McDonnell Douglas KC-10 Extender Tanker-Cargo Aircraft Family
The McDonnell Douglas KC-10 Extender adapted the DC-10 widebody for aerial refueling and strategic cargo. First flown in 1980 and entering U.S. Air Force service in 1981, it could refuel aircraft while carrying pallets, personnel, or aeromedical patients, and its combination of boom, hose-and-drogue equipment, and long range made it a major tanker-transport type until its final retirement in 2024.
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Identity
- Aliases
- KC-10KC-10AExtender
- Family Name
- McDonnell Douglas KC-10 Extender
- Full Name
- McDonnell Douglas KC-10 Extender Tanker-Cargo Aircraft Family
- Roles
- militarycargoutility
- Status
- retired
- Type
- aircraft
Details
- Aircraft Specs
- Configuration
- fixed_wing
- Operating Modes
- land
- Takeoff Landing Capabilities
- conventional
- Description
- The McDonnell Douglas KC-10 Extender adapted the DC-10 widebody for aerial refueling and strategic cargo. First flown in 1980 and entering U.S. Air Force service in 1981, it could refuel aircraft while carrying pallets, personnel, or aeromedical patients, and its combination of boom, hose-and-drogue equipment, and long range made it a major tanker-transport type until its final retirement in 2024.
- Dimensions
- Height M
- 17.4
- Length M
- 54.4
- Wingspan M
- 50
- First Flight Year
- 1,980
- Manufacturer
- Propulsion Configurations
- Entries
- Nested value
- Name
- KC-10A CF6-50C2 configuration
- Notes
- The KC-10A uses three General Electric CF6-50C2 turbofans derived from the DC-10 installation.
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- Creation Time
- July 30, 2026 at 19:59:11 UTC
- Updated Time
- July 30, 2026 at 19:59:11 UTC