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

[@terryboyer1342]

Sad seeing her go...

[@herknav10]

I was commissioned from AFROTC, OL055B, California State University Long Beach. From 1982-1986 I saw these magnificent KC-10s on approach to runway 30 at Long Beach. I crewed the C-130 (both Nav and Pilot) but always admired the magnificent KC-10 at Long Beach.

[@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.

[@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.

[@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...

[@garymeyers3405]

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

[@tonyh4514]

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

[@icare7151]

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

[@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!!!

[@btipton6899]

Fantastic story.

[@m26a1pershing7]

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

[@robertr3470]

The last KC-10 was flown to Davis Monthan AFB, September 26 2024 from Travis AFB. The send off was nothing short of spectacular, with two F-15's on the wings on its final departure and hundreds of maintainers, crews, contractors, retirees and command staff saying goodbye to a legacy. Farewell Big Sexy.

[@kirkmooneyham]

The Lt. Colonel said "sacrificed" and he didn't use that word lightly. The KC-10 aircraft and community did non-stop rotations to the Southwest Asia AOR for decades. Incredible numbers of people who spent months and sometimes years total away from home putting up fuel for the fight. EXTENDER!

[@dannymiester5825]

Sad to see her go, i still see them occasionally at Mildenhall, England. I live about 8 miles away on the flight line, i used to see them all the time but getting less and less now

[@captaincarl2079]

no other tanker can do what it can, so versatile and carries all that cargo and gas and can take on gas inflight, was great flying on her.

[@stevenevans5106]

Very sad , i was assistant crew chief on 79-0434 the first 10 delivered to the Air Force at Barksdale AFB in 1981.

[@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?

[@HankyInTheTanky]

So from the recent air show in Dayton, only 3 are going to museums, this being the last, all the others are going to the boneyard.

[@HankyInTheTanky]

@@rogerd777no, only 3 are going to museums and this was the last one.

[@mattcrist7843]

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

[@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.

[@HankyInTheTanky]

@@cruisinguy6024hopefully one day when it makes it inside

[@cruisinguy6024]

@@HankyInTheTanky that would be nice but I doubt it’ll ever end up on display inside, they’d have to build another exhibit hall as the existing ones are already packed. I think we’ll have to just accept the KC-10 keeping the C-17 company outside, but it sure would be nice if they would allow people to explore the interiors. I remember going there during the first year of Covid when all the aircraft were closed off and it broke my heart, being able to go inside a presidential aircraft for example is such a powerful memory..

[@HankyInTheTanky]

@@cruisinguy6024 they has plans for 2 more buildings, and a new storage and restoration buildings to be built on the museum grounds, it was shown in their 100 year exhibit. It’s part of their 30 year plan. Obviously stuff can change but hopefully they can do what they showed on it

[@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

[@icare7151]

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

[@captaincarl2079]

I think there is some sort of regulation preventing them being sold to civilian companies, I think Omega Air already tried

[@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]

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

[@USAFmuseum]

Fire suppression system, O2 systems etc.

[@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.

[@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.

[@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👏👏👏

[@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

[@kirkmooneyham]

The KC-10A was based on the DC-10-30 Freighter model. The USAF bought 60 KC-10A aircraft. Only one was lost and as stated in the video, that was during a ground fire. The KC-10A has an incredible track record of safety over some insane number of airmiles flown and close-proximity air refueling contacts completed.