The McDonnell Douglas KC-10A Extender joined the Air Park at the National Museum of the U.S. Air Force today! This aircraft arrived to the museum on April 15th of 2024 from Travis Air Force Base, California.

The KC-10A Extender is a US Air Force advanced tanker and cargo aircraft whose primary mission is aerial refueling. Within the same mission, the KC-10 can refuel US and coalition forces aircraft using either a hose and drogue centerline refueling system or an advanced aerial refueling boom. KC-10s can also be refueled from another KC-10A or a KC-135.

The aircraft is configured to simultaneously carry military cargo and personnel. Since 1981, the KC-10 has been an important part of air fueling in times of war and peace, improving global mobility for US armed forces.

The KC-10A on display, serial number 84-0191, was instrumental in 1986 during Operation El Dorado Canyon, serving as the “mother ship” for USAF F-111s whose target was the command center for a Libyan terrorist network in Tripoli. For the first time since WWII, US aircraft took off from Royal Air Force bases in the United Kingdom for a bombing mission. The KC-10’s large fuel capacity allowed the strike force aircraft to refuel eight times during the mission. The raid proved the US’s capabilities for long-range precision strikes.

This aircraft arrived at the museum on April 15, 2024 from its last duty station at Travis AFB, California.

TECHNICAL NOTES
Engine: Three General Electric CF6-50C2 turbofans, each producing 52,500 lbs of thrust
Crew: Four (pilot, co-pilot, flight engineer and boom operator)
Maximum Fuel Load: 356,000 pounds
Maximum Cargo Payload:170,000 pounds
Range: 4,400 miles with cargo; 11,500 miles without cargo (unrefueled)

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