The cavernous upper deck was capable of accommodating oversize cargo accessed through a very large right-side door.

In addition, transferable jet fuel was contained in tanks on the lower deck (G-L models).

B-52s typically lowered their flaps and rear landing gear to slow the aircraft enough to refuel from the KC-97.

In addition, a typical B-52 refueling engagement profile would involve a descent that allowed the aircraft pair to maintain a higher airspeed (220–240 knots).

In the early 1960s, the Tactical Air Command added General Electric J47 two twin- jet pods from retired KB-50 aerial tankers to produce the KC-97L.

52-0828)[15] was adapted into the Aero Spacelines Super Guppy, a transport plane designed to carry Apollo Program rocket stages from California to Florida.

It is one of two KC-97s left still in flyable condition, the other being former KC-97G 52-2718, "Angel of Deliverance", currently flown by Berlin Airlift Historical Foundation as YC-97A 45-59595.