Boeing KC-97L Wallpapers

Boeing KC-97L Aircraft; photo wallpapers: The Boeing KC-97 was a strategic tanker aircraft. For many years, it was the Backbone of the USAF's tanker fleet until replaced by the KC-135.  The KC-97 Stratotanker is a Boeing Model 367 aerial refueling tanker variant of the C-97 Stratofreighter and the Boeing 377 [br]Stratocruiser airliner greatly modified with all the necessary tanks, [br]plumbing, and "flying boom". The cavernous main (upper) deck was [br]capable of accommodating oversize cargo accessed through a very large [br]left-side door; OR transferrable jet fuel was contained in tanks on the [br]lower deck. Both decks were heated and pressurized for high altitude [br]operations. The Strategic Air Command had KC-97s Stratotankers in service from 1951 through 1964 and the Air National Guard from 1975 through 1977. The United States Air Force operated the KC-97 from 1950 until being phased out in favor of the KC-135 beginning in 1956. KC-97's were transitioned to the Air Force Reserves and Air National Guard units and were finally retired completely in 1973. A total of 816 KC-97s were purchased from Boeing, as opposed to only 74 of the C-97 base cargo version. The KC-97 had piston engines, powered by gasoline, but was carrying jet fuel [br]for its refueling mission, so it had to have independent fuel systems [br]for both types of fuel. Two jet engines were added to increase speed [br]and altitude, making the tankers more compatible with high performance [br]jet aircraft. These tankers were vitally important to the world-wide B-47 strategic mission. An example is the support of over-the-arctic reconnaissance flights from Thule Air Base. [br]The struggle to start and operate this complex airplane from a deep [br]freeze of minus 40 F was a triumph. Navigation in the arctic [br]night/winter requires great skill. A number of KC-97s survive, at least one of which, the Angel of Deliverance operated by the Berlin Airlift Historical Foundation, is airworthy. Static displays include the National Museum of the United States Air Force at Wright-Patterson AFB near Dayton, Ohio, March Field Air Museum in Riverside, California and the Carolinas Aviation Museum in Charlotte, North Carolina.[br]Country of origin: USA [br]_________________________________________________________________________________________________ [br]Engines: four 3500hp Pratt & Whitney R-4360 Wasp Major 28-cylinder radials, two J47-25A turbojets [br]_________________________________________________________________________________________________ [br]Wingspan: 43 m (141ft) [br]_________________________________________________________________________________________________ [br]Lenght: 33.6 m (110ft) [br]_________________________________________________________________________________________________ [br]Height: 11.65 m (38ft) [br]_________________________________________________________________________________________________ [br]Weight loaded: 66,135 kg (145,800lb) [br]_________________________________________________________________________________________________ [br]Cruising speed: 550 km/h (340nmph) at 7620 m (25,000ft) [br]_________________________________________________________________________________________________ [br]Service celling: 9755 m (32,000ft) [br]_________________________________________________________________________________________________ [br]Range: 6760 km (4200 miles) [br]_________________________________________________________________________________________________ [br]Passengers + crew: 96 + 5 [br]_____________________________________________

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Boeing KC-97L Wallpapers @ Mega Wallpapers (08 Edition)
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