Boeing C-97 Stratofreighter (N57KC)

Those cars are gorgeous too!! Paul, just double check the reg...

Said aircraft registration aside, that Buick Invicta drop top is a 1960 model. The nice first generation Buick Rivera next to it regrettably should have kept its original wheels installed.

My Dad owned a 1962 Ford Falcon with similar shape tailights to that 1960 Buick. Both Buicks give great scale to the impressive C97, complete with starboard side cargo door. I would guess her props are close to being eighteen feet diameter...

When I moved to Miami in 1979 there were still 2 of these flying out of the cargo area(Corrosion Corner) It was the last hurrah of the old pistons with DC4-6's and 7's along with a few Connies and Curtis Commandos. As you drove the service road bits of planes and Radial engines all over the place. I even went to an auction of a DC-6 just to crawl around the old bird. Good memories

That Rivera is a real looker.
I agree with cliff better with stock chrome rims.
Nice backdrop too.

Not a big deal, looks like the reg is N97KC, and not N57KC.

Cliff731 said: "The nice first generation Buick Rivera next to it regrettably should have kept its original wheels installed."

I say - Did you ever try to R&R a tire on an original Rivera Wheel? If you did, you would understood why the owner changed the rims. It generally took 3x times as long to replace a tire on a Rivera Wheel.

Paul Hurford - I understand what you're saying about the difficulty of changing tires on some original Riviera wheels... but those large aftermarket wheels chosen simply look awful on such a classic design as this first "gen" Riviera.

Myself, were it mine, I would have selected a replacement wheel diameter closer to the original factory wheels... if I replaced them at all... and if doing so, earnestly tried to go for a more "period" correct "look". Perhaps something from American Racing's aftermarket vintage wheel catalog.

I should add too that my earlier posting spelled the name of this Buick as "Rivera"... which is entirely incorrect, of course. It's "Riviera"!!!

***** RESUME REGULAR PROGRAMMING *****

:-)

Flew on one from Van Nuys ANG base to McClellan AFB, to somewhere in Utah (McClellan had blown our Avionics), to Tinker, then to Andrews. On landing at Andrews blew 4 old rotted tires. So Georgia ANG flew a new crew up (with new tires)and we reversed course. That's a long time in web seats. Shakey was Noisy! But a roomy aircraft.

My Reg # typo is a combo of thick thumbs and bifocals thank!

Thanks for Reg# correction

i've been there. wish they would restore it.