Sylvie Willis
The KC-10 Extender is an advanced tanker and cargo aircraft designed to increase the global mobility of the US armed forces. The KC-10 has six fuel tanks with a capacity of 356,000 pounds of fuel, nearly twice that of the KC-135 Stratotanker. The KC-10's boom operator controls refueling operations through a digital fly-by-wire system and can deliver fuel at a maximum rate of 1,100 gallons per minute, with a hose and drogue refueling maximum of 470 gallons per minute. During Operations Desert Shield and Desert Storm, the KC-10 fleet delivered over 125 million gallons of fuel.
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What You'll Learn
The KC-10's fuel capacity is 356,000 pounds
The KC-10 Extender is an advanced tanker and cargo aircraft designed to provide increased global mobility for the US armed forces. The KC-10's fuel capacity is 356,000 pounds (161,000 kg), nearly double that of the KC-135. This capacity is distributed across six fuel tanks, including the DC-10's standard wing and auxiliary tanks, as well as a supplementary fuel tankage system with seven unpressurized integral-body fuel cells.
The KC-10's large fuel capacity enables it to play a crucial role in aerial refuelling operations, supporting military aircraft from all branches of the US armed forces and their coalition forces. During Operations Desert Shield and Desert Storm in 1990-91, the KC-10 fleet conducted approximately 51,700 separate refuelling missions, delivering over 125 million gallons (475 million litres) of fuel without missing a single scheduled rendezvous.
In addition to its refuelling capabilities, the KC-10 can also transport cargo and personnel. It can accommodate 75 passengers and carry 170,000 pounds of cargo. The KC-10's design is based on the civilian DC-10 commercial aircraft, with modifications to suit military needs, such as the removal of unnecessary features and the addition of military avionics and refuelling systems.
The KC-10's refuelling process is controlled by a boom operator seated in the rear of the aircraft, who monitors the receiver aircraft through a wide window. The refuelling boom can deliver fuel at a maximum rate of 1,100 gallons (4,180-4,200 litres) per minute, while the hose and drogue refueling system has a maximum rate of 470 gallons (1,786-1,800 litres) per minute. The KC-10 can also be air-refuelled by a KC-135 or another KC-10 to extend its delivery range.
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It can deliver 1,100 gallons of fuel per minute
The KC-10 Extender is an advanced tanker and cargo aircraft designed to provide increased global mobility for the US armed forces. Its primary mission is aerial refuelling, and it can deliver fuel to a receiver aircraft at a maximum rate of 1,100 US gallons (approximately 4,180 litres) per minute.
The KC-10 is largely based on the design of the civilian DC-10-30CF, a convertible cargo/passenger transport variant with an extended range. The KC-10 has six fuel tanks that can carry more than 356,000 pounds (161,000 kg) of fuel, which is nearly double the capacity of the KC-135. This extra fuel capacity allows the KC-10 to facilitate the rapid deployment of aircraft, as seen during Operations Desert Shield and Desert Storm in 1991, where it played a key role in refuelling aircraft from all branches of the US armed forces.
The KC-10's boom operator controls the refuelling process through a digital fly-by-wire system. They are seated at the rear of the aircraft, with a wide window that allows them to monitor the receiver aircraft during the refuelling operation. The KC-10's refuelling boom is unique in that it features a control surface system at its aft end, differing from the V-tail design used on previous tankers.
The KC-10's high fuel capacity and refuelling rate make it a crucial asset for the US military, enabling the rapid deployment and support of aircraft in various operations. With its advanced capabilities, the KC-10 Extender plays a vital role in enhancing the operational capabilities of the US armed forces, ensuring they can stay airborne for extended periods without the need for costly and time-consuming ground refuelling.
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The KC-10 has six fuel tanks
The KC-10 Extender is an advanced tanker and cargo aircraft designed to provide increased global mobility for the US Armed Forces. The KC-10 has six fuel tanks, which can carry over 356,000 pounds of fuel, almost twice as much as the KC-135 Stratotanker. The KC-10's fuel capacity enables it to conduct aerial refuelling missions, supporting military aircraft operations.
The KC-10's six fuel tanks include the standard wing and auxiliary tanks found on the DC-10, as well as a supplementary fuel tankage system. This supplementary system comprises seven unpressurized integral-body fuel cells, with four located aft of the wing and three positioned forward, all housed in under-deck vented cavities. The additional fuel tanks in the KC-10 enhance its range and endurance, allowing it to support extended military operations.
The KC-10's refuelling process is controlled by a boom operator who sits in the rear of the aircraft and monitors the receiver aircraft through a wide window. The operator employs a digital fly-by-wire system to control the refuelling boom, which can deliver fuel at a maximum rate of 1,100 gallons per minute. Additionally, the KC-10 is equipped with a hose and drogue system, which has a maximum fuel transfer rate of 470 gallons per minute.
The KC-10's ability to carry a substantial fuel load and conduct aerial refuelling plays a crucial role in supporting military operations. During Operations Desert Shield and Desert Storm, the KC-10 fleet provided inflight refuelling to aircraft from various branches of the US Armed Forces and coalition forces. The KC-10's refuelling capabilities enabled continuous air operations without the need for ground refuelling, contributing to the rapid airlift of materiel and forces.
The KC-10's six fuel tanks, combined with its advanced refuelling systems, make it a vital asset for the US Armed Forces, ensuring the successful execution of aerial missions and the projection of military power on a global scale.
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It can be refuelled by a KC-135 or another KC-10A
The KC-10 Extender is an advanced tanker and cargo aircraft designed to provide increased global mobility for the US armed forces. It is largely based on the design of the civilian DC-10-30CF, a convertible cargo/passenger transport variant with an extended range. The KC-10 has a maximum fuel load capacity of 356,000 pounds (161,000 kg), nearly double that of the KC-135.
The KC-10's primary mission is aerial refuelling, and it can deliver fuel to receiver aircraft at a maximum rate of 1,100 US gallons (4,180-4,200 litres) per minute using its boom system. The hose and drogue refueling system has a maximum rate of 470 US gallons (1,786-1,800 litres) per minute.
The KC-10's six fuel tanks can carry a substantial amount of fuel, but its range can be extended further through air-refuelling. The KC-10A can be refuelled by a KC-135 or another KC-10A. This capability allows the KC-10A to expand its delivery range and conduct more refuelling missions.
The KC-10 has played a crucial role in various military operations, including Operations Desert Shield and Desert Storm in 1990-91. During these operations, the KC-10, along with the KC-135, conducted approximately 51,700 separate refuelling operations and delivered over 125 million gallons (475 million litres) of fuel without missing any scheduled rendezvous.
The KC-10's ability to be refuelled by another KC-10A or a KC-135 enhances its operational flexibility and effectiveness in supporting military missions. This capability ensures that the KC-10A can stay airborne for extended periods, providing crucial refuelling support to aircraft over long durations.
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The KC-10 is based on the DC-10-30CF design
The KC-10 Extender is an advanced tanker and cargo aircraft designed to provide increased global mobility for the US armed forces. It is a military version of the three-engine DC-10 airliner, based on the DC-10-30CF design. The KC-10 was developed from the Advanced Tanker Cargo Aircraft Program, which aimed to create a more capable aerial refuelling tanker than the KC-135.
The KC-10 Extender first flew in July 1980 and entered service with the USAF Strategic Air Command (SAC) in March 1981. It is largely based on the design of the civilian DC-10-30CF, a convertible cargo/passenger transport variant with an extended range compared to the baseline DC-10-10. The KC-10 retained an 88% commonality with its civilian counterparts, giving it greater access to the worldwide commercial support system.
For the KC-10, unnecessary features, including most windows and lower cargo doors, were removed, and an improved cargo-handling system was added. The avionics were also tailored to the military's needs, with the addition of satellite-based communications facilities and an aerial refuelling operator's station. The most notable changes were the addition of the McDonnell Douglas Advanced Aerial Refuelling Boom and additional fuel tanks located in the baggage compartments below the main deck. The KC-10 has a large door located just behind the flight deck for loading and unloading cargo.
The KC-10 can carry 75 personnel with 146,000 pounds (66,000 kg) of cargo, or 170,000 pounds (77,000 kg) in an all-cargo configuration. With that, it can travel an unrefuelled range of 4,400 miles (7,100 km). The aircraft can also perform aerial refuelling while carrying cargo. The KC-10 has a maximum fuel offload rate of 1,100 US gallons (4,200 litres) per minute, with a total fuel capacity of 356,000 pounds (161,000 kg). This gives the KC-10 a range of around 8,000-10,000 nautical miles and an endurance of 17-23 hours.
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Frequently asked questions
The KC-10 can deliver a maximum of 356,000 pounds (161,000 kg) of fuel.
The KC-10 delivers fuel at a rate of 1,100 gallons (4,180-4,200 liters) per minute using the refueling boom, and 470 gallons (1,786-1,800 liters) per minute using the hose and drogue system.
The KC-10 can refuel a wide variety of military aircraft, including Navy, Marine Corps, and most allied aircraft. It can also refuel two aircraft simultaneously using the hose and drogue WARP (Wing Air Refueling Pod) modification.
The KC-10's fuel capacity is nearly double that of the KC-135, which it replaced. The KC-10 also has greater range and fuel capacity than its civilian counterpart, the DC-10.
