5437 x 4500 px | 46 x 38,1 cm | 18,1 x 15 inches | 300dpi
Ubicazione:
RAF Leuchars, Fife. Scotland. United Kingdom.
Altre informazioni:
The McDonnell Douglas KC-10 Extender is the military version of the three-engined DC-10 airliner for 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. Two similar tankers were sold to the Royal Netherlands Air Force under the designation KDC-10. The first KC-10s was delivered to the Air Force's Strategic Air Command (SAC) in March 1981 at Barksdale AFB; the 60th and final KC-10 arrived on 29 November 1988. The KC-10s served with SAC until 1992, when they were re-assigned to the newly-established Air Mobility Command. In the aerial refueling role, the KC-10s have been operated largely in the strategic refueling of large number of tactical aircraft on ferry flights and the refueling of other strategic transport aircraft. Conversely, the KC-135 fleet has operated largely in the in-theater tactical role. There are 59 KC-10 Extenders in service with the USAF as of 2010. The USAF's KC-10s are stationed primarily at Travis AFB, California, and McGuire AFB, New Jersey. A USN F-14D and two F/A-18Cs prepare to refuel from a KC-10 in 2005 over the Persian Gulf.When faced with refusals of basing and overflight rights from continental European countries during Operation El Dorado Canyon, the U.S. was forced to use the UK-based F-111s in the 1986 air-strikes against Libya The KC-10 plays a key role in the mobilization of US military assets, taking part in overseas operations far from home. These aircraft participated in the 1986 bombing of Libya and 1999 NATO bombing of Yugoslavia, and more recently, Operations Enduring Freedom, Iraqi Freedom and Noble Eagle.
