McDonnell Douglas KC-10 Extender
KC-10 Extender | |
---|---|
A F-16 Fighting Falcon
| |
Role | Tanker/transport |
National origin | United States |
Manufacturer | McDonnell Douglas |
First flight | 12 July 1980 |
Introduction | 1 March 1981 |
Retired | 2021 (RNLAF) |
Status | In service |
Primary users | United States Air Force Omega Aerial Refueling Services Royal Netherlands Air Force (historical) |
Produced | KC-10: 1979–1987 |
Number built | KC-10: 60; KDC-10: 2 |
Developed from | McDonnell Douglas DC-10 |
The McDonnell Douglas KC-10 Extender is an American tanker and
The KC-10 plays a key role in the mobilization of US military assets, taking part in overseas operations far from home. These aircraft performed airlift and aerial refueling during the
Design and development
Advanced Tanker Cargo Aircraft Program
During the Vietnam War, doubts began to form regarding the Boeing KC-135 Stratotanker fleet's ability to meet the needs of the United States' global commitments. The aerial refueling fleet was deployed to Southeast Asia to support tactical aircraft and strategic bombers, while maintaining the U.S.-based support of the nuclear-bomber fleet. Consequently, the Air Force sought an aerial tanker with greater capabilities than the KC-135. In 1972, two DC-10s were flown in trials at Edwards Air Force Base, simulating air refuelings to check for possible wake issues. Boeing performed similar tests with a 747.[1]
During the 1973
KC-10 Extender
The KC-10 Extender first flew in July 1980. In October 1980 the first aerial refuel sortie was performed.
The most notable changes were the addition of the McDonnell Douglas Advanced Aerial Refueling Boom and additional fuel tanks located in the baggage compartments below the main deck. The extra tanks increase the KC-10's fuel capacity to 356,000 lb (161,478 kg), nearly doubling the KC-135's capacity.
Unlike the KC-135, the KC-10's hose-and-drogue system allows refueling of Navy, Marine Corps, and most allied aircraft, all in one mission.[5] The final twenty KC-10s produced included wing-mounted pods for added refueling locations.[1] The KC-10 can carry a complement of 75 personnel with 146,000 lb (66,225 kg) of cargo, or 170,000 lb (77,110 kg) in an all-cargo configuration.[5] With that, it can transport those weights for an unrefueled range of 4,400 miles (7,040 km).[11] The KC-10 has a side cargo door for loading and unloading cargo. Handling equipment is required to raise and lower loads to the cargo opening. It can carry cargo and serve as a tanker on overseas missions.[12]
Further developments
A need for new transport aircraft for the Royal Netherlands Air Force (Koninklijke Luchtmacht) was first identified in 1984.[13] The 1991 Gulf War highlighted the deficiencies in mobility of European forces.[14] In 1991 four categories of transport requirements were established. Category A required a large cargo aircraft with a range of at least 4,500 km and the capability to refuel F-16s. In 1992, two DC-10-30CFs were acquired from Martinair in a buy/leaseback contract. When one of the two aircraft was lost in the Martinair Flight 495 crash, a third aircraft was bought from Martinair.[13]
The conversion was handled via the United States
To make up for the cost increase McDonnell Douglas hired Dutch companies to do part of the work. The conversion of the aircraft was performed by
In 2010 the USAF awarded a contract to Boeing to upgrade the fleet of 59 aircraft with new Communication, navigation and surveillance and air traffic management (CNS/ATM) system. This was to allow the aircraft to fly in civil airspace as new ICAO and FAA standards took effect in 2015.[15] Rockwell Collins was awarded a contract in 2011 for avionics and systems integration for the cockpit modernization program.[16][17]
Variants
- KC-10A: Initial military tanker version based on the DC-10-30CF.
- KDC-10: Conversion of DC-10-30CF aircraft to tanker/transport configuration. While a FMS program run through McDonnell Douglas, conversion of two aircraft was carried out by KLM. Omega Aerial Refueling Services operates KDC-10-40.[citation needed]
- KC-10B: After McDonnell Douglas did the KDC-10 conversion for the Royal Netherlands Air Force in 1992, they proposed a tanker/transport version of the MD-11CF which had the in-house designation KMD-11. MDC offered either conversion of second hand aircraft (KMD-11) or new build aircraft (KC-10B), the proposed KMD-11 offered 35,000 lbs more cargo capacity and 8,400 lbs more transferable fuel than the KC-10A. It was offered to the RNAF and Royal Saudi Air Force (RSAF) in the 1990s and the Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) in the early 2000s.[18]
Operational history
United States
The first KC-10 was delivered to the Air Force's
When faced with refusals of basing and overflight rights from continental European countries during
Since then, the KC-10 had participated in other smaller conflicts. In March 1999, NATO launched
The Air Force considered retiring its fleet of KC-10 tankers in response to sequestration budget cuts as part of the service's FY 2015 budget. A "vertical chop" to divest all KC-10s was suggested because there are fewer KC-10s than KC-135s, having three different tanker models in service after the introduction of the
At first, officials claimed that the initial focus on retiring the KC-10 in September 2013 was a "trial balloon" to call attention to Air Force operating cost issues. As of early 2013, the KC-10 had a per hour flying cost of $21,170 and a mission capable rate of 87 percent.[24] A FY 2015 budget plan did not include cuts to the KC-10.[25] In July 2020, the first US KC-10 to be retired, tail number 86-0036, was transferred to the 309th Aerospace Maintenance and Regeneration Group (AMARG) for storage at Davis Monthan Air Force Base, Arizona.[26]
In July 2021, the 2d ARS was the first KC-10 squadron to start conversion to the KC-46.[27] In August 2021, the KC-10 took part in the largest non-combatant evacuation in support of Operation Allies refuge and contributing to the safe evacuation of more than 124,000 Afghan refugees.[28]
In January 2023 the USAF announced that all KC-10s are to be retired by 30 September 2024.[29] The KC-10 flew its last combat sortie for the USAF on 5 October 2023.[30]
Netherlands
The two Dutch KDC-10s were used for both refueling and transport.[31] They were stationed on Eindhoven Airport as part of the 334th Transport Squadron. Of the 5,500 hours flown in the first 3 years of use, the aircraft were used in their tanker role for 50% of the time. Besides being used by the air force and NATO allies, the KDC-10s were also used to support peacekeeping and humanitarian aid operations. Of the first three years, 32% of the flight hours were used for peacekeeping and humanitarian aid.[13]
In this function, the aircraft was deployed to Kosovo to evacuate refugees, to the Caribbean and Central America to provide humanitarian aid after the hurricanes Luis, Georges and Mitch and to various countries in Africa and Asia to provide development aid. In 1998, the aircraft were used to evacuate Dutch citizens from Indonesia during the Fall of Suharto. Dutch KDC-10s operated out of Manas AFB in support of allied forces during Operation Enduring Freedom and in support of Allied Air Force over Iraq and Syria.
A third DC-10, registered T-255 was acquired and served for three years before being withdrawn from service in April 2014 due to Dutch defense cuts and flown to Newquay Airport for scrapping.[32] The KDC-10s in Dutch service were replaced with the Airbus A330 MRTT.[33] The first aircraft, registered T-264/'Prins Bernhard' and due for a major service, was withdrawn from use in November 2019, prior to being transferred to its new owner, Omega Aerial Refueling Services.[34] The last KDC-10, registered T-235/'Jan Scheffer' remained in Dutch service until October 2021.[35] The aircraft left The Netherlands bound for service with Omega in the U.S. in October 2021.[36][33]
Civilian operators
Commercial refueling companies Omega Aerial Refueling Services and Global Airtanker Service operate two KDC-10 tankers, N974VV and N852V, for lease.[37][38] They were converted from DC-10-40s and provide probe and drogue refueling capabilities from wing pods similar to the KC-10.[39]
In June and July 2011, Omega Air's KDC-10 supported three Royal Australian Air Force's F/A-18 Hornets, en route to Red Flag – Alaska.[40]
In 2019, Omega agreed to purchase the Netherlands' two KDC-10s. One was received in November 2019,[34] and the second delivered in October 2021.[36][33]
Operators
- United States Air Force – 58 KC-10 aircraft in use as of July 2020[12][41][42][43][44][45][46][47][48]
- Strategic Air Command
- Barksdale AFB, Louisiana1981–1992
- 2d Air Refueling Squadron1989–1992
- 32d Air Refueling Squadron1981–1992
- 4th Wing – Seymour-Johnson AFB, North Carolina1991–1992
- March AFB, California1982–1992
- 6th Air Refueling Squadron 1989–1992
- 9th Air Refueling Squadron 1982–1992
- 68th Air Refueling Group/Wing – Seymour-Johnson AFB 1982–1991
- 344th Air Refueling Squadron 1986–1991
- 911th Air Refueling Squadron 1982–1991
- 802d Air Refueling Wing – Lajes Air Base, Azores1990–1991
- 802d Air Refueling Squadron
- 1709th Air Refueling Wing – King Abdul Aziz Air Base, Saudi Arabia1990–1991
- 1710th Air Refueling Squadron
- Air Mobility Command
- 22d Air Refueling Wing – March AFB 1992–1994
- 6th Air Refueling Squadron
- 9th Air Refueling Squadron
- 458th Operations Group – Barksdale AFB 1992–1994
- 2d Air Refueling Squadron
- 32d Air Refueling Squadron
- 4th Operations Group – Seymour-Johnson AFB 1992–1995
- 344th Air Refueling Squadron 1992-1994
- 711th Air Refueling Squadron 1994-1994
- 744th Air Refueling Squadron 1994-1995
- 911th Air Refueling Squadron 1992-1994
- Travis AFB, California1994–present
- 6th Air Refueling Squadron 1995–present
- 9th Air Refueling Squadron 1994–present
- McGuire AFB, New Jersey1994–2023
- 2d Air Refueling Squadron1994-2021
- 32d Air Refueling Squadron1994-2023
- 380th Air Expeditionary Wing – Al Dhafra Air Base, United Arab Emirates 2002–2023
- 908th Expeditionary Air Refueling Squadron
- 722d Air Refueling Wing – March AFB 1994–1996
- 6th Air Refueling Squadron 1994–1996
- 9th Air Refueling Squadron 1994
- 22d Air Refueling Wing – March AFB 1992–1994
- Air Force Reserve Command
- 98th Air Refueling Group (Associate) – Barksdale AFB 1987–1994
- 78th Air Refueling Squadron
- 452d Air Refueling Wing (Associate) – March AFB 1981–1995
- 78th Air Refueling Squadron 1981–1987
- 79th Air Refueling Squadron 1982–1995
- 349th Air Mobility Wing (Associate) – Travis AFB 1994–present
- 70th Air Refueling Squadron 1994–present
- 79th Air Refueling Squadron 1995–present
- 514th Air Mobility Wing (Associate) – McGuire AFB 1994–2023
- 76th Air Refueling Squadron 1994-2022
- 78th Air Refueling Squadron 1994-2023
- 916th Air Refueling Group (Associate) – Seymour-Johnson 1985–1994
- 98th Air Refueling Group (Associate) – Barksdale AFB 1987–1994
- Royal Netherlands Air Force operated two KDC-10s, which upon retirement were sold to Omega Aerial Refueling Services. The Dutch tankers were replaced by Airbus A330 MRTTs owned by NATO as part of the Multinational Multi-Role Tanker Transport Fleet (MMF).[49] A DC-10 transport, registered T-255 served for three years before being withdrawn from service in April 2014 due to Dutch defence cuts.[50]
Incidents
On 17 September 1987, KC-10A serial number 82-0190 was undergoing maintenance on the ground at Barksdale AFB, Louisiana, and suffered an explosion and subsequent fire. The KC-10 was significantly damaged and written off. One member of the ground crew died in the fire.[51]
Aircraft on display
- 79-0433 – on static display at the Air Mobility Command Museum at Dover Air Force Base, Delaware. It was the first KC-10 to be produced, and was used for testing and development before entering service in 1981.[52]
- 84-0185 – on static display at the March Field Air Museum at March Air Reserve Base, Riverside, California.[53]
- 84-0191 – on static display at the Air Park of the National Museum of the United States Air Force in Dayton, Ohio.[54]
Specifications (KC-10A)
Data from USAF Fact sheet,[12] Steffen[55]
General characteristics
- Crew: 4 (Aircraft Commander, copilot, flight engineer, and boom operator)
- Capacity: 170,000 lb of cargo, 25 pallets and 16 passengers, or 17 pallets and 75 passengers[55]
- Length: 181 ft 7 in (55.35 m)
- Wingspan: 165 ft 4.5 in (50.406 m)
- Height: 58 ft 1 in (17.70 m)
- Wing area: 3,958 sq ft (367.7 m2)
- Airfoil: root: DSMA-496/-521/-522; tip: DSMA-519/-520[56]
- Empty weight: 241,027 lb (109,328 kg)
- Gross weight: 590,000 lb (267,619 kg)
- Max takeoff weight: 590,000 lb (267,619 kg)
- Fuel capacity: 365,000 lb (165,561 kg)
- Powerplant: 3 × General Electric F103 (GE CF6-50C2) turbofanengines, 52,500 lbf (234 kN) thrust each
Performance
- Maximum speed: 538 mph (866 km/h, 468 kn)
- Maximum speed: Mach 0.89
- Range: 4,400 mi (7,100 km, 3,800 nmi) with a maximum passenger capacity; 3,800 nmi (7,038 km; 4,373 mi) with maximum cargo capacity.
- Ferry range: 11,500 mi (18,500 km, 10,000 nmi)
- Service ceiling: 42,000 ft (13,000 m)
- Rate of climb: 6,870 ft/min (34.9 m/s)
See also
Related development
Aircraft of comparable role, configuration, and era
Related lists
- List of active United States military aircraft
- List of United States military aerial refueling aircraft
References
- Notes
- ^ The Handley Page Jetstream had been initially ordered as the C-10, but was soon canceled. This allowed the tanker version of the DC-10 to be designated KC-10A.
- Citations
- ^ a b Waddington 2000, pp. 116–120.
- ^ Endres 1998, p. 65.
- ^ a b c d Steffen 1998, p. 103.
- ^ Frawley 2002, p. 119.
- ^ a b c d e Steffen 1998, p. 104.
- ^ "KC-10A Extender: Background". Globalsecurity.org. Retrieved 27 August 2011.
- ^ Eden 2004, p 286.
- ^ "KC-10A Extender: Characteristics". Globalsecurity.org. Retrieved 27 August 2011.
- ^ a b Steffen 1998, pp. 103–107.
- ^ Eden 2004, p 287.
- ^ a b https://www.af.mil/About-Us/Fact-Sheets/Display/Article/104520/kc-10-extender/
- ^ a b c d e f g "Factsheets: KC-10 Extender". US Air Force. May 2014. Retrieved 30 November 2013.
- ^ a b c d e "Evaluatie project KDC-10". Ministerie van Defensie (in Dutch). 1 July 1999. Retrieved 5 January 2014.
- ^ Steffen 1997, p. 107.
- ^ Flightglobal.com. Retrieved 19 September 2010.
- ^ "Boeing Wins CNS-ATM Upgrade Contract for USAF's KC-10 Tankers". Defenseindustrydaily.com. 21 August 2014. Retrieved 16 March 2017.
- ^ "Rockwell Collins awarded contract for KC-10 CNS/ATM cockpit upgrade program". Archived from the original on 9 September 2011. Retrieved 16 January 2019.
- ^ "Too Big for Its Own Good: Why a MD-11 Based Tanker Was Never Built". 8 January 2016.
- ^ Steffen 1998, pp. 104, 107.
- ^ "Operation El Dorado Canyon". Globalsecurity.org. Retrieved 27 August 2011.
- ^ Veronico and Dunn 2004, p. 58.
- ^ Air Force May Scrap KC-10 Tanker Fleet – DoDBuzz.com, 17 September 2013
- ^ WEISGERBER, MARCUS; MEHTA, AARON (15 September 2013). "USAF Weighs Scrapping KC-10, A-10 Fleets". www.defensenews.com. Gannett Government Media Corporation. Archived from the original on 30 October 2013. Retrieved 30 October 2013.
- ^ Air Force May Scrap Entire A-10 Fleet – Defensemedianetwork.com, 17 October 2013
- ^ How Hagel spending plan will transform US military – Flightglobal.com, 26 February 2014
- ^ "First KC-10 heads to Boneyard as Pegasus comes into the fleet". 16 July 2020.
- ^ https://www.airandspaceforces.com/mcguire-squadron-says-goodbye-to-kc-10-prepares-for-kc-46/
- ^ https://www.travis.af.mil/News/Article/3131472/operation-allies-refuge-one-year-later/
- ^ Rossi Pedroza-Bertrand (30 January 2023). "End of the 10". 349th Air Mobility Wing Public Affairs. Retrieved 13 April 2023.
- ^ Newdick, Thomas (5 October 2023). "KC-10 Extender Has Flown Its Last Combat Mission". The Drive. Retrieved 6 October 2023.
- ^ Steffen 1997, pp. 106–107.
- ^ "Dutch air force scraps DC-10 transport". flightglobal.com. Retrieved 23 June 2019.
- ^ a b c "RNLAF's final KDC-10 tanker leaves the Netherlands". key.aero. 25 October 2021. Retrieved 21 November 2021.
- ^ a b "Private aerial refueller Omega buys KDC 10 tankers with booms". flightglobal.com. 25 November 2019. Retrieved 21 November 2021.
- ^ "Farewell flight and final goodbye to the KDC-10 of the Royal Netherlands Air Force". aviacion.com. 5 October 2021. Retrieved 21 November 2021.
- ^ a b van der Mark 2019, p. 7
- ^ "Frequently Asked Questions". Omega Air Refueling. Archived from the original on 28 July 2011. Retrieved 27 August 2011.
- ^ "KDC-10 Air Refueling Tanker Aircraft". Global Airtanker Service. Archived from the original on 4 July 2008. Retrieved 19 September 2010.
- ^ "KDC-10: Primary Options". Global Air Tanker Services. Archived from the original on 28 August 2008. Retrieved 25 February 2008.
- ISSN 0955-7091. Retrieved: 30 September 2011.
- ^ "First KC-10 Extender Tanker Jet Heads to the Boneyard for Retirement (Updated)". 13 July 2020.
- ^ "2nd Bomb Wing".
- ^ "22nd Bomb Wing - SAC - March AFB - B52".
- ^ "Joint Base McGuire-Dix-Lakehurst" (PDF).
- ^ "916th Air Refueling Wing" (PDF). Retrieved 30 June 2022.
- ^ "349th Air Mobility Wing History Facts".
- ^ "514th Air Mobility Wing".
- ^ "380Th Air Expeditionary Wing".
- ^ "MMF Background Paper" (PDF). Airbus Group, retrieved from an Archive.today capture made on 17 Jul 2017 22:36:58 UTC. Archived from the original (PDF) on 17 July 2017. Retrieved 1 August 2021.
- ^ "Dutch air force scraps DC-10 transport". flightglobal.com. Retrieved 22 November 2021.
- Aviation Safety NetworkDatabase. Retrieved: 19 September 2010.
- ^ Balik, Roland (26 April 2022). "AMC Museum receives USAF's first KC-10A Extender". U.S. Air Force Expeditionary Center. Retrieved 1 March 2024.
- ^ "KC-10A Extender, Boeing". March Field Air Museum In Riverside, CA. 11 September 2001. Retrieved 1 March 2024.
- ^ "McDonnell Douglas KC-10A Extender". National Museum of the United States Air Force™. 15 April 2024. Retrieved 18 April 2024.
- ^ a b Steffen 1998, p. 107.
- ^ Lednicer, David. "The Incomplete Guide to Airfoil Usage". m-selig.ae.illinois.edu. Retrieved 16 April 2019.
- Bibliography
- Eden, Paul, ed. (2004). The Encyclopedia of Modern Military Aircraft. London: Amber Books. ISBN 978-1-904687-84-9.
- Endres, Gunter (1998). McDonnell Douglas DC-10, Volume 10. Grand Rapids, Michigan: Zenith Imprint. ISBN 978-0-7603-0617-8.
- Frawley, Gerard (2002). The International Directory of Military Aircraft, 2002–2003. Fyshwick, Australia: Aerospace Publications. ISBN 978-1-875671-55-7.
- Steffen, Arthur A. C. (1998). McDonnell Douglas DC-10 and KC-10 Extender. Hinckley, Leicester, UK: Midland Publishing. ISBN 978-1-85780-051-7.
- van der Mark, Kees (December 2019). "First Dutch KDC-10 retired from service". ISSN 0306-5634.
- Veronico, Nick; Dunn, Jim (2004). 21st Century U.S. Air Power. Grand Rapids, Michigan: Zenith Imprint. ISBN 978-0-7603-2014-3.
- Waddington, Terry (2000). McDonnell Douglas DC-10. Miami, Florida: World Transport Press. ISBN 978-1-892437-04-4.