 |
|
KC-10A Extender
The United States Air Force/McDonnell Douglas KC-10A advanced tanker/cargo aircraft is a version
of the intercontinental-range DC-10 Series 30CF (convertible freighter), modified to provide
increased mobility for U.S. forces in contingency operations by: refueling fighters and
simultaneously carrying the fighters' support equipment and support people on overseas
deployments: refueling strategic airlifters (such as the USAF C-5 and C-l4l) during overseas
deployments and resupply missions; and augmenting the U.S. airlift capability.
In most instances, the KC-10A performs these missions without dependence on overseas bases and
without depleting critical fuel supplies in the theater of operations. Equipped with its own refueling
receptacle, the KC-10A can support deployment of fighters, fighter support aircraft and airlifters
from U.S. bases to any area in the world, with considerable savings in both cost and fuel compared
to pre-KC-l0A capabilities.
The aerial refueling capability of the KC-10A nearly doubles the nonstop range of a fully-loaded
C-5 strategic transport. In addition, its cargo capability enables the U.S. to deploy some fighter
squadrons and their unit support people and equipment with a single airplane type, instead of
requiring both tanker and cargo aircraft. The Air Force is calling the KC-10A the "Extender"
because of its ability to carry out aerial refueling and cargo mission without forward basing, thus
extending the mobility of U.S. forces.
Although the KC-10A's primary mission is aerial refueling, it can combine the tasks of tanker and cargo aircraft by refueling fighters while carrying the fighters' support people and equipment during overseas deployments. The KC-10A can transport up to 75 people and about 170,000 pounds (76,560 kilograms) of cargo a distance of about 4,400 miles (7,040 kilometers). Without cargo, the KC-10A's unrefueled range is more than 11,500 miles.
The KC-10A tanker can deliver 200,000 pounds (90,719 kg) of fuel to a receiver 2200 statute miles
(3539.8 km) from the home base and return, or it can carry a maximum cargo payload of 169,409
pounds (76,843 kg) a distance of 4370 statute miles (7031 km). Unrefueled ferry range of the
KC-lOA is 11,500 statute miles (18,503 km).
The KC-10A is powered by three General Electric CF6-50C2 high bypass-ratio turbofan engines,
each generating 52,500 pounds (23,814 kg) of takeoff thrust. Versions of the CF6 engine family are
installed on most of the DC-lOs in airline service and have compiled an impressive reliability record.
One of the engines is mounted at the base of the tail above the aft fuselage of the KC-10A, and the
other two are installed on pylons beneath the wings, one on each side of the fuselage.
Like other intercontinental-range DC-lOs, the tanker/transport is 181 feet 7 inches (55.35 m) in
length and has a wingspan of 165 feet 4 inches (50.42 m) and a tail height of 58 feet 1 inch (17.7 m).
Gross takeoff weight of the KC-10A is 590,000 pounds (267,619 kg), up from 555,000 pounds
(251,701 kg) for the standard intercontinental commercial model.
Design fuel capacity is 356,065 pounds (161,508 kg), including a maximum of 238,565 pounds
(108,211 kg) in the standad wing tankage and a maximum of 117,500 pounds (53,297 kg) stored in
seven fuel cells below the main deck.
The aerial refueling operator's station in the KC-10A, located aft of the rearward lower fuselage fuel
tanks, features improvements in comfort, viewing capability and environment. Instead of assuming
the prone position required in current tankers, the refueling operator sits in an aft-facing crew seat.
Station equipment includes handy refueling controls, a wide viewing window facing the aft
"customer" position and additional periscopic viewing arrangements for traffic management.
Accessible from the upper deck, the station is pressurized and has independent thermal control, a
quiet environment and an arrangement suited for both training and operational missions. While
refueling requires only one operator, two additional seats are provided to accommodate an
instructor and an observer.
For its cargo-carrying assignments, the KC-10A has a total usable cargo space exceeding 12,000
cubic feet (346 cu m) in its spacious cabin. The cabin has a maximum width of almost 19 feet (5.7
m), ceiling height of 8.5 feet (2.5 m) and a floor area of 2200 square feet (304.25 sq m). In all-cargo
configuration, the KC-10A acccommodates 25 standard 88 x 108-inch (223.5 by 274.3 cm) cargo
pallets in the cabin with aisles down both sides, or 27 pallets with a single aisle.
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, hose and drogue; seated aerial refueling operator station; aerial refueling receptacle and satellite communications. The KC-10A fleet is being modified to add wing-mounted pods to further enhance aerial refueling capabilities.
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 build-up.
During Operation Desert Storm, in-flight refueling extended the range and capability of all U.S. and other coalition fighter aircraft. Air operations continued without costly and time-consuming ground refueling.
The KC-10A 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.
The KC-10A acquisition program was directed by the Air Force Systems Command's Aeronautical
Systems Division (ASD) at Wright-Patterson Air Force Base, Ohio. Prime contractor for the design,
development and production of the KC-10A is the Long Beach, California-based Douglas Aircraft
Company division of McDonnell Douglas Corporation, St. Louis, Missouri.
CHARACTERISTICS
Background
| Description | ||
|---|---|---|
| Notes: Military version of DC-10. Provides LONG-RANGE air/refueling and cargo airlift for NON-STOP deployment of combat forces. | ||
| Manufacturer: | McDonnell-Douglas | |
| Base model: | C-10 | |
| Designation: | KC-10 | |
| Version: | A | |
| Nickname: | Extender | |
| Service: | U.S. Tri-Service | |
| Basic role: | Transport | |
| Designation Period: | 1962-Present | |
| Modified Mission: | Tanker | |
| Specifications | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Length: | 181' 7" | 55.3 m | |
| Height: | 58' 1" | 17.7 m | |
| Wingspan: | 155' 4" | 47.3 m | |
| Wingarea: | 3,961.0 sq ft | 367.9 sq m | |
| Empty Weight: | 240,065 lb | 108,873 kg | |
| Max Weight: | 590,000 lb | 267,573 kg | |
| Propulsion | |||
| No. of Engines: | 3 | ||
| Powerplant: | General Electric CF6-50C2 | ||
| Horsepower (each): | 52500 | ||
| Performance | |||
| Range: | 4,370 miles | 7,037 km | |
| Cruise Speed: | 564 mph | 908 km/h | 490 kt |
| Max Speed: | 610 mph | 982 km/h | 530 kt |
| Climb: | 2,900 ft/min | 341 m/min | |
| Ceiling: | 33,400 ft | 10,180 m | |
| Known serial numbers |
|---|
