Boeing VC-137 / C-137 Stratoliner

Government VIP Transport [ 1959 ]

Despite their 1950s heritage, boeing VC-137 Stratoliners remain in acitve service with the United States Air Force into 2014.

Authored By: Staff Writer | Last Edited: 04/25/2016 | Content ©www.MilitaryFactory.com | The following text is exclusive to this site.

Image courtesy of the United States Air Force Museum, Dayton, Ohio.

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VC-137 "Stratoliner" is the designation used by the United States Air Force (USAF) to mark its Boeing 707s configured to the VIP passenger transport role. The Boeing 707 was developed in the latter part of the 1950s, first flying in December of 1957 and, since then, the model series has been produced in over 1,000 examples into 1979. The VC-137 remains in active service as of this writing (March 2014) and has seen several designations emerge since its formal adoption. Outwardly, the VC-137 retains the same general form and function as the original 707. The first VC-137 was delivered in 1959 and procurement proved limited.

VC-137A were the original early acquired marks and numbered three examples. These were internally configured to seat twenty-two in comfort with extra equipment to serve occupants as an Airborne Command Post (ACP). Power was served through 4 x Pratt & Whitney J57 turbojet engines. These aircraft were then redesignated as VC-137B. The VC-137B was refitted with 4 x Pratt & Whitney JT3D-3 turbofan engines and they, themselves, would later be known under the C-137B designation.

Beginning in 1961, the USAF procured an additional Boeing 707 aircraft (707-353B) and assigned it the VC-137C designation to serve the President of the United States and staff members. A second example followed in 1972 and, as with the earlier VC-137Bs, the VC-137C became known as C-137C.

The EC-137D designation was reserved for related Early Warning and Control System (EWAC) aircraft prototypes and numbered two. These then evolved under the E-3A "Sentry" designation to become their own notable Boeing 707 offshoot, serving with several world powers including NATO.©MilitaryFactory.com

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Specifications

Boeing Aircraft Company - USA
Manufacturer(s)

United States
Operators

1959
Service Year

United States
National Origin

3
Crew

7
Units

VIP SERVICE
Used in the Very-Important-Person (VIP) passenger transport role, typically with above-average amenities and luxuries as standard.

4 x Pratt & Whitney JT3D-3 Turbofan engines developing 18.000lb of thrust each.
Propulsion

628 mph
(1,010 kph | 545 knots)
Max Speed

49,869 ft
(15,200 m | 9 miles)
Ceiling

5,757 miles
(9,265 km | 5,003 nm)
Range

4,000 ft/min
(1,219 m/min)
Rate-of-Climb

MACH Regime (Sonic)

Sub

Trans

Super

Hyper

HiHyper

ReEntry

♦

None.

VC-137A - Original three examples modified for VIP service; seating for 22; Pratt & Whitney J57 turbojet engines; redesignated to VC-137B.

VC-137B - Redesignated VC-137A models with Pratt & Whitney JT3D-3 turbofan engines; redesignated as C-137B.

VC-137C - Two Boeing 707s for USAF converted for Presidential transport role; becoming C-137C.

C-137B - Original three VC-137A/B aircraft post-VIP service role.

C-137C - Pair of ex-VC-137C models for post-VIP/Presidential transport role.

EC-137D - Pair of prototype airframes to serve in EWCS role; evolving to become E-3 Sentry series.

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Image of the Boeing VC-137 / C-137 Stratoliner

Image courtesy of the United States Air Force Museum, Dayton, Ohio.

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