Boeing C-97A Stratofreighter - additional handling hints.

It is very easy to climb a Stratofreighter to flight levels where it cannot sustain an adequate cruising speed. It may not be flown continuously in climb power (45.5 inches and 2350 rpm), the maximum for cruise is 41 inches and 2100 rpm.

In the real world the navigator would calculate the earliest time at which it was sensible to step climb another 2000 feet. In FS2002 you will need to use a dynamic technique.

Passing 9000 feet or FL90 reduce rate of climb to 500 VSI with 45.5/2350 set. Monitor your airspeed closely. As soon as your airspeed falls to 175 KIAS level off at the next flight level. You have reached your operational ceiling and cannot climb any higher until you have burned off more fuel.

Accelerate > 190 KIAS in climb power and only then reduce to max cruise power (41/2100). After about 30 minutes you should be able to climb another 2000 feet at 500 VSI using climb power. Assuming you do not have a headwind, keep doing this until you reach FL250 several hours into the flight.

Never climb into a headwind unless you need to cross mountains or are required to maintain a minimum cruising level by ATC.

When you level off always accelerate > 190 KIAS in climb power, and only then reduce to max cruise power. If the speed decays through 190 KIAS in max cruise power (41/2100) you have exceeded your operational ceiling. Request a 2000 foot descent from ATC and attempt to establish > 190 KIAS cruise with 41/2100 set at the lower level.

Flying at 190 KIAS is not economical, but until you reach FL250 you want to use up the fuel at high airspeed to allow you to climb higher. Once you reach FL250 you must alter your technique.

Once established in the cruise at FL250, gradually reduce MAP below 41 inches at 2100 rpm to keep speed down to 180 KIAS.  Once you start to exceed 180 KIAS with 38/2100 set you must sustain 38 inches and begin to reduce rpm instead to maintain 180 KIAS. You may run out of fuel on a long flight if you do not manage economical cruise power at FL250 well, and at the earliest opportunity.

180 KIAS will yield about 265 KTAS at FL250. That is the optimum cruise condition as the pressure cabin cannot withstand higher altitudes, but in a Stratocruiser it will take avery long time to establish this optimum cruise condition.

Different rules apply to USAF tanking operations (see KC-97_ref).