McDonnell Douglas KC-10 Extender
The McDonnell Douglas KC-10 Extender is the military version of the three-engined DC-10 airliner operated by the United States Air Force (USAF). The KC-10 incorporates military-specific equipment for its primary roles of transport and aerial refueling. It was developed to supplement the KC-135 Stratotanker following experiences in Southeast Asia and the Middle East. The KC-10 was the second McDonnell Douglas transport aircraft to be selected by the Air Force following the C-9. A total of 60 KC-10s were produced for the USAF. The Royal Netherlands Air Force operates two similar tankers designated KDC-10 that were converted from DC-10s.
The KC-10 plays a key role in the mobilization of US military assets, taking part in overseas operations far from home. These aircraft performed airlift and aerial refueling during the 1986 bombing of Libya (Operation Eldorado Canyon), the 1990-91 Gulf War with Iraq (Operations Desert Shield and Desert Storm), the 1999 NATO bombing of Yugoslavia (Operation Allied Force), War in Afghanistan(Operations Enduring Freedom), and Iraq War (Operations Iraqi Freedom and New Dawn). The KC-10 is expected to serve until 2043.
Specifications (KC-10A)
McDonnell Douglas KC-10A Cutaway | |
McDonnell Douglas KC-10A Cutaway from Flightglobal.com |
Data from USAF Fact sheet, Steffen
General characteristics
- Crew: 4 (pilot, copilot, flight engineer, boom operator) and additional crewmembers such as an aeromedical evacuation team may be added
- Length: 181 ft 7 in (55.35 m)
- Wingspan: 165 ft 4.5 in (50.41 m)
- Height: 58 ft 1 in (17.70 m)
- Wing area: 3,958 ft² (367.71 m²)
- Empty weight: 241,027 lb (109,328 kg)
- Loaded weight: 593,000 lb (268,980 kg)
- Max. takeoff weight: 590,000 lb (267,620 kg)
- Powerplant: 3 × F103/General Electric CF6-50C2 turbofans, 52,500 lbf (236 kN) each
- Maximum fuel capacity: 356,000 lb (161,480 kg)
Performance
- Maximum speed: 538 knots/0.89 mach (619 mph, 996 km/h)
- Range: 4,400 mi (7,080 km)
- Ferry range: 11,500 mi (18,507 km)
- Service ceiling: 42,000 ft (12,800 m)
- Rate of climb: 6,870 ft/min (2094 m/min., 34.9 m/s)
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