My grandfather was a flight engineer on this exact KC-97 L in the late 70s and early 80s when he was in the tennessee air national guard in Knoxville as part of the 134th air refueling wing and 151st air refueling squadron. It is so cool to see the airplane that I have heard so many stories about
This just popped up on my TH-cam as I was browsing. I say 230 on the nose and thought to myself, I think that number rings a bell. Well when I saw Tennessee on the tail, I knew it was our 30230 from Knoxville. I actually was a Pilot in the 134th Air Refueling Group at McGhee Tyson in Knoxville and have many hours in this particular aircraft. It looks much better than it did when I flew it in 71-75. I had about 450 hours in the KC-97 during my time in the 134th. I don’t know how many in this particular plane as we rotated among all the planes we had - 11 of them. What a memory booster this was. I’m going to have to make it up to Dover to see this bird and sign that crew roster and see if any of the guys I flew with have been there.
Excellent video. In 1957, I was an AFROTC Cadet at Lockbourne AFB, Columbus, OH. I had the privilege of taking two, 8-hour orientation rides during the 4-week summer encampment. The plane was used to refuel B-47 jet bombers - we were allowed to crowd behind the boom operator. As I remember, we increased to max speed in the KC-97 to assist during the refueling of the much faster bomber. We were told that the reason we flew so long a flight for such a short duration refueling, was for security reasons - so any would-be enemy would not be able to predict where the bomber and tanker were to meet up. Most of the time during those long flights we leaned up against the fuel tanks or visited the cockpit area to watch the crew at their duties. We covered a lot of territory during those 8 hours - traversing several states. This video brought back a lot of pleasant memories.
I was born at Lockborne AFB while my father served there as a Senior Master Sergeant in a Fighter Interceptor Squadron. I think it was the 87th but I’m unsure.
I started my AF career assigned to the 97th ARS, Malstrom AFB, Montana 9 August 1962. Was assigned to the KC-97 as assistant crew chief with SSgt John Tonnis. I loved the 97 from the 1st day I climbed aboard. I flew on it every mission I could. I can still smell the exhaust from those engine to this day. I'm 77 yrs old and spent 22 years in the Air Force and retired as a Msgt. I now live in Eldersburg, Md
Great video of "MY" aircraft. I was assigned to this particular aircraft at Westover AFB in January of 1959 flying on it to Greenland, Newfoundland, and Homstead AFB. My boss, MSGT Fred LaVigne was just a super person. Many fond memories of those R-4360-59B engines starting up. What awesome power. Capt. Dyer actually let me have some "stick" coming stateside from Greenland. What an experience for a 20 year old kid.
I got to fly a Lmodel from Knoxville to Anchorage in the mid 70's. My dad was a full time guardsman and I was active duty. It was fun then but made a great memory for today.
I grew up in Knoxville and remember watching them fly over all the time! I later got a once in a lifetime chance in 2006 to take a flight from McGee Tyson on a KC-135 during a training mission over VA and WV. I will always remember getting to lay in the back and watch a giant plane ease up and refuel from our tanker!
We (at least I did) rightly called this sweet thing the "Cadillac of the recips." I had the great pleasure of being both a Crew Chief as well as a Flight Engineer on the KC-97F, G, and L (Jet augmented, two B-47 Engines, Four P&W R4360-59B Recips). Hunter AFB, Ga.; CCAFB, Wilmington, Ohio; Lockbourn AFB, Ohio. This baby flew and rode like a dream. X Msgt. Jerry L. Gardner
A C-97 medivac aircraft was the very first piston engined plane that I flew in. I was a young airman stationed at Williams AFB, AZ, and I took a flight from Phoenix to McGuire AFB in NJ. It was the cheapest alternative, because I was on my first leave and I had few $$$. The pilot let me sit in the cockpit and I had the most unforgettable experience. circa 1970. Fond emories.
I worked on the Airborne Radio and Radar and Nav aids on these tankers at Homestead fl, Cape Cod Ma, and with the Ohio ANG in Wilmington OH. At Wilmington around 1966-67 they were converted to the L models. I also ran the Flight Simulator at Wilmington, till I left to work for GE Computer dept. Great experience.
I was born at Dover AFB, my dad was a flight engineer on a C-97, in 1957, our family had just returned from Guam. My dad didn't much like Dover, and ended up at Hill AFB Utah.
2:30 those look very similar to the "Benson Tanks" we used to use in Rescue HC-130's to extend our range. This Old Gal is still sitting on her own tires? Would be a Royal treat to hear just one of those 4360's fire-up! Always thought these were kinf of ugly but, that look grows on you after a bit. One of our unit members at March AFB used to be a FE on one of these. Seemed to have had a fondness for them. Nice video, Thanks!
That tank that has the Number 97 Whiskey Sticker on it has a removable plug in one end that can be pulled to allow for bottles of Whiskey, Etc to be stowed inside the tank when it has no fuel in it. John Demery told me that himself.
When I was in F-4's in the late 1960's, we refueled once from a KC-97. It was ANG, but I don't remember from where or what type. OTOH, one thing about it was memorable: the tanker was firewalled and we were not much above stall speed.
IDK about "main man" but definitely a crucial part of the flight crew. My dad sat left seat for many hours on the C-97 with the 146th CANG out of Van Nuys.
I have flown on the C-97's several times while going to and leaving our satellite base while stationed at Barksdale AFB, but never got to see all of the aircraft since I was a passenger and the crew had detoured to our base just to pick up our load crew. The aircraft seemed to have quite a bit of power in the engines but wasn't as powerful as the C-124's I flew on.
Correct me if I am wrong I think they borrowed a lot from the B17 to build this aircraft. Especially that strong. Tail they would have jet assists on it as it was too slow to gas up jets. Flew on one in 1968
I'm sorry,it's a great video of a lovingly maintained aircraft. But it is a development of the B-50 bomber not the B-29! Compound supercharged 4360 engines larger vertical stabilizer,these Should alert you to the fact!
@@earlborchardt4358 Yes superficially,but everything was updated,and only the fusalage (however you spell it) was the same. Different wings,wider span, whole tail section,and all the avionics,such as they were. A lot more than just an engine change.
@soaringtractor That's cool to know! I didn't realize that it started with the B-29! That said,this aircraft has the 4360 engines and the larger vertical stabilizer. So,this is a later variant, with the upgrades. Correct?
My grandfather was a flight engineer on this exact KC-97 L in the late 70s and early 80s when he was in the tennessee air national guard in Knoxville as part of the 134th air refueling wing and 151st air refueling squadron. It is so cool to see the airplane that I have heard so many stories about
This just popped up on my TH-cam as I was browsing. I say 230 on the nose and thought to myself, I think that number rings a bell. Well when I saw Tennessee on the tail, I knew it was our 30230 from Knoxville. I actually was a Pilot in the 134th Air Refueling Group at McGhee Tyson in Knoxville and have many hours in this particular aircraft. It looks much better than it did when I flew it in 71-75. I had about 450 hours in the KC-97 during my time in the 134th. I don’t know how many in this particular plane as we rotated among all the planes we had - 11 of them. What a memory booster this was. I’m going to have to make it up to Dover to see this bird and sign that crew roster and see if any of the guys I flew with have been there.
Excellent video. In 1957, I was an AFROTC Cadet at Lockbourne AFB, Columbus, OH. I had the privilege of taking two, 8-hour orientation rides during the 4-week summer encampment. The plane was used to refuel B-47 jet bombers - we were allowed to crowd behind the boom operator. As I remember, we increased to max speed in the KC-97 to assist during the refueling of the much faster bomber. We were told that the reason we flew so long a flight for such a short duration refueling, was for security reasons - so any would-be enemy would not be able to predict where the bomber and tanker were to meet up. Most of the time during those long flights we leaned up against the fuel tanks or visited the cockpit area to watch the crew at their duties. We covered a lot of territory during those 8 hours - traversing several states. This video brought back a lot of pleasant memories.
I was born at Lockborne AFB while my father served there as a Senior Master Sergeant in a Fighter Interceptor Squadron. I think it was the 87th but I’m unsure.
I started my AF career assigned to the 97th ARS, Malstrom AFB, Montana 9 August 1962. Was assigned to the KC-97 as assistant crew chief with SSgt John Tonnis. I loved the 97 from the 1st day I climbed aboard. I flew on it every mission I could.
I can still smell the exhaust from those engine to this day. I'm 77 yrs old and spent 22 years in the Air Force and retired as a Msgt. I now live in Eldersburg, Md
George Duffy thank u for ur service I spent 25 yrs too
A crew chief when I started finish as a flight engineer good times very good airplane
Great video of "MY" aircraft. I was assigned to this particular aircraft at Westover AFB in January of 1959 flying on it to Greenland, Newfoundland, and Homstead AFB. My boss, MSGT Fred LaVigne was just a super person. Many fond memories of those R-4360-59B engines starting up. What awesome power. Capt. Dyer actually let me have some "stick" coming stateside from Greenland. What an experience for a 20 year old kid.
I got to fly a Lmodel from Knoxville to Anchorage in the mid 70's. My dad was a full time guardsman and I was active duty. It was fun then but made a great memory for today.
I grew up in Knoxville and remember watching them fly over all the time! I later got a once in a lifetime chance in 2006 to take a flight from McGee Tyson on a KC-135 during a training mission over VA and WV. I will always remember getting to lay in the back and watch a giant plane ease up and refuel from our tanker!
Spent three years crewing one of these. Brought back a lot of memories.
We (at least I did) rightly called this sweet thing the "Cadillac of the recips." I had the great pleasure of being both a Crew Chief as well as a Flight Engineer on the KC-97F, G, and L (Jet augmented, two B-47 Engines, Four P&W R4360-59B Recips). Hunter AFB, Ga.; CCAFB, Wilmington, Ohio; Lockbourn AFB, Ohio. This baby flew and rode like a dream.
X Msgt. Jerry L. Gardner
A C-97 medivac aircraft was the very first piston engined plane that I flew in. I was a young airman stationed at Williams AFB, AZ, and I took a flight from Phoenix to McGuire AFB in NJ. It was the cheapest alternative, because I was on my first leave and I had few $$$. The pilot let me sit in the cockpit and I had the most unforgettable experience. circa 1970. Fond emories.
Bet that was a NY Air Guard bird. They were the main competition for my parents unit in Van Nuys-The Hollywood Guard.
I worked on the Airborne Radio and Radar and Nav aids on these tankers at Homestead fl, Cape Cod Ma, and with the Ohio ANG in Wilmington OH.
At Wilmington around 1966-67 they were converted to the L models. I also ran the Flight Simulator at Wilmington, till I left to work for GE Computer dept. Great experience.
Nice, steady camera work. Thanks for posting.
That is one clean KC-97. They do an amazing job at Dover.
I was born at Dover AFB, my dad was a flight engineer on a C-97, in 1957, our family had just returned from Guam. My dad didn't much like Dover, and ended up at Hill AFB Utah.
I'm not going to be able to get that tune outta my head now for days.
Thanks...
A beautiful, well preserved aircraft. Thank you for the video.
2:30 those look very similar to the "Benson Tanks" we used to use in Rescue HC-130's to extend our range. This Old Gal is still sitting on her own tires?
Would be a Royal treat to hear just one of those 4360's fire-up! Always thought these were kinf of ugly but, that look grows on you after a bit. One of our unit members at March AFB used to be a FE on one of these. Seemed to have had a fondness for them. Nice video, Thanks!
I hopped rides to and from RheinMain to Knoxville in 1968 a number of times. Great bunch of guys.
went across the pond many times in several of these from Texas
That tank that has the Number 97 Whiskey Sticker on it has a removable plug in one end that can be pulled to allow for bottles of Whiskey, Etc to be stowed inside the tank when it has no fuel in it. John Demery told me that himself.
I was crew chief on 861 in the mid 50's. Nine trips to Goose Bay Labrador.
I lived a few miles from DAFB.
I visited the museum frequently.
When I was in F-4's in the late 1960's, we refueled once from a KC-97. It was ANG, but I don't remember from where or what type. OTOH, one thing about it was memorable: the tanker was firewalled and we were not much above stall speed.
Thank you for not having hard rock/pop music/death metal as music! This music is time appropriate!!!!
Awesome bird. Excellent video. Those were the days when the flight engineer was the main man.
IDK about "main man" but definitely a crucial part of the flight crew. My dad sat left seat for many hours on the C-97 with the 146th CANG out of Van Nuys.
If you ever want to go on one come to Colorado Springs. We have a restaurant where you can sit on a KC-97 and eat.
Cool looking tanker. Cold war history. I was a telephone linesman in the USAF in the1980s and 90s.
What is really cool is my son is a boom operator on the KC-135 at Mcghee Tyson in Knoxville.
I crewed an F model at Hunter AFB Savannah Ga. and A G model at Pese AFB NH.
This tail # was assigned to the 134th ANG @ Knoxville TN in the 60's to around 1976 when we received KC-135s
I spent time as a radio operator on this aircraft and then onto the KC-135 (707)
This music sounds like something that the weather channel uses.
I have flown on the C-97's several times while going to and leaving our satellite base while stationed at Barksdale AFB, but never got to see all of the aircraft since I was a passenger and the crew had detoured to our base just to pick up our load crew. The aircraft seemed to have quite a bit of power in the engines but wasn't as powerful as the C-124's I flew on.
very nice aircraft!
did the jet pods run on avgas or did they have separate fuel tanks?
THX for the walkthrough... nice video...
--Mike
Can it still start up ?
difficult keeping up with the B-47 bomber so changed over to the (707) KC-135.
John Gould that’s right
A narration would have been much better than the elevator music.
I really like the b-29/kc-97 design
but they are not even similar
Thanks, but why the goofy music?
Thanks
Maybe I am wrong but that nose steering wheel is huge!!
Correct me if I am wrong I think they borrowed a lot from the B17 to build this aircraft. Especially that strong. Tail they would have jet assists on it as it was too slow to gas up jets. Flew on one in 1968
B29
Had to mute this otherwise lovely video--why does everything have to have Foreground Music?
if only they fire up those engines again
that smooth jazz though
Boeing really Effed Up not fitting Allisons to the 377 Airframe.
@soaringtractor Replacing R4360's w/ T56.
I'm sorry,it's a great video of a lovingly maintained aircraft. But it is a development of the B-50 bomber not the B-29! Compound supercharged 4360 engines larger vertical stabilizer,these Should alert you to the fact!
???? The B-50 or KB-50 is a re do of the B-29
@@earlborchardt4358 Yes superficially,but everything was updated,and only the fusalage (however you spell it) was the same. Different wings,wider span, whole tail section,and all the avionics,such as they were. A lot more than just an engine change.
@soaringtractor That's cool to know! I didn't realize that it started with the B-29!
That said,this aircraft has the 4360 engines and the larger vertical stabilizer. So,this is a later variant, with the upgrades. Correct?
Time for your local on the 8s
Fly it!
these airplanes are fly
Mute!
Nice video though...
WTF? The music do we need the music!!!!!!
Thank goodness you put that elevator music on there, it’d be a terrible video without it
Hi!!!!!!!!!!
Why is it that people who upload video play stupid music?Its just ignorance of art.
Screw you. I thought the smooth jazz was great. WTF do you want to listen to? Megadeth? Talk about ignorance of art.