Airpower: The First Gulf War
"KC-10 Extender." US Air Force. October 1, 2003. Accessed May 6, 2016.
KC-10 Extender
Role: Arial tanker
Mission: Arial refueling of combat and transport aircraft, in addition to transporting cargo.
"The planes were active during the Desert Shield and Desert Storm operations... when —along with the smaller KC-135A Stratotanker—they moved thousands of troops and thousands of tons of cargo as well as delivering 470 million l (125 million U.S. gal) of fuel." ⁴⁷
During operations Desert Shield and Desert Storm in 1991, the KC-10 fleet provided in-flight refueling to aircraft from the U.S. armed forces as well as those of other coalition forces. In the early stages of Operation Desert Shield, in-flight refueling was key to the rapid airlift of materiel and forces. In addition to refueling airlift aircraft, the KC-10, along with the smaller KC-135, moved thousands of tons of cargo and thousands of troops in support of the massive Persian Gulf buildup. The KC-10 and the KC-135 conducted about 51,700 separate refueling operations and delivered 125 million gallons (475 million liters) of fuel without missing a single scheduled rendezvous. ⁴⁸
"From mid-August 1990 until Desert Storm began, SAC released an average of seven KC-10s to operate in a dedicated cargo-transport role. In this strategic airlift role, the KC-10s flew 379 missions, transporting 1,111 passengers and 19,905 short tons of cargo." ⁴⁹
" The KC-10A has the overall dimensions of the DC-10 but carries four wing-mounted fuel pods as well as two large fuel cells in the lower fuselage; all are interlinked with the plane's own fuel system. The fuel cells and pods can hold a total of about 68,420 l (18,075 gal). The probe-and-drogue refueling boom, operated by one crew member, can deliver 5,680 l (1,500 gal) per minute. The craft has a refueling receptacle of its own above the flight deck."
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47."KC-10A Extender." Grolier Multimedia Encyclopedia. Grolier Online
48. Martin, Dave. Ist Gulf War in Saudi Arabia. November 9, 1990. Associated Press, Saudi Arabia. AP Images.
49.Wallwork, et al “United States. Air Force Air Mobility Command. Office of History. Air Refueling: Without Tankers We Cannot…” October 2009.
50."KC-10A Extender."