fox Field" is an airport located in Lancaster California serving the Antelope Valley region of Lancaster is the eighth-largest city in Los Angeles County and the 9th fastest growing city in the United States [1]

Specifications (C-97)

General characteristics

• Crew: 4:
• Length: 110 ft 4 in (33. 7 m)
• Wingspan: 141 ft 3 in (43. The wingspan (or just span) of an airplane or a Bird, is the distance from the left wingtip to the right wingtip 1 m)
• Height: 38 ft 3 in (11. 7 m)
• Wing area: 1,734 ft² (161. 1 m²)
• Empty weight: 82,500 lb (37,410 kg)
• Loaded weight: 120,000 lb (54,420 kg)
• Max takeoff weight: 175,000 lb (79,370 kg)
• Powerplant: 4× Pratt & Whitney R-4360 Wasp Major radial engines, 3,500 hp (2,610 kW) each

Performance

• Maximum speed: 375 mph (603 km/h)
• Cruise speed: 244 mph (212 knots, 393 km/h)
• Ferry range: 5,000 nm (5,760 mi, 9,270 km)
• Service ceiling 35,000 ft (10,670 m)
• Wing loading: 69. The Maximum Takeoff Weight or Maximum Takeoff Mass of an Aircraft is the maximum weight at which the pilot of the aircraft is allowed to attempt to take off WikipediaWikiProject Aircraft. Please see WikipediaWikiProject Aircraft/page content for recommended layout The radial engine is a reciprocating type internal combustion Engine configuration in which the cylinders point outward from a central In Aviation, V-speeds or Velocity-speeds are standard terms used to define Airspeeds important or useful to the operation of Aircraft, such In Aviation, V-speeds or Velocity-speeds are standard terms used to define Airspeeds important or useful to the operation of Aircraft, such For Aircraft, ferry range means the maximum range the aircraft can fly In Aeronautics, a ceiling is the maximum Density altitude an aircraft can reach under a set of conditions In Aerodynamics, wing loading is the loaded weight of the aircraft divided by the area of the wing 2 lb/ft² (337. 8 kg/m²)
• Power/mass: 0. Power-to-weight ratio (specific power is a calculation commonly applied to Engines and other mobile power sources to enable the comparison of one unit or design to another 117 hp/lb (192 W/kg)

See also

Related development

• KC-97 Stratotanker
• B-50 Superfortress
• Boeing 377 Stratocruiser
• Aero Spacelines Pregnant Guppy
• Aero Spacelines Super Guppy
  

Comparable aircraft

• C-124 Globemaster II
  

Related lists

• List of military aircraft of the United States
  

References

External links