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McDonnell Douglas KC-10 Extender
The KC-10 Extender was a three-engine tanker and cargo jet built on the DC-10 airliner, flown by Air Mobility Command from 1981. It kept most of the airliner's systems and added a refueling boom, a hose and drogue, an operator station and fuel tanks under the cargo floor, so a single aircraft could tanker a fighter squadron across an ocean and carry its support people and equipment at the same time. The Air Force retired the fleet in 2024, and its tanker work passes to the KC-46A and the older KC-135. One version is listed, the KC-10A.
The variants side by side
| Variant | Range | Seats | Length | First flight | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| KC-10A Extender | 4,375 miles (3,800 nm, 7,040 km) | Freighter, payload 170,000 lb (77,111 kg) | 181 ft 7 in (55.35 m) | – | Retired in 2024 |