C-137 Stratoliner

Infobox Aircraft
name = C-137 Stratoliner C-18
type = Passenger/VIP transport
manufacturer = Boeing

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caption = A VC-137B at Peterson AFB, Colorado
designer =
first flight =
introduced =
retired =
status = Active service
primary user = United States Air Force
more users =
produced = 1954-1965
number built =
unit cost =
developed from = Boeing 707
variants with their own articles = Boeing CC-137 E-3 Sentry E-6 Mercury E-8 Joint STARS
VC-137C SAM 26000
VC-137C SAM 27000

The Boeing C-137 Stratoliner was a VIP transport aircraft derived from the Boeing 707 jet airliner used by the United States Air Force. Other nations also bought both new and used 707s for military service, primarily as VIP or tanker transports. In addition, the 707 served as the basis for several specialized versions, such as the E-3 Sentry AWACS aircraft. The designation C-18 covers several later variants based on the 707-320C series.

Development

USAF procurement of the Boeing 707 was very limited, amounting to three Model 707-153s designated VC-137A. When delivered in 1959 these had four 6123-kg (13,500-Ib) dry thrust Pratt & Whitney JT3C6 turbojets; when subsequently re-engined with 8165-kg (18,000-Ib) dry thrust TF33-P-5 turbofans they were redesignated VC-137B. Only one other variant served with the USAF: this was the VC-137C "Air Force One" Presidential transport, the two examples of which, apart from interior furnishings, are similar to the Model 707-320B Intercontinental. Two further non-presidential C-137C aircraft were later added.Gunston, Bill: "The Encyclopedia of Modern Warplanes", page 64. Aerospace Publishing Ltd, 1995. ISBN 1-56619-908-5]

To supplement its VC-137s, the USAF converted several C-135 airframes to VC-135 VIP standard, and these were used for staff transport mainly within the United States..

Variants

C-18

The C-18 is the US military designation for the conversions of the 707-320B series.

;C-18A: Eight second-hand (former American Airlines) 707-323Cs bought as crew trainers for the EC-18Bs, four later converted to EC-18B, two converted to EC-18D, one to C-18B; one was not taken into service and was used for spares.;C-18B: One C-18A modified with instrumentation and equipment to support the Military Strategic and Tactical Relay System (MILSTAR)."Model Designation of Military Aerospace Vehicles", United States Department of Defense, DoD 4120.15L] ;EC-18B: Four C-18As modified alongside examples of the C-135 for Advanced Range Instrumentation Aircraft (ARIA) missions in support of the Apollo space program.;EC-18C: Original designation for two prototype J-STAR aircraft, later redesignated E-8A. ;EC-18D: Two C-18As modified as a Cruise Missile Mission Control Aircraft (CMMCA).;TC-18E: Two second-hand (former Trans World Airlines) 707-331 aircraft modified for E-3 pilot and crew training.;TC-18F: Two second-hand (former TAP Portugal) 707-382 aircraft modified for E-6 pilot training.

C-137 Stratoliner

The USAF purchased a number of 707s under the C-137 series of designations:

;VC-137A: Three 707-153s with a 22-passenger VIP interior and provision for use as an airborne command post, re-designated VC-137B.;VC-137B: The three VC-137As re-engined with four Pratt & Whitney JT3D-3 engines, operated by the 89th Military Airlift Wing, redesignated C-137B.;C-137B: The three VC-137Bs redesignated when downgraded from VIP role.;VC-137C: Two 707-353Bs were purchased by the USAF (one in 1961 and one in 1972) for service as presidential transports with call signs SAM 26000 and SAM 27000; later redesignated C-137C.;C-137C: The two VC-137Cs were redesignated when downgraded from presidential use. Two further C-137Cs were acquired by the USAF, one 707-396C (a seized aircraft formerly used for arms smuggling acquired in 1985) and one 707-382B bought second hand in 1987.;EC-137D: Two aircraft built as Early Warning and Control System prototypes. Later re-engined and re-designated E-3A. A further second-hand 707-355C aircraft was acquired and configured as an airborne special operations command post.

Other US variants

;E-3 Sentry : Airborne warning and control system (AWACS) aircraft that provides all-weather surveillance, command, control and communications, to the United States, NATO and other air defense forces. Based on the 707-320B, production ended in 1992 after 68 had been built. ;E-6 Mercury : A version of the 707-320, it operates as an airborne command post and communications center, relaying instructions from the National Command Authority. Its role in relaying to the fleet ballistic missile submarines gives it the suffix TACAMO ("Take Charge and Move Out"). Only one version of the E-6 currently exists, the E-6B. The E-6B is an upgraded version of the E-6A that now includes a battlestaff area for the USSTRATCOM Airborne Command Post;E-8 Joint STARS : The E-8C Joint Surveillance Target Attack Radar System (Joint STARS) is a USAF airborne battle management and command and control (C2) platform that conducts ground surveillance to develop an under standing of the enemy situation and to support attack operations and targeting that contributes to the delay, disruption and destruction of enemy forces.

Variants of other militaries

;CC-137 Husky : Canadian Forces designation for the 707-347C.;KC-137 : of Brazilian Air Force [ [http://stinet.dtic.mil/oai/oai?&verb=getRecord&metadataPrefix=html&identifier=ADA331196 "Estimating KC-137 Aircraft Ownership Costs in the Brazilian Air Force", Defense Technical Information Center] ] [ [http://www.milavia.net/airforces/brazil/fab.htm Brazilian Air Force information at Milavia] ] ;707T/T : The 707 Tanker/Transport. Italy purchased and converted four 707s, two to tankers and two to a straight freighter. No 707 tankers remains operational as of 3 April 2008. [ [http://www.aeronautica.difesa.it/Sitoam/default.asp?idente=1398&idNot=20733 Aeronautica Militare official site] ] Also, Omega Air operates K707 tankers for lease. [ [http://www.fuelbirds.com/Aircraft.html Omega K707 Civilan Tanker] ] ;Sentry AEW1 : The Royal Air Force designation for seven E-3D AWACS aircraft.;KE-3A : The Royal Saudi Air Force purchased eight E-3 airframes configured as aerial refueling tankers.;Condor : Airborne Early Warning, Command and Control (AEWC&C) aircraft developed in conjunction with Israel Aircraft Industries (IAI) using a former Lan Chile aircraft.

Operators

;BRA
* Brazilian Air Force;USA
* United States Air Force

Aircraft on display

The following aircraft are on public display:
* "58-6970" Model 707-153 USAF VC-137B "SAM 970", Museum of Flight, Seattle, WA. [ [http://www.museumofflight.org/Collection/Aircraft.asp?RecordKey=8835E3E8-2D58-4DFE-87C9-1087DA0DD65B Museum of Flight: "VC-137B"] ]
* "58-6971" Model 707-153 USAF VC-137B Pima Air and Space Museum, Tucson, AZ. [ [http://www.pimaair.org/collection-detail.php?cid=38 Pima Air & Space Museum: "USAF VC-137B"] ]
* "62-7000" Model 707-353B (VC-137C SAM 27000) Air Force One is on display at the Ronald Reagan Presidential Library in Simi Valley, California.
* "62-6000" Model 707-320B (VC-137C SAM 26000) Air Force One is on display at the National Museum of the United States Air Force near Dayton, Ohio.

pecifications (VC-137C)

aircraft specifications
plane or copter?=plane
jet or prop?=jet
ref=
crew=
capacity=
payload main=
payload alt=
length main=152 ft 11 in
length alt=46.61 m
span main=145 ft 9 in
span alt=44.42 m
height main=42 ft 5 in
height alt=12.93 m
area main=3010 ft²
area alt=279.63 m²
airfoil=
empty weight main=98,466 lb
empty weight alt=44,663 kg
operating empty main=124,000 lb
operating empty alt=56,200 kg
loaded weight main=297,000 lb
loaded weight alt=135,000 kg
useful load main=
useful load alt=
max takeoff weight main=327,000 lb
max takeoff weight alt=148,325 kg
more general=
engine (jet)= Pratt & Whitney TF-33-PW-102 turbofan engines
type of jet=
number of jets=4
thrust main=18,000 lbf
thrust alt=80 kN
thrust original=
afterburning thrust main=
afterburning thrust alt=
engine (prop)=
type of prop=
number of props=
power main=
power alt=
power original=
max speed main=627 mph
max speed alt=1009 km/h
cruise speed main= 600 mph
cruise speed alt= 966 km/h
stall speed main=
stall speed alt=
never exceed speed main=
never exceed speed alt=
range main=7,610 mi
range alt=12,247 km
ceiling main=50,000 ft
ceiling alt=15,200 m
climb rate main=4,900 ft/min
climb rate alt=1,490 m/min
loading main=
loading alt=
thrust/weight=
power/mass main=
power/mass alt=
more performance=
armament=
avionics=

ee also

aircontent
related=
* VC-137C SAM 26000
* VC-137C SAM 27000
* Boeing 707
* C-135 Stratolifter
* KC-135 Stratotanker
* Boeing CC-137
* E-3 Sentry
* E-6 Mercury
* E-8 Joint STARS
similar aircraft=
* Douglas DC-8
* Convair 880
sequence=
lists=
see also=

References

External links