U.S. Air Force Fact Sheet            KC-10 EXTENDER                  Mission The KC-10                   Extender is an Air Mobility Command advanced tanker and cargo                   aircraft designed to provide increased global mobility for                   U.S. armed forces. Although the KC-l0's primary mission is                   aerial refueling, it can combine the tasks of a tanker and                   cargo aircraft by refueling fighters and simultaneously carry                   the fighter support personnel and equipment on overseas                   deployments. The KC-10 is also capable of transporting litter                   and ambulatory patients using patient support pallets during                   aeromedical                   evacuations.Features The                   KC-10 can transport up to 75 people and nearly 170,000 pounds                   (76,560 kilograms) of cargo a distance of about 4,400 miles                   (7,040 kilometers) unrefueled. In addition to the                   three main DC-10 wing fuel tanks, the KC-10 has three large                   fuel tanks under the cargo floor, one under the forward lower                   cargo compartment, one in the center wing area and one under                   the rear compartment. Combined, the capacity of the six tanks                   carry more than 356,000 pounds (160,200 kilograms) of fuel -                   almost twice as much as the KC-135 Stratotanker. Using                   either an advanced aerial refueling boom, or a hose and drogue                   centerline refueling system, the KC-10 can refuel a wide                   variety of U.S. and allied military aircraft within the same                   mission. The aircraft is equipped with lighting for night                   operations. The KC-10's boom operator controls                   refueling operations through a digital, fly-by wire system.                   Sitting in the rear of the aircraft, the operator can see the                   receiver aircraft through a wide window. During boom refueling                   operations, fuel is transferred to the receiver at a maximum                   rate of 1,100 gallons (4,180 liters) per minute; the hose and                   drogue refueling maximum rate is 470 gallons (1,786 liters)                   per minute. The Automatic Load Alleviation System and                   Independent Disconnect System greatly enhances safety and                   facilitates air refueling. The KC-10 can be air-refueled by a                   KC-135 or another KC-10A to increase its delivery range.                   The large cargo-loading door can accept most air                   forces' fighter unit support equipment. Powered rollers and                   winches inside the cargo compartment permit moving heavy                   loads. The cargo compartment can accommodate loads ranging                   from 27 pallets to a mix of 17 pallets and 75 passengers.                   Background A modified Boeing                   Company DC-10, the KC-10A entered service in 1981. Although it                   retains 88 percent systems commonality with the DC-10, it has                   additional systems and equipment necessary for its Air Force                   mission. These additions include military avionics; aerial                   refueling boom and aerial refueling hose and drogue; seated                   aerial refueling operator station; and aerial refueling                   receptacle and satellite communications. Twenty                   KC-10s were modified to add wing-mounted pods to further                   enhance aerial refueling capabilities. Ongoing modifications                   include the addition of communications, navigation and                   surveillance equipment to meet future civil air traffic                   control needs, and the incorporation of service bulletins to                   maintain Federal Aviation Administration certification.                   The KC-10A is operated by the 305th Air Mobility Wing,                   McGuire Air Force Base, N.J.; and the 60th Air Mobility Wing,                   Travis AFB, Calif. Air Force Reserve Associate units are                   assigned to the 349th Air Mobility Wing at Travis, and the                   514th Air Mobility Wing at McGuire. During operations                   Desert Shield and Desert Storm in 1991, the KC-10 fleet                   provided in-flight refueling to aircraft from the U.S. armed                   forces as well as those of other coalition forces. In the                   early stages of Operation Desert Shield, in-flight refueling                   was key to the rapid airlift of materiel and forces. In                   addition to refueling airlift aircraft, the KC-10, along with                   the smaller KC-135, moved thousands of tons of cargo and                   thousands of troops in support of the massive Persian Gulf                   buildup. The KC-10 and the KC-135 conducted about 51,700                   separate refueling operations and delivered 125 million                   gallons (475 million liters) of fuel without missing a single                   scheduled rendezvous. In March 1999, a NATO air                   campaign, dubbed Operation Allied Force, was launched                   against the government of Yugoslavia.  The                   mobility portion of the operation began in February and was                   heavily tanker dependent. By early May 1999, some 150 KC-10s                   and KC-135s deployed to Europe where they refueled bombers,                   fighters and support aircraft engaged in the conflict. The                   KC-10 flew 409 missions throughout the entire Allied Force                   campaign and continued support operations in                   Kosovo. Since Sept. 11, 2001, KC-10s have played                   a prominent role in the on-going Global War on Terrorism. The                   KC-10 has flown more than 350 missions guarding U.S. skies as                   a part of Operation Noble Eagle. During operations Enduring                   Freedom and Iraqi Freedom, KC-10s have flown more than 1,390                   missions delivering critical air refueling support to numerous                   joint and coalition receiver aircraft.General                   Characteristics Primary                   Function: Aerial tanker and transport                   Contractor: The Boeing Company                   Power Plant: Three General Electric                   CF6-50C2 turbofans Thrust: 52,500 pounds                   (23,625 kilograms), each engine Length:                   181 feet, 7 inches (54.4 meters) Height:                   58 feet, 1 inch (17.4 meters) Wingspan:                   165 feet, 4.5 inches (50 meters) Speed:                   619 mph (Mach 0.825) Ceiling: 42,000 feet                   (12,727 meters) Maximum Takeoff Weight:                   590,000 pounds (265,500 kilograms) Range:                   4,400 miles (3,800 nautical miles) with cargo; 11,500 miles                   (10,000 nautical miles) without cargo Maximum                   Cargo Payload: 170,000 pounds (76,560 kilograms)                   Pallet Positions: 27 Maximum                   Fuel Load: 356,000 pounds (160,200 kilograms)                   Crew: Four (pilot, co-pilot, flight                   engineer and boom operator) Certain missions may require                   additional crew members. In aeromedical evacuation                   missions, a basic crew of five (two flight nurses and                   three medical technicians) is added. Medical crew may be                   altered as required.Unit Cost: $88.4                   million (fiscal 1998 constant dollars) Date                   Deployed: March 1981                   Inventory:  Active force, 59; ANG,                   0; Reserve, 0Point                   of ContactAir                   Mobility Command, Public Affairs Office; 503 Ward Drive                   Ste 214, Scott AFB, IL 62225-5335, DSN 779-7843 or                   618-229-7843.