McDonnell Douglas KC-10 Extender

McDonnell Douglas KC-10 Extender
Land	Usa
Rolle	Tankskib med lufttankning, multirollefly
Første flyvning	12. juli 1980
Bygget	62

Den McDonnell Douglas KC-10 Extender er et tankfly – den militære version af det tremotorede DC-10 passagerfly – der drives af United States Air Force (USAF). KC-10 blev udviklet fra Advanced Tanker Cargo Aircraft Program. Det indeholder militærspecifikt udstyr til sine primære roller inden for transport og lufttankning. Det blev udviklet til at supplere KC-135 Stratotanker efter erfaringer i Sydøstasien og Mellemøsten. KC-10 var det andet McDonnell Douglas transportfly, der blev udvalgt af luftvåbnet efter C-9. I alt 60 KC-10'er blev produceret til USAF. Royal Netherlands Air Force opererer to lignende tankskibe betegnet KDC-10, der blev konverteret fra DC-10'ere.

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McDonnell Douglas KDC-10 Walk Around
Fotograf	Meindert de Vreeze
Lokalisering	Unknow
Billeder	300

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McDonnell-Douglas KC-10A Extender Walk Around
Fotograf	Vladimir Yakubov
Lokalisering	Travis Air Expo 2008
Billeder	208

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General Characteristics and Role

The McDonnell Douglas KDC-10 is an aerial refueling tanker and military transport aircraft used by the Royal Netherlands Air Force (RNLAF). It is a heavily modified version of the commercial DC-10-30CF (Convertible Freighter) airliner. The conversion process involved installing a refueling system, primarily a flying boom system, making it capable of transferring large amounts of fuel to NATO receiver aircraft. The KDC-10’s dual role—refueling tanker and strategic military transport—makes it a versatile asset, allowing it to simultaneously carry cargo (up to 25 tonnes) or personnel (up to 150) along with its substantial fuel load. It provided critical long-range air-to-air refueling support for the RNLAF and other allied forces during various international operations.

Property	Typical Value (KDC-10)
Type	Aerial Refueling Tanker / Strategic Transport
National Origin	Netherlands (Operator), USA (Original Aircraft)
Original Manufacturer	McDonnell Douglas (Modification by Fokker)
Entered Service (RNLAF)	1995
Besætning	4 (Pilot, Co-Pilot, Flight Engineer, Boom Operator)
Længde	55.5 m (182 ft 3 in)
Vingefang	50.4 m (165 ft 4 in)
Max Takeoff Weight	Approx. 259,450 kg (572,000 lb)

Powerplant and Refueling Systems

Engines: 3 x General Electric CF6-50C2 turbofan engines. The tri-jet configuration is characteristic of the DC-10 family.
Engine Thrust: Approx. 222.4 kN (50,000 lbf) per engine.
Maximum Speed: Approx. 908 km/h (564 mph).
Fuel Capacity: Carries up to 105,000 kg (231,000 lb) of transferrable fuel.
Refueling System: Equipped with a hydraulically operated Advanced Aerial Refueling Boom (AARB) located under the tail, operated by a single airman in the rear compartment.
Secondary System: Can be rapidly configured to carry a drogue basket on the refueling boom or hose-and-drogue pods under the wings for non-boom-equipped aircraft (e.g., Navy and fighter jets).
Range: With a full refueling load, its combat radius is significantly extended. Its large capacity allows it to act as an airborne fuel depot.

Service History and Legacy

Origin: The RNLAF initially acquired two used DC-10s from Martinair, which were then converted into the KDC-10 configuration by the Dutch aerospace company Fokker.
Operational Use: The aircraft supported numerous coalition operations, including NATO operations in Kosovo, Afghanistan, and Iraq, providing vital logistical and refueling capability.
Unusual Variant: The KDC-10 is a relatively rare military conversion of a commercial airliner, alongside the USAF’s KC-10 Extender (based on the DC-10-30), which shares many similarities.
Multinational Role: Due to the RNLAF’s limited fleet, the KDC-10s were often deployed to support air forces across NATO and the EU, showcasing the aircraft’s multinational importance.
Retirement and Transfer: The KDC-10s were retired by the RNLAF in the 2010s. The aircraft were sold and transferred to the Omega Aerial Refueling Services, a private contractor, extending their service life as contracted tankers for the US Navy and allied forces.

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