Mission The KC-10 Extender is
an Air Mobility Command advanced tanker and
cargo aircraft designed to provide increased
global mobility for U.S. armed forces.
Although the KC-l0's primary mission is
aerial refueling, it can combine the tasks
of a tanker and cargo aircraft by refueling
fighters and simultaneously carry the
fighter support personnel and equipment on
overseas deployments. The KC-10 is also
capable of transporting litter and
ambulatory patients using patient support
pallets during aeromedical evacuations.
Features The KC-10
can transport up to 75 people and nearly
170,000 pounds (76,560 kilograms) of cargo a
distance of about 4,400 miles (7,040
kilometers) unrefueled.
In addition
to the three main DC-10 wing fuel tanks, the
KC-10 has three large fuel tanks under the
cargo floor, one under the forward lower
cargo compartment, one in the center wing
area and one under the rear compartment.
Combined, the capacity of the six tanks
carries more than 356,000 pounds (160,200
kilograms) of fuel - almost twice as much as
the KC-135 Stratotanker.
Using
either an advanced aerial refueling boom, or
a hose and drogue centerline refueling
system, the KC-10 can refuel a wide variety
of U.S. and allied military aircraft within
the same mission. The aircraft is equipped
with lighting for night operations.
The KC-10's 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
(4,180 liters) per minute; the hose and
drogue refueling maximum rate is 470 gallons
(1,786 liters) per minute. The automatic
load alleviation and independent disconnect
systems greatly enhance safety and
facilitate air refueling. The KC-10 can be
air-refueled by a KC-135 or another KC-10A
to increase its delivery range.
The
large cargo-loading door can accept most air
forces' fighter unit support equipment.
Powered rollers and winches inside the cargo
compartment permit moving heavy loads. The
cargo compartment can accommodate loads
ranging from 27 pallets to a mix of 17
pallets and 75 passengers.
Background A modified Boeing
Company DC-10, the KC-10A entered service in
1981. Although it retains 88 percent of
systems commonality with the DC-10, it has
additional systems and equipment necessary
for its Air Force mission. These additions
include military avionics; aerial refueling
boom and aerial refueling hose and drogue;
seated aerial refueling operator station;
and aerial refueling receptacle and
satellite communications.
Twenty
KC-10s were modified to add wing-mounted
pods further enhancing their aerial
refueling capabilities. Ongoing
modifications include the addition of
communications, navigation and surveillance
equipment to meet future civil air traffic
control needs, and the incorporation of
service bulletins to maintain Federal
Aviation Administration certification.
The KC-10A is operated by the 305th Air
Mobility Wing at Joint Base
McGuire-Dix-Lakehurst, N.J.; and the 60th
Air Mobility Wing, Travis Air Force Base,
Calif. Air Force Reserve Associate units are
assigned to the 349th Air Mobility Wing at
Travis, and the 514th Air Mobility Wing at
JB McGuire-Dix-Lakehurst.
During
operations Desert Shield and Desert Storm in
1991, the KC-10 fleet provided in-flight
refueling to aircraft from the U.S. armed
forces as well as those of other coalition
forces. In the early stages of Operation
Desert Shield, in-flight refueling was key
to the rapid airlift of materiel and forces.
In addition to refueling airlift aircraft,
the KC-10, along with the smaller KC-135,
moved thousands of tons of cargo and
thousands of troops in support of the
massive Persian Gulf buildup. The KC-10 and
the KC-135 conducted about 51,700 separate
refueling operations and delivered 125
million gallons (475 million liters) of fuel
without missing a single scheduled
rendezvous.
In March 1999, a NATO
air campaign, Operation Allied Force, was
launched against the government of
Yugoslavia. The mobility portion of the
operation began in February and was heavily
tanker dependent. By early May 1999, some
150 KC-10s and KC-135s deployed to Europe
where they refueled bombers, fighters and
support aircraft engaged in the conflict.
The KC-10 flew 409 missions throughout the
entire Allied Force campaign and continued
support operations in Kosovo.
Since
Sept. 11, 2001, KC-10s have played a
prominent role. The KC-10 has flown more
than 350 missions guarding U.S. skies as a
part of Operation Noble Eagle. During
operations Enduring Freedom and Iraqi
Freedom, KC-10s flew more than 1,390
missions delivering critical air refueling
support to numerous joint and coalition
receiver aircraft.
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SPECIFICATIONS:
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PERFORMANCE: |
Span:
165 feet, 4.5 inches
(50 meters) |
Maximum
speed:
619 mph (Mach 0.825)
|
Length:
181 feet, 7 inches
(54.4 meters) |
Cruising
speed:
|
Height:
58 feet, 1 inch (17.4
meters) |
Range:
4,400 miles (3,800 nautical miles)
with cargo; |
Empty
Weight:
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Service
ceiling: 42,000 feet (12,727
meters) |
Gross
Weight: 590,000
pounds (265,500 kilograms) |
|
Crew:
Basic Crew - Four (pilot, co-pilot,
flight engineer and boom operator) |
Engines: Three General
Electric CF6-50C2 turbofans,
52,500 pounds, each
engine |
Armament:
None |
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SOURCE:
U. S. Air Force Fact Sheet |
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