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The Boeing C-97 Stratofreighter was a long-range heavy military cargo aircraft developed from the B-29 and B-50 bombers. Design work began in 1942, the first of 3 prototype XC-97s flew on 9 November 1944 (none saw combat), and the first of 6 service-test YC-97s flew on 11 March 1947. All these (9) were based on the 24ST alloy structure and Wright R-3350 engines of the B-29 but with a larger-diameter fuselage upper lobe (making a figure of eight or 'double-bubble'section) and they had the B-29 vertical tail with the gunners position blanked off. The first of 3 heavily revised YC-97A incorporating the re-engineered wing ( higher strength 75ST alloy), taller vertical tail and larger Pratt and Whitney R-4360 engines of the B-50 bomber, flew on 28 January 1948 and was the basis of the subsequent sole YC-97B , all production C-97s , KC-97s and civilian Stratocruiser aircraft . Between 1944 and 1958, 888 C-97s in several versions were built, 811 being KC-97 tankers. C-97s served in the Berlin Airlift, the Korean War, and the Vietnam War. Some aircraft served as flying command posts for the Strategic Air Command, while others were modified for use in Aerospace Rescue and Recovery Squadrons (ARRS).
Manufacturer: Boeing
Model: C-97 Stratofreighter
Role: Military transport aircraft
Operator: Military Air Transport Service
First flight: 9 November 1944
Introduction: 1947
Retired: 1978
Primary users:
- United States Air Force
- Israeli Air Force
Produced: 1944–1952
Number built: 77 (total of 888 in all variants)
Unit cost: $1,205,000
Developed from: Boeing B-29 Superfortress, Boeing B-50 Superfortress
Specifications:
Crew: 5–6 (Pilot, Copilot, Navigator, Flight engineer, 1–2 Loadmasters)
Capacity: 134 troops or 69 stretchers or tanker equipment
Length: 110 ft 4 in (33.7 m)
Wingspan: 141 ft 3 in (43.1 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)
Useful load: 37,500 lb (17,010 kg)
Loaded weight: 120,000 lb (54,420 kg)
Max. takeoff weight: 175,000 lb (79,370 kg)
Powerplant: 4 × Pratt & Whitney R-4360B Wasp Major radial engines, 3,500 hp (2,610 kW) 28-cylinders each
Maximum speed: 375 mph (603 km/h)
Cruise speed: 260 knots (300 mph, 482 km/h)
Range: 4,949 mi (4,300 nm, 6,920 km)
Ferry range: 5,000 nm (5,760 mi, 9,270 km)
About the model:
Manufacturer: Amercom
Scale: 1:200
The actual aircraft:
