page_title: Boeing C-97 Stratofreighter
section_title: Variants
hierarchical_section_title: Boeing C-97 Stratofreighter / Variants
caption_attribution_description: English: A Boeing YC-97J Stratofreighter in flight. USAF s/n 52-2693 and 52-2762 were fitted with T34 turboprops. The first flight of this model was in February 1955.
context_page_description: 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 three prototype XC-97s flew on 9 November 1944, and the first of six service-test YC-97s flew on 11 March 1947. All nine were based on the 24ST alloy structure and Wright R-3350 engines of the B-29, but with a larger-diameter fuselage upper lobe and they had the B-29 vertical tail with the gunner's position blanked off. The first of three heavily revised YC-97A incorporating the re-engineered wing, 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.
context_section_description: XC-97
  military designation of the prototype Boeing 367, three built.
  YC-97
  cargo transport, six built.
  YC-97A
  troop carrier, three built.
  YC-97B
  fitted with 80 airliner-style seats, later redesignated C-97B, in 1954 became C-97D, retired to MASDC 15 December 1969.
  C-97A
  transport, 50 built.
  KC-97A
  Three C-97As were converted into aerial refueling tankers with rear loading door removed and a flight refueling boom added. After the design was proven, they were converted back into the standard C-97A.
  C-97C
  Second production version, 14 built; those used as medical evacuation transports during the Korean War were designated MC-97C.
  VC-97D
  staff transport and flying command post conversions, three C-97As converted.
  C-97E
  KC-97Es converted to transports.
  KC-97E
  aerial refueling tankers with rear loading doors permanently closed; 60 built.
  C-97F
  KC-97Fs converted to transports.
  KC-97F
  3800hp R-4360-59B engines and minor changes; 159 built.
  C-97G
  135 KC-97Gs converted to transports.
  EC-97G
  ELINT conversion of three KC-97Gs. 53–106 was operated by the CIA for covert ELINT operations in the West Berlin Air Corridor.
  KC-97G
  dual-role aerial refueling tankers/cargo transportation aircraft. KC-97G models carried underwing fuel tanks; 592 built.
  GKC-97G
  Five KC-97Gs were used as ground instruction airframes.
  JKC-97G
  One aircraft was modified to test the underwing General Electric J47-GE-23 jet engines, and was later designated KC-97L.
  HC-97G
  KC-97Gs converted for search and rescue operations; 22 converted.
  KC-97H
  One KC-97F was experimentally converted into a probe-and-drogue refueling aircraft.
  YC-97J
  KC-97G conversion with four 5,700 hp (4,250 kW) Pratt & Whitney YT34-P-5 turboprops, two converted. Originally designated YC-137.
  C-97K
  27 KC-97Gs converted to troop transports.
  KC-97L
  81 KC-97Gs modified with two J47 turbojet engines on underwing pylons.
caption: A YC-97J, an experimental turboprop-powered variant, in flight
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