McDonnell Douglas KC-10 Extender
McDonnell Douglas · United States · first flew 1980 · transport aircraft
The McDonnell Douglas KC-10 Extender is a US Air Force aerial refuelling tanker and cargo transport derived from the DC-10 trijet airliner.
Recognition (WEFT)
| W — Wings | Low-mounted, swept |
|---|---|
| E — Engines | 3 × turbofan, wing-mounted |
| F — Fuselage | distinctive S-duct third engine inlet atop the rear fuselage |
| T — Tail | Conventional |
WEFT is AircraftIQ's four-point recognition method — how it works.
Spot it by:
- three turbofans - two underwing, one faired into the base of the tail fin
- distinctive S-duct third engine inlet atop the rear fuselage
- boom operator's pod under the rear fuselage for aerial refuelling
Distinguished from a standard DC-10 airliner by its underside refuelling boom, lack of passenger windows along most of the fuselage, and military grey finish.
Specifications
- The McDonnell Douglas KC-10 Extender has a length of 55.35 m (182 ft).
- It has a wingspan of 50 m (164 ft).
- Typical crew: 4.
Figures are for the representative variant described above; marks differ. See how AircraftIQ sources figures.
History
First flown in 1980, it entered USAF service in 1981 to provide long-range tanker support beyond the capability of the smaller KC-135, combining boom and drogue refuelling with substantial cargo capacity.
Variants
Only one main production version was built; aircraft differed mainly in refuelling equipment fit and later avionics upgrades.
Where you'll see it
The fleet was retired from USAF service as the KC-46 Pegasus took over the tanker role; it had no UK operators.
Related aircraft
- McDonnell Douglas MD-80
- McDonnell Douglas MD-82
- AV-8B Harrier II
- F/A-18 Hornet
- Beechcraft C-12F Huron
- Boeing CH-47 Chinook HC.1
- Mil Mi-18
- Boeing CH-47D Chinook
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