Boeing KC-97L Stratofreighter. Photo. Characteristics.
USA
A type: Chetyrehdvigatelny transport aircraft / tanker aircraft
Capacity: A crew of six or seven people and passengers to 134
The C-97 «Stretofreyter» (Stretofreighter - stratospheric truck), built on the basis of bomber-29, was more than a "Superfortess", thanks to the addition of the second fuselage larger diameter, mounted on top of an existing structure - the scheme has received pilots US Air Force nickname «double bubble» («double-bubble").
Three pre-production aircraft received a copy of the US Air Force designation XC-97, and although they were ordered concurrently with the aircraft in-29 1942 in January, the last type was a priority. At the end of the year 1944, Boeing began flight test aircraft XC-97, which was followed by an order for aircraft C-50 97A. Although the aircraft was designed to carry passengers and freight, but only after the war in the air tanker role to support the newly established Strategic Air Command, he achieved the greatest success.
At least 811 KS-97 refueling aircraft were built in three different modifications (E, F and G). By combining the capacious cargo hold of the aircraft and the revolutionary Flying Boom refueling system, Boeing allowed the Stratotanker (Stratosphere Tanker) to pump huge amounts of fuel to the burgeoning fleet of Strategic Air Command bombers. And the same moments allowed the plane to live up to 1970-ies in conditions of possible reduction. Today, a handful of these aircraft are operated by civil cargo carriers in Central and South America, and in North America they are operated as fire planes.
Basic data
dimensions:
- Length: 35,8 m
- Wingspan: 43,05 m
- Height: 11,75 m
The weight:
- BLANK: 38 560 kg
- Maximum take-off: 78 980 kg
Aircraft performance characteristics:
- Maximum speed: 595 km / h
- Range: 6920 km
Power point: four engine R-4360-59B «Wasp Majora" Company "Pratt & Whitney"
Power: 14 000 l. from. (10 440 kW)
Date of first flight:
- November 15 1944 years
The surviving airworthy modifications in the hands of civilians:
C-97G and RC-97G