C-97 BETA now available for download!

[Maj Kong]

Aharon:

Thanks for reply!! In other words, no Bermuda words or no name of Bermuda air force base on the KC-97G liveries???

As far as I know, none of the SAC squadrons (tankers or bombers) had any special markings (ala WWII). Crews were not assigned to any specific aircraft so there was no opportunity for the "personal touch".
Perhaps the National Guard did otherwise but all the KCs I ever saw were plain wrappers or with standard Arctic orange trim.
Still poking around for photos but they are hiding out someplace.

Btw...Kindley AFB no longer exists. Almost every building that made up the base is gone. Saw it last year and it came as a shock.....loved that place even if we did spend about one week out of every three on alert.

 

[Aharon]

Aharaon: Yes, as WND says, but also, as the general rule is, L-click decreases and R-click increases. I believe I put that in the readme, too. Yes, here we go, readme Notes item 1:

This was exactly what I did before during extensive ground testings. It did not work. Let me check it again. Maybe it would be different for laptops' mouse touch pads.

WND, thanks for suggestion.

Regards,

Aharon

 

[Aharon]

Maj Kong,

Thanks for reply!!! Why were KC-97Gs based in Bermuda? To get 2 extra hours out of flying while refueling planes over Atlantic Ocean or to get closer to planes over Atlantic Ocean faster?

Regards,

Aharon

 

[mjahn]

Help popups WIP

I am working on replacing the single Monitor Help window (now dated) by individual popups for the subpanels. Here is a draft of the popup for Monitor > Flight. I'll post the other screens here as soon as I have them. Questions & suggestions welcome.

 

[gray eagle]

Patch 2 installed - Finally

Hey, Jim, I did not include those files in order to help reduce the download file size. Those files are in are in Manfreds original texture set which you are supposed to make a copy of. Please re-read the installation instructions in my readme file and follow the copy and paste process described there and you should be good to go.

Thanks

Steve,

Thanks for all your help, had my son helped me a little with "merge x,y and z from your Patch #2 details. Got all my liveries back in and the cockpit looks to be all there. Not sure what patch 2 is supppose to do for me, but I will nose around on this thread and maybe I'll get some clues.
Thanks again




Edit: found the list of things patch 2 added/corrected here

 

[Duckie]

More than welcome GE! You were probably much better off with your son helping than me!

Glad you got it sorted.

Steve

 

[gray eagle]

Blue band on C97

Was it just one unique squadron that sported that big blue ring that goes around the aft section of the fuselage on the KC97?
I was looking at KC97 images on Google and I noticed a lot of different pictures of ones without that blue band.

 

[JensOle]

I'm no KC-97 expert, but I think you are talking about the so called "SAC star spangled band" which was introduced to SAC aircraft in 1954. I also believe the SAC shield was painted over the band on the left side, often in conjunction with the individual wing badge on the right side.
This was a special SAC marking and would of course not been seen on ANG or TAC aircraft.

 

[manfredc3]

I obviously don't have the military background that most of you have.

That's probably why the acronyms SAC, TAC and ANG sound like abra-ca-dabra to me .

But I enjoy reading everyone's stories and input, while having a blast with this aircraft and the wonderful paint jobs/textures you great painters produce.

 

[oldmsgt]

Was it just one unique squadron that sported that big blue ring that goes around the aft section of the fuselage on the KC97?
I was looking at KC97 images on Google and I noticed a lot of different pictures of ones without that blue band.

That is what is known as the Strategic Air Command "Milky Way Bar". I was only in SAC for a couple of years (1977-1979) as a radar/navigation technician on the KC-135A , but participated in many European Tanker Task Forces flying out of Pease AFB, New Hampshire during that time. As JensOle stated above the SAC shield was placed in the center of the bar on the left side with the owning Wing shield on the right. All the tankers (both active duty & ANG) and bombers (B-52 & FB-111) I saw wore the bar. No doubt it was one of the many SAC regulations that applied only to SAC. Perhaps regulations were looser in the KC-97 days, that was slightly before my time.
oldmsgt

"To err is human, to forgive is not SAC policy." General Curtis LeMay, Commander, Strategic Air Command

 

[napamule]

Just now took the C-97 for a 'spin'. I did the 'Ctrl+Shft+F1' and the engines shut off while I was at 6500 ft. I then pushed the right keys and they fired up almost at the same time, blowing smoke, and I was back in business. What keys, you may ask? Well I pushed 'E' then quickly pushed '1,2,3,4', then pushed 'Ctrl+E'. Wala-engines fired up. OK? OK! To make thing easier I install the Bendix_King' radio section in my panel. But the 'Mon' panel would of done the same, I believe. Oh, here is a pic of MY 2D panel. Work around work around.
Chuck B
Napamule
Edit: And the 'proceedure' for reverse (switch, etc) is nothing more than 'Ctrl+F1', then 'Ctrl+F2' (hold both for 10 seconds) then increase throttle - and backwards she goes. Work around work around.

 

[mjahn]

Monitor > Engines Help Screen

This one's getting pretty crowded ...

 

[Maj Kong]

Maj Kong,

Thanks for reply!!! Why were KC-97Gs based in Bermuda? To get 2 extra hours out of flying while refueling planes over Atlantic Ocean or to get closer to planes over Atlantic Ocean faster?

Regards,

Aharon

We had B-47s on alert in Spain and Africa. They "commuted" from McDill and Homestead in Florida and it was a pretty long haul.
All arrivals for aircraft going on or off alert were planned to provide daylight landings. So...We met eastbound bombers usually between midnight and two am and those returning home (westbound) usually in mid afternoon. There were standard rendezvous points selected as late as possible to allow final weather check.
A "normal" refueling mission for eastbound flights was about 5 1/2 hours** because they needed quite a bit more fuel than homebound flights.

** Get to squadron for flight plan......8pm brief......load flight gear/get flight lunches or coffee....get to plane 9:30pm.....preflight.......final wx check/fix any problems with plane....11:30 pm start engines (usually three or four tankers)......Midnight takeoff.....0200 air refueling (usually 10 or 15 minutes)......break away and perhaps a short navigation practise.....0530 back on the ground .put all that gear away, etc,..fill out all those !#%&*^$$ forms and MAYBE head for home by 0630
Really glamorous, right???

Btw...we did this two nights each week and westbound two days each week, others by appointment

 

[Aharon]

Maj Kong,

Awesome answers I did not even know American bombers were based in Africa!!!!

I am having hard time seeing how KC-97s in old ways could see and refuel bombers in pitch black dark nights and I am having hard time seeing how KC-97s without modern radars could spot and meet bombers in pitch black dark nights!!

Regards,

Aharon

 

[mjahn]

This one is fairly obvious, but has a few special features. I have added pink outlines to the mouse areas (only in these help screens).

 

[Maj Kong]

Short hop today in the KC. First thing I noticed was no escape rope. Maybe this pic will help a bit. Eventually I will find all the photos.
Btw.. this was taken as we lifted off Kindley. Just ahead but not visible in this pic is the Astor mansion.....big with its own little railway. Dunno if it is true but an old squadron mate told me that a year or so after we left Bermuda someone hit it right after takeoff. Don't believe it was a KC though.

 

[Duckie]

WIP...Here's an orange trimmed "G". 108th ARS IL. ANG. Still have to do the ALPHAs and SPECs, so still a few days away.

 

[gray eagle]

WIP...Here's an orange trimmed "G". 108th ARS IL. ANG. Still have to do the ALPHAs and SPECs, so still a few days away.

I like the orange trim. I guess there were plenty of these air guard versions with the orange trim -

 

[qar02]

Sins of Heresy and Lust....

Just for laughs...tried loading the FS4 YC-121-F into FSX and she flies!!! No loss of gauges or props...

So, would it be in the dream-span to hope that the current KC-97 could be up graded to the YC-97J? There were at least two of these turboprop conversions made for evaluation. They just out performed the C97 completely...proving that TPs and the in development C-130 were worth it. The converted 97's, even out-flew the, ground radar sweep rates current at that time.

And...if really a heretic...you can export and install the '121's Engineers Panel, Upper Panel and the Lower Panel, into the KC97. So far, I can't find any
discrepancies in displayed data. (Too much time on my hands and a lowering of morals, I guess).

v/r
qar02

 

[mjahn]

Maj Kong, great reminiscences and pics.

Duckie: Phwoar! is what I exclaimed on seeing that flaming Strat!

qar02, the J wasn't on my list though why not if Ted does us a soundtrack? I understand the P&W turboprops were good for setting all kinds of records but still very temperamental in C-133 service.

Meanwhile, the Avionics help screen -- actually largely a Memo on what I learned myself with the help of members here during the past few weeks.