The KC-10 was a multirole tanker/transport capable of aeromedical evacuation, based on the McDonnell Douglas DC-10-30CF, making it USAF’s largest air-refueling aircraft.
It could simultaneously operate as a tanker and airlifter, optimizing it to support worldwide fighter deployments.
The KC-10 employed an advanced aerial refueling boom and hose/drogue system allowing it to refuel a wide variety of U.S. and allied aircraft, including the CV22 tilt-rotor, within the same mission. The aircraft had three large fuel tanks under the cargo floor and an air-refueling operator’s station recessed into the aft fuselage.
It was also refuelable by boom-equipped tankers. The fleet amassed more than 2.3 million flying hours before the first airframes retired in 2020. Congress prevented USAF from making drastic KC-10 cuts in 2021 citing capacity concerns with delays to the KC-46 program but removed limitations starting in FY22.
AMC steadily retired KC-10s as KC-46s were delivered, maintaining a minimum of 446 overall tankers. McGuire ended KC-10 operations on June 22, 2023, leaving Travis as the type’s final main operating base. USAF cut 15 aircraft in FY23 and retired the final aircraft, serial number 79-1948, at Travis on Sept. 26, 2024.
Three KC-10s retired on display at the Air Mobility Command Museum at Dover, the National Museum of the U.S. Air Force at Wright-Patterson, and March Field Air Museum.
KC-10 Extender Technical Data
Contractors: McDonnell Douglas (now Boeing); Collins Aerospace (CNS/ATM).
First Flight: April 1980.
Delivered: March 1981-April 1990.
IOC: August 1982.
Production: 60.
Inventory: Zero.
Operator: AMC, AFRC (associate).
Aircraft Location: JB McGuire-Dix-Lakehurst, N.J.; Travis AFB, Calif.
Active Variant: •KC-10A. Modified McDonnell Douglas DC-10 designed as a multirole cargo-tanker.
Dimensions: Span 165.4 ft, length 181.6 ft, height 58 ft.
Weight: Max T-O 590,000 lb.
Power Plant: Three GE Aviation CF6-50C2 turbofans, each 52,500 lb thrust.
Performance: Speed 619 mph, range 11,500 miles, or 4,400 miles with max cargo (air refuelable).
Ceiling: 42,000 ft.
Fuel Capacity: 356,000+ lb. at 1,100 gpm (boom), 470 gpm (drogue).
Accommodation: Two pilots, flight engineer, boom operator; AE crew: two flight nurses, three medical technicians; other crew depending on mission.
Load: Up to 75 people and 17 pallets or 27 pallets up to approx. 170,000 lb.
