Overview
The KC-10 Extender was a military tanker and cargo version of the DC-10 airliner, with extra fuel tanks in the lower cargo holds. Unusually, it carried both a flying boom and a hose-and-drogue system, so it could refuel US Air Force, US Navy and allied aircraft on the same mission.
The US Air Force bought 60 and flew them for more than four decades before the last one was retired in 2024, replaced by the KC-46 Pegasus. Range shown is with maximum cargo.
Specifications
Dimensions
| Length | 55.35 m |
|---|---|
| Wingspan | 50.41 m |
| Height | 17.40 m |
| Wing area | 367.7 m² |
Weights & fuel
| Empty weight | 109,328 kg |
|---|---|
| Max. take-off weight | 267,620 kg |
| Fuel capacity | 202,000 L |
Performance
| Max. speed | 996 km/h |
|---|---|
| Cruise speed | 908 km/h |
| Range | 7,030 km |
| Ferry range | 18,500 km |
| Service ceiling | 12,700 m |
Crew & capacity
| Crew | 4 |
|---|---|
| Cargo capacity | 76,560 kg |
Powerplant
| Engines | 3 |
|---|---|
| Engine model | General Electric CF6-50C2 |
| Thrust (each) | 233.5 kN |
Figures are compiled from public sources and may be approximate; they can vary by variant and configuration.
Photos
Photo 1: Sebastian Barheier / Wikimedia Commons · CC BY-SA 3.0
Some text and images come from Wikipedia / Wikimedia Commons under CC BY-SA licences.
