Mystery Airplane Contest

Some aircraft companies created airliners or cargo haulers based on bombers. Boeing is a good example of this, as is Avro. The Boeing B-17 begat the Model 307 Stratoliner. The Avro Lancaster begat the York and the Avro Lincoln begat the Tudor. One of the most prolific families from Boeing, began with the B-29. From the B-29 came the B-50 via the re-engined XB-44. Also in this family, came the R-3350 powered XC-97 during WWII, which evolved into the production C-97/ KC-97 series with R-4360 "corncob" radials. These served with SAC, Tactical Air Command, and many guard units, including the MN-ANG.

The prototype XC-97 (Model 367) was ordered by the AAF on 23 January 1943. Using the wing, engines, tail, and part of the fuselage of the B-29, the first flight of AAF 43-27470 took place on 15 November 1944. Due to B-29 production, service test YC-97s did not fly until March 1947. By this time the B-50, powered by Pratt & Whitney R-4360 engines and featuring a revised taller tail, had flown. The follow-on YC-97A's had more powerful engines and other B-50 improvements. Fifty C-97A's for Military Air Transport Service followed by June 1949. The last of 888 C-97/KC-97s was delivered in July 1956. The Air Force's KC-97s were replaced by the Boeing KC-135, which is still in service, having been brought on charge in June 1957. Fifty-six Model 377 Stratocruiser airliners were produced from 1947 to 1950, ten being operated by Northwest Airlines from 1949 to 1960. It also flew with Pan Am, BOAC, and United.

The KC-97G in this photo I took on 10 August 1987, at Greybull, WY, home base of Hawkins & Powers, was delivered to the Air Force in 1953, as AF 52-2698. In 1964, it was converted to a KC-97L with auxiliary J-47 turbojets added and assigned to the Illinois ANG at O'Hare Field. After retirement it was sold to Dross Metals, Tucson. It went to the Forest Service as N1365N in June 1982. Leased to Hawkins & Powers from 1985 to 1991 as Tanker #84, it operated in Alaska. Later as Tanker #97, it was operated by D & G, Inc., also of Greybull. By December 2021, N1365N, was registered to the Berlin Airlift Historical Foundation to provide parts and engines for the BAHF's C-97G, N117GA (AF 52-2718).

This month's winner is Karl Enghauser, who noted the connection to the Boeing 377 Stratoliner. Bob Heaviland found an action photo of N1365N dropping a load of fire retardant, as did Ed Wells. The last flying Model 367/377 is NASA's Super Guppy N941NA, that appeared at Oshkosh in 2023. Powered by four Allison T56s, it has parts from a Model 377 and C-97G.

Blue skies and tail winds. Brief well before flying!