McDonnell Douglas KC-10A Extender News Story at NMUSAF(April 2024)

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

[@terryboyer1342]

Sad seeing her go...

[@jumpingjeffflash9946]

That museum is absolutely fantastic to see, the -10 is a nice addition to it. I never got a chance to fly on this during my time in the USAF, the only time I got close was when I was stuck in the Azores and the KC-10 on the ramp wouldn't take us 7 back to McGuire where the plane to come get us was broke.

[@garymeyers3405]

I was a flight engineer on the KC-10 when I retired. What a sad ending.

[@btipton6899]

Fantastic story.

[@gusopher]

I remember as a kid when they first went into service at Barksdale in their original “livery” and unfortunately the one aircraft that was lost there. I still remember the local news coverage of the accident. Very sad.

[@tonyh4514]

I have a lot of fond memories flying the 10. It will be missed.

[@pauldietrich6790]

Dang. I'm getting old. I remember when they first came on line...and eventually I got to deploy on it a few times. What a great ride...and now...they are gone...

[@m26a1pershing7]

Maybe you could do a video on what it takes to make an artifact museum ready?

[@Guest-bj2wu]

seen this exact one in Sydney Australia just a few months ago, sad to see it go. It is one of two KC-10s I have seen.

[@USAFmuseum]

that's awesome!!!

[@icare7151]

Thank you all for your service, dedication and excellence in perfection.

[@christianvalentin5344]

I really hope that many of the other remaining KC-10s are being preserved in long term storage for the time being.

[@rogerd777]

Are any others going to other museums?

[@mattcrist7843]

I guess getting one that had seen a paint shop in the last decade was too much to ask.

[@icare7151]

Can the remaining KC-10s to be decommissioned be converted to fire fighting duties?

[@icare7151]

Once on display, will one be able to view the cockpit and tail refueling area inside the KC-10?

[@USAFmuseum]

It will be similar to others in the Air Park.

[@cruisinguy6024]

@@USAFmuseumoh that’s really disappointing. It would be so nice if the aircraft in the air park were open for interior access.

[@icare7151]

What components, besides fuel, are removed before it is put on display?

[@USAFmuseum]

Fire suppression system, O2 systems etc.

[@NicholasJohnson57]

I wish they gave her a fresh paint job before sending her off to the museum. Unfortuately, she may sit outside in the elements for the next chapter.

[@pjotrtje0NL]

No worries, it’ll be repainted at the museum

[@rogerd777]

Great landing. I know that Wright Field is a rather short field, although this is not the most challenging landing made there by a retiring asset. That would be the SR-71. Or maybe the X-15 (just kidding on that one).

[@icare7151]

Is the KC-10 coated with radar absorbing materials that gives its gray color?

[@hilgeinak]

There's no radar absorbing coatings on the KC-10. Just military grey paint.

[@LINJ638]

It is sad at how soft we have gotten as a country… we use to be the dominant fighting force… now we are so focused on not hurting other people's feelings when we should be teaching people how to get back up when they are going through a hard time… we should not be coddling someone’s feelings

[@cruisinguy6024]

The hell you talking about? These are outdated airframes at the end of their life. We’re still have the most powerful and capable military. It’s sad you equate being a decent human being with being soft.

[@LINJ638]

@@cruisinguy6024 Fuck off. If you don't like world reality. Tough shit.

[@pjotrtje0NL]

@@cruisinguy6024👏👏👏

[@CAPEjkg]

Mistake getting rid of the 10!

[@garymeyers3405]

I totally agree.

[@pjotrtje0NL]

It’s not as sturdy as the B-52 and KC-135, and the maintenance costs were becoming a burden. Although an awesome aircraft, it’s time has come. In 30 years we’ll love the KC-46 (and perhaps the A330 MRTT derivative for the new procurement program) as much as we did the KC-10 and the KC-97.

[@Ka9radio_Mobile9]

There has been 1,261 thousand fatality's connected to the DC10, not a very good airplane. This is a KC-10A not the DC-10.

[@paulschab8152]

737 Max killed a good chunk of people in a short period of time... All the issues of the DC-10 have long since been sorted out. The DC-10 and MD-11 are cargo haulers now and soon that will be coming to an end

[@f4cphantom2]

Being retired too soon in my opinion. Beautiful aircraft!