The Boeing C-137 Stratoliner is a retired VIP
transport aircraft Transport aircraft is a broad category of aircraft that includes:
* Airliners, aircraft, usually large and most often operated by airlines, intended for carrying multiple passengers or cargo in commercial service
* Cargo aircraft or freighters, fix ...
derived from the
Boeing 707 jet airliner
A jet airliner or jetliner is an airliner powered by jet engines (passenger jet aircraft). Airliners usually have two or four jet engines; three-engined designs were popular in the 1970s but are less common today. Airliners are commonly clas ...
used by the
United States Air Force
The United States Air Force (USAF) is the Aerial warfare, air military branch, service branch of the United States Armed Forces, and is one of the eight uniformed services of the United States. Originally created on 1 August 1907, as a part ...
.
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 707-320B/C series. The C-137 should not be confused with the similar
Boeing C-135 Stratolifter
The Boeing C-135 Stratolifter is a transport aircraft derived from the prototype Boeing 367-80 jet airliner (also the basis for the 707) in the early 1950s. It has a narrower fuselage and is shorter than the 707. Boeing gave the aircraft the i ...
; although they share a common ancestor the two aircraft have different fuselages.
Development
US Air Force procurement of the Boeing 707 was very limited, amounting to three Model 707-153s designated VC-137A. When delivered in 1959 these had four 13,500 lb (6123 kg) dry thrust
Pratt & Whitney J57
The Pratt & Whitney J57 (company designation: JT3C) is an axial-flow turbojet engine developed by Pratt & Whitney in the early 1950s. The J57 (first run January 1950) was the first 10,000 lbf (45 kN) thrust class engine in the United State ...
(JT3C6) turbojets; when subsequently re-engined with 18,000 lbf (80.1 kN) dry thrust
TF33-P-5 (JT3D) turbofans they were redesignated VC-137B. Only one other variant served with the Air Force: this was the VC-137C ''
Air Force One'' Presidential transport, the two examples of which were Model 707-320B Intercontinentals with specialized interior furnishings and advanced communications equipment. Two further C-137C aircraft lacking Presidential transport modifications were later added.
[Gunston, Bill. ''The Encyclopedia of Modern Warplanes'', p. 64. Aerospace Publishing Ltd, 1995. .]
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
![DF-SC-86-12927](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/e/eb/DF-SC-86-12927.jpg)
The C-18 is the US military designation for the conversions of the 707-320B series.
;C-18A: Eight second-hand (former
American Airlines
American Airlines is a major airlines of the United States, major US-based airline headquartered in Fort Worth, Texas, within the Dallas–Fort Worth metroplex. It is the Largest airlines in the world, largest airline in the world when measured ...
) 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
The United States Department of Defense (DoD, USDOD or DOD) is an executive branch department of the federal government charged with coordinating and supervising all agencies and functions of the government directly related to national sec ...
, 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.
The designation E-7 was originally applied to modified Boeing 707s before being replaced by the EC-18 designation.
;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
TAP Air Portugal is the currently state-owned flag carrier airline of Portugal, headquartered at Lisbon Airport which also serves as its hub. TAP – Transportes Aéreos Portugueses – has been a member of the Star Alliance since 2005 and opera ...
) 707-382 aircraft modified for E-6 pilot training.
C-137 Stratoliner
![DM-ST-88-06835](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/d/d8/DM-ST-88-06835.jpg)
The USAF purchased a number of 707s under the C-137 series of designations:
;VC-137A: Three 707-153s (58-6970, 58–6971, 58–6972) 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
The Pratt & Whitney JT3D is an early turbofan aircraft engine derived from the Pratt & Whitney JT3C. It was first run in 1958 and was first flown in 1959 under a B-45 Tornado test aircraft. Over 8,000 JT3Ds were produced between 1959 and 1985. M ...
-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 (62-6000 and 72–7000) were purchased by the USAF (one in 1961 and one in 1972) for service as
presidential transports with call signs
SAM 26000
Sam, SAM or variants may refer to:
Places
* Sam, Benin
* Sam, Boulkiemdé, Burkina Faso
* Sam, Bourzanga, Burkina Faso
* Sam, Kongoussi, Burkina Faso
* Sam, Iran
* Sam, Teton County, Idaho, United States, a populated place
People and fictio ...
and
SAM 27000
''SAM 27000'' was the second of two Boeing VC-137C United States Air Force aircraft that were specifically configured and maintained for the use of the president of the United States. It used the call sign Air Force One when the president was o ...
; later redesignated C-137C.
;C-137C: The two VC-137Cs were redesignated when downgraded from presidential use. SAM 26000 and SAM 27000 were retired in 1998 and 2001 respectively. Both are now in aviation museums. Two further C-137Cs were acquired by the USAF on 24 March 1988, one 707-396C (a seized aircraft formerly used for arms smuggling acquired in 1985) and one 707-382B bought second hand in 1987. Their assigned tail numbers were 85-6973 and 85–6974.
;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
;
Boeing E-3 Sentry:
Airborne warning and control system
Airborne or Airborn may refer to:
Arts, entertainment, and media
Films
* ''Airborne'' (1962 film), a 1962 American film directed by James Landis
* ''Airborne'' (1993 film), a comedy–drama film
* ''Airborne'' (1998 film), an action film sta ...
(AWACS) aircraft that provides all-weather surveillance, command, control and communications, to the
United States
The United States of America (U.S.A. or USA), commonly known as the United States (U.S. or US) or America, is a country primarily located in North America. It consists of 50 states, a federal district, five major unincorporated territori ...
,
NATO
The North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO, ; french: Organisation du traité de l'Atlantique nord, ), also called the North Atlantic Alliance, is an intergovernmental military alliance between 30 member states – 28 European and two No ...
and other air defense forces. Based on the 707-320B, production ended in 1992 after 68 had been built.
;
Boeing E-6 Mercury
The Boeing E-6 Mercury (formerly Hermes) is an airborne command post and communications relay based on the Boeing 707. The original E-6A manufactured by Boeing's defense division entered service with the United States Navy in July 1989, repl ...
: 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 submarine
A ballistic missile submarine is a submarine capable of deploying submarine-launched ballistic missiles (SLBMs) with nuclear warheads. The United States Navy's hull classification symbols for ballistic missile submarines are SSB and SSBN – ...
s, known as "Take Charge and Move Out", gives it the suffix
TACAMO
TACAMO (Take Charge And Move Out) is a United States military system of survivable communications links designed to be used in nuclear warfare to maintain communications between the decision-makers (the National Command Authority) and the t ...
. 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
;
Northrop Grumman 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 understanding 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
![Boeing 707 refuelling MB-339](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/4/47/Boeing_707_refuelling_MB-339.JPG)
;
CC-137 Husky
The Boeing CC-137 was a transport and tanker aircraft which served with the Canadian Forces from 1970 to 1997. The Boeing 707-347C aircraft provided long range passenger transport for the military, VIP transport for government and air-to-air r ...
:
Canadian Forces
}
The Canadian Armed Forces (CAF; french: Forces armées canadiennes, ''FAC'') are the unified military forces of Canada, including sea, land, and air elements referred to as the Royal Canadian Navy, Canadian Army, and Royal Canadian Air Forc ...
designation for the 707-347C. Five were purchased new in 1970.
;KC-137:
Brazilian Air Force
;707:
IRIAF operates 707 Tankers and Transports.
;707 Re’em: The
Israeli Air Force
The Israeli Air Force (IAF; he, זְרוֹעַ הָאֲוִיר וְהֶחָלָל, Zroa HaAvir VeHahalal, tl, "Air and Space Arm", commonly known as , ''Kheil HaAvir'', "Air Corps") operates as the aerial warfare branch of the Israel Defens ...
operates an undisclosed
number (sources
suggest 7) of converted Boeing 707s with flying booms in
120 ("Desert Giants") Squadron. Israel's fleet are former civilian aircraft adapted for military uses such as aerial refueling of fighter jets and transport. Able to carry 20 extra fuel tanks while modified for aerial refueling, the Re’ems can be adapted to carry passengers as well as cargo such as military equipment and ammunition. Following the outbreak of the
COVID-19 pandemic
The COVID-19 pandemic, also known as the coronavirus pandemic, is an ongoing global pandemic of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2). The novel virus was first identi ...
in 2020, the planes have also been used to carry medical equipment.
;707T/T: The 707 Tanker/Transport.
Italy
Italy ( it, Italia ), officially the Italian Republic, ) or the Republic of Italy, is a country in Southern Europe. It is located in the middle of the Mediterranean Sea, and its territory largely coincides with the homonymous geographical ...
purchased and converted four 707s, two to tankers and two to a straight freighter. No 707 tankers remain operational as of 3 April 2008. Also,
Omega Aerial Refueling Services operates K707 tankers for lease.
;KE-3A: The
Royal Saudi Air Force
The Royal Saudi Air Force ( ar, الْقُوَّاتُ الْجَوِّيَّةُ الْمَلَكِيَّةْ ٱلسُّعُوْدِيَّة, Al-Quwwat Al-Jawiyah Al-Malakiyah as-Su’udiyah) (RSAF) is the aviation branch of the Saudi Arabia ...
purchased eight E-3 airframes configured as aerial refueling tankers.
;
Condor
Condor is the common name for two species of New World vultures, each in a monotypic genus. The name derives from the Quechua ''kuntur''. They are the largest flying land birds in the Western Hemisphere.
They are:
* The Andean condor (''Vu ...
: Airborne Early Warning, Command and Control (AEWC&C) aircraft developed in conjunction with Israel Aircraft Industries (IAI) using a former Lan Chile aircraft.
![Hooking up for simulated refuelling with a NATO Boeing707-TCA in September 1996](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/5/56/Hooking_up_for_simulated_refuelling_with_a_NATO_Boeing707-TCA_in_September_1996.jpg)
;CT-49A
/707TCA: Three ex-Sabena airliners converted to TCA (Trainer Cargo Aircraft) in 1989 to support the NATO NAEWF E-3A training and air transport/cargo based on Boeing 707-320B. The aircraft were capable of making dry hookups with the USAF Flying Boom air-to-air refuelling system for training of pilots that were new to NAEWF, but also served as cargo/passenger transport. The two oldest/highest time 707s were replaced by two former Luftwaffe 707s in 1999. NAEWF withdrew the TCAs in 2011.
Operators
;
*
Brazilian Air Force
;
*
Islamic Republic of Iran Air Force
;
*
United States Air Force
The United States Air Force (USAF) is the Aerial warfare, air military branch, service branch of the United States Armed Forces, and is one of the eight uniformed services of the United States. Originally created on 1 August 1907, as a part ...
Aircraft on display
![SAM 27000 at Reagan Library](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/c/c3/SAM_27000_at_Reagan_Library.jpg)
The following aircraft are on public display:
*''58-6970'' Model 707-120 USAF VC-137B ''SAM 970 - "Queenie"'', a former Air Force One jet, first used by Eisenhower, is on display at the
Museum of Flight
The Museum of Flight is a private non-profit air and space museum in the Seattle metropolitan area. It is located at the southern end of King County International Airport (Boeing Field) in the city of Tukwila, immediately south of Seattle. ...
, Seattle, WA.
*''58-6971'' Model 707-153 USAF VC-137B is on display at the
Pima Air and Space Museum
The Pima Air & Space Museum, located in Tucson, Arizona, is one of the world's largest non-government funded aerospace museums. The museum features a display of nearly 300 aircraft spread out over 80 acres (320,000 m²) on a campus occ ...
adjacent to
Davis-Monthan AFB in
Tucson, AZ
, "(at the) base of the black ill
, nicknames = "The Old Pueblo", "Optics Valley", "America's biggest small town"
, image_map =
, mapsize = 260px
, map_caption = Interactive map ...
. This aircraft became known as ''"Freedom One"'' after serving in the return of the American hostages from Tehran, Iran in 1981.
*''62-6000'' Model 707-320B (VC-137C
SAM 26000
Sam, SAM or variants may refer to:
Places
* Sam, Benin
* Sam, Boulkiemdé, Burkina Faso
* Sam, Bourzanga, Burkina Faso
* Sam, Kongoussi, Burkina Faso
* Sam, Iran
* Sam, Teton County, Idaho, United States, a populated place
People and fictio ...
), a former Air Force One aircraft, is on display at the
National Museum of the United States Air Force
The National Museum of the United States Air Force (formerly the United States Air Force Museum) is the official museum of the United States Air Force located at Wright-Patterson Air Force Base, northeast of Dayton, Ohio. The NMUSAF is the ...
at
Wright-Patterson AFB near
Dayton, Ohio
Dayton () is the sixth-largest city in the U.S. state of Ohio and the county seat of Montgomery County. A small part of the city extends into Greene County. The 2020 U.S. census estimate put the city population at 137,644, while Greater D ...
.
*''72-7000'' Model 707-353B (VC-137C
SAM 27000
''SAM 27000'' was the second of two Boeing VC-137C United States Air Force aircraft that were specifically configured and maintained for the use of the president of the United States. It used the call sign Air Force One when the president was o ...
), a former Air Force One aircraft, is on display at the
Ronald Reagan Presidential Library in
Simi Valley, California
Simi Valley (; Chumashan languages, Chumash: ''Shimiyi'') is a city in Simi Valley (valley), the valley of the same name in the southeast region of Ventura County, California, United States. Simi Valley is from Downtown Los Angeles, making it ...
.
Note VC-137B 58-6972 was scrapped in October 1996.
Specifications (VC-137C)
See also
References
External links
{{Authority control
Boeing C-137 Stratoliner
The Boeing C-137 Stratoliner is a retired 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 t ...
C-0137 Stratoliner
Quadjets
Boeing 707
Low-wing aircraft
Aircraft first flown in 1958