Last USAF KC-10A Heads For The Boneyard

[MIflyer]

Last flight on 26 Sep 2024 at Travis AFB. A way to feel old! I recall when I was at Tinker AFB we sent some people out to participate in the KC-10 prototype's test program.

 

[The Stannum Liberator]

Wow, I think it's funny how long lasting these aircraft can be. We have KC-135's fly over our house almost daily.

 

[MIflyer]

We have KC-135's fly over our house almost daily.

Yes, and A-7 was a replacement for the A-4 but the A-4 outlived it.

 

[cammerjeff]

Hard to Believe that the design is 43 years old.

It looks like Omega Aerial Refueling Services are still operating Converted DC-10's and the 2 KDC-10's formally of the Royal Netherlands Air Force.

 

[Sabrejet]

Hard to Believe that the design is 43 years old.

It looks like Omega Aerial Refueling Services are still operating Converted DC-10's and the 2 KDC-10's formally of the Royal Netherlands Air Force.

I make it more like 54 years since first flight.

 

[cammerjeff]

For the DC-10 yes I agree 53 years, but the 1st flight of the KC-10 was 1980, so 43-44 years. The original DC-10 design (DC-10-10) did not have the engine power, or structure to support the weight increases needed for the tanker design, until the DC-10-30 model 1st flew in late 1972, so depending on how you look at it 43-54 year old design. Still hard to believe.

 

[Denniss]

And the KC-135 AKA Boeing 707 is still flying. Just like the B-52. One of them probably reaches 100 years in service.

 

[special ed]

The DC-3 still flies while replacements not so much, Convair's 240-340 C-131, Martin's 404, and others world wide. I have seen the antiques working after hurricanes, some with WW2 insignia, since Katrina still bringing supplies.

 

[GTX]

Final KC-10 Extender Tanker Flies Into Retirement

The flight from Travis Air Force Base in California will bring down the curtain on a 43-year career for the trijet KC-10 Extender tanker-transport. The flight from Travis Air Force Base in California will bring down the curtain on a 43-year career for the trijet KC-10 Extender tanker-transport.

www.twz.com

 

[Escuadrilla Azul]

An interesting view of a KC-10 driver:

I flew the Big Sexy KC-10 super-tanker and I will miss it

The KC-10 did not require modification to carry the SR-71’s special JP-7 fuel, as it had fuel tanks that could be isolated (if desired) and only delivered to the boom. Those tanks could also …

hushkit.net

 

[MIflyer]

Anyone think it odd that the KC-10's were not converted into drones like the F-80, F9F, F-86, F-102, F-104, F-4?

 

[special ed]

Or mobile homes.

 

[Thumpalumpacus]

Or mobile homes.

They seem so much bigger than DC-10s on the inside because there's no seats installed normally. Seemed like you could play a healthy football game in there.