The McDonnell Douglas KC-10 Extender is an American aerial refueling tanker aircraft operated by the United States Air Force (USAF). A military version of the three-engined DC-10 airliner, the KC-10 was developed from the Advanced Tanker Cargo Aircraft Program.
| Role | Aerial refueling tanker, multi-role aircraft |
|---|---|
| National origin | United States |
| Manufacturer | McDonnell Douglas |
| First flight | 12 July 1980 |
| Introduction | 1 March 1981 |
| Status | In service |
| Primary users | United States Air Force Royal Netherlands Air Force |
| Produced | KC-10: 1979–1987 |
| Number built | KC-10: 60; KDC-10: 2 |
| McDonnell Douglas DC-10 |
Specifications (KC-10A)
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
- 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
- Empty weight: 241,027 lb (109,328 kg)
- Gross weight: 590,000 lb (267,619 kg)
- Max takeoff weight: 593,000 lb (268,980 kg)
- Fuel capacity: 365,000 lb (165,561 kg)
- Powerplant: 3 × General Electric F103 (GE CF6-50C2) turbofan engines, 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)
KDC-10
Royal Netherlands Air Force operated two KDC-10s, which together were sold to Omega Aerial Refueling Services.
Photos Rob Vogelaar & Marcel van Leeuwen
