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KC-97L



Boeing KC-97L
Boeing KC-97L
Boeing KC-97L
Boeing KC-97L
The KC-97, an aerial-refueling tanker, was also used as a commercial airliner. Introduced in 1950, the propeller-driven airplane used the "flying boom" refueling system that worked so well it is used in the replacement KC-135 and KC-10 tanker aircraft. The 28-cylinder, 2,800-horsepower engines were no fun to overhaul since each engine had 112 spark plugs.

The KC-97 was too slow to refuel the new jet aircraft. It sometimes had to start a descent just to have enough speed to refuel the jets. The addition of two jet engines made the tanker more compatible with high-performance jet aircraft. The last USAF KC-97 was retired in 1973.
53-363 is on loan from the U.S. Air Force Museum.

Boeing KC-97L