-
1st Flight 1947
In the early 1960s the Israeli Air Force wanted to upgrade to the C-130 Hercules, which could lift larger payloads, but it was expensive and sales were embargoed by the United States.
Israel Aircraft Industries at Ben Gurion International Airport offered to modify Boeing 377 Stratocruisers.
It had a stronger cabin floor which could handle cargo, plus a C-97 military Stratocruiser tail section, which included a clamshell cargo door.
These were dubbed Anak and entered service in 1964.
Three of these were modified by the use of a swing tail section, similar to the Canadair CL44D-4 airliner.
Two others served as aerial tankers with under wing hose reel refuelling pods.
Two others were ELINT-platforms for electronic reconnaissance, surveillance and ECM (Electronic Counter Measures) missions.
These were later joined by four KC-97Gs with the flying boom system.
Specifications
Crew: 4 flight crew + cabin crew
Capacity: Up to 100 passengers on main deck plus 14 in lower deck lounge; typical seating for 63 or 84 passengers or 28 berthed and five seated passengers.
Length: 110 ft 4 in (33.63 m)
Wingspan: 141 ft 3 in (43.05 m)
Height: 38 ft 3 in (11.66 m)
Wing area: 1,769 sq ft (164.3 m2)
Empty weight: 83,500 lb (37,875 kg)
Max take-off weight: 148,000 lb (67,132 kg)
Powerplant: 4 × Pratt & Whitney R-4360-B6 Wasp Major 28-cylinder air-cooled radial piston engines, 3,500 hp (2,600 kW) each
Propellers: 4-bladed constant-speed fully-feathering propellers
Performance
Maximum speed: 375 mph (604 km/h, 326 kn)
Cruise speed: 301 mph (484 km/h, 262 kn)
Range: 4,200 mi (6,800 km, 3,600 nmi)
Service ceiling: 32,000 ft (9,800 m).
………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………..
-
