KC-10 Extender
A modified DC-10, the KC-10A entered service in 1981. The KC-10A Extender is an advanced tanker and cargo aircraft designed to provide increased global mobility. The KC-10A can transport up to 75 people and about 170,000 pounds of cargo a distance of about 4,400 miles unrefueled.
The KC-10's six fuel tanks can carry more than 356,000 pounds of fuel, almost twice as much as the KC-135 Stratotanker. Using either an aerial refueling boom, or a hose and drogue refueling system, the KC-10A can refuel a wide variety of military aircraft within the same mission. The aircraft is outfitted with special lighting for operations at night.
The boom operator controls refueling operations through a digital fly-by-wire system. Sitting in the rear of the aircraft, the operator can see the receiver aircraft through a wide window. During boom refueling operations, fuel is transferred to the receiver at a maximum rate of 1,100 gallons per minute and the hose and drogue refueling maximum rate is 470 gallons per minute. The KC-10A can be air-refueled by a KC-135 or another KC-10A to expand its delivery range.
The KC-10A fleet is being modified to add wing-mounted pods to further enhance aerial refueling capabilities. They are operated by the 305th Air Mobility Wing, McGuire AFB, NJ, and the 60th Air Mobility Wing, Travis AFB, CA.
| Primary Function | Aerial tanker and transport |
|---|---|
| Prime Contractor | Douglas Aircraft Co., division of The Boeing Company |
| Power Plant | Three General Electric CF6-50C2 turbofans |
| Thrust | 52,500 pounds (23,625 kilograms), each engine |
| Length | 181 feet, 7 inches (54.4 meters) |
| Height | 58 feet, 1 inch (17.4 meters) |
| Wingspan | 165 feet, 4.5 inches (50 meters) |
| Speed | 619 mph (Mach 0.825) |
| Ceiling | 42,000 feet (12,727 meters) |
| Maximum Takeoff Weight | 590,000 pounds (265,500 kilograms) |
| Range | 4,400 miles (3,800 nautical miles) with cargo; 11,500 miles (10,000 nautical miles) without cargo |
| Maximum Cargo Payload | 170,000 pounds (76,560 kilograms) |
| Pallet Positions | 27 |
| Maximum Fuel Load | 356,000 pounds (160,200 kilograms) |
| Crew | Four (aircraft commander, pilot, flight engineer and boom operator) |
| Date Deployed | March 1981 |
| Unit Cost | 86.8 million (FY 96 constant dollars) |
| Inventory | Active force, 59; ANG, 0; Reserve, 0 |
Bibliography:
All Information gathered from Air Force Link.
