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.
The KC-97 Stratofreighter was an aerial refueling tanker variant of the C-97 Stratofreighter (which was itself based on the Boeing B-29 Superfortress), greatly modified with all the necessary tanks, plumbing, and a flying boom. The cavernous upper deck was capable of accommodating oversize cargo accessed through a very large right-side door. In addition, transferable jet fuel was contained in tanks on the lower deck (G-L models). Both decks were heated and pressurized for high altitude operations.
Introduction: July 14, 1951
Retired: June 1978
Primary users: United States Air Force, Spanish Air Force
Produced: 1951–1956
Number built: 811
General characteristics
Crew: 6 (aircraft commander, copilot, navigator, flight engineer, radio operator, boom operator)
Capacity: 9,000 US gal (7,500 imp gal; 34,000 l) deliverable fuel
Length: 117 ft 5 in (35.79 m)
Wingspan: 141 ft 2 in (43.03 m)
Height: 38 ft 4 in (11.68 m)
Wing area: 1,734 sq ft (161.1 m2)
Airfoil: root: Boeing 117 (22%); tip: Boeing 117 (9%)[78]
Empty weight: 82,500 lb (37,421 kg)
Gross weight: 153,000 lb (69,400 kg)
Max takeoff weight: 175,000 lb (79,379 kg)
Powerplant: 4 × Pratt & Whitney R-4360-59 Wasp Major 28-cylinder air-cooled radial piston engines, 3,500 hp (2,600 kW) each
Powerplant: 2 × General Electric J47-GE-23 turbojet engines, 5,790 lbf (25.8 kN) thrust each in pylon mounted pods
Propellers: 4-bladed Hamilton Standard constant-speed fully-feathering propellers
Performance
Maximum speed: 400 mph (640 km/h, 350 kn)
Cruise speed: 230 mph (370 km/h, 200 kn)
Range: 2,300 mi (3,700 km, 2,000 nmi)
Service ceiling: 30,000 ft (9,100 m)
