Boeing C-97 Stratofreighter – фото та відео

У 201 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 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. 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.

Джерело: Boeing C-97 Stratofreighter on Wikipedia

The Boeing C-97 Stratofreighter was a long-range heavy military cargo aircraft developed from the B-29 and B-50 bombers. It was designed to transport troops, equipment, and supplies across the Atlantic and Pacific oceans during the Cold War era. The C-97 had a distinctive double-deck fuselage with a lower deck that could accommodate up to 134 passengers or 35,000 pounds of cargo. The upper deck contained the flight deck and crew quarters. The C-97 was powered by four Pratt & Whitney R-4360 radial engines, each producing 3,500 horsepower.
The C-97 had a maximum speed of 375 miles per hour and a range of 4,400 miles. The C-97 entered service with the United States Air Force in 1947 and was used extensively in the Berlin Airlift, the Korean War, and the Vietnam War. The C-97 also served as the basis for several variants, including the KC-97 tanker, the C-135 Stratolifter, and the Boeing 377 Stratocruiser airliner. The C-97 was retired from active duty in 1978 and is now preserved in several museums around the world.