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KDC-10

The KDC-10 is a tanker and transport aircraft which can rapidly deploy large numbers of cargo and troops over long distances. Besides, they can refuel other NATO aircraft like F-16 fighter jets and other aircraft equipped to be refueled by a boom system.


Difference with US KC-10A Extender
The KC-10A Extender from the United States Air Force seems like a Dutch KDC-10. A easy way to see the difference is that the KC-10 was derived from a cargo version and the KDC-10 from a commercial version, so the KC-10 has no windows while the KDC-0 has. Another difference is that the KC-10 has internal fuel tanks through which the KC-10 can give more fuel. On the other hand the KDC-10 has a larger transport capacity.


Specifications
Length 55.35 meters Cruise speed 890 km/h
Wingspan 50.39 meters Maximum speed 962 km/h
Height 17.55 meters Max. range 9760 km
Propulsion 3 x General Electric CF6-50C2 Max. ceiling 12.8000 meters
Power 52.500 lbs per engine Length boom 8 meters
Weight empty 120.000 kg Max. 15 meters
Weight maximum 256.300 kg Tank capacity 1750 liter / minute
Maximum cargo 65.000 kg    
Maximum passengers 2 x 165 passengers    

Operators
The KDC-10 is in service with:

0. Total
1. Netherlands
2. Omega Aerial Refueling Services



0. Total

Operator Ordered First delivery Last delivery
Netherlands 2 1995 1995
Omega 1 2006 2006

1. Netherlands

The Royal Netherlands Air Force has 2 KDC-10 (tailnumber T235 and T264) and 1 DC-10 (which came operational in 2007 and will be withdrawn in 2014). The 2 KDC-10 aircraft were bought in june 1992 from the civil airliner Martinair (in those days they were designated with DC-10) and came operational in 1995. They are operated by No. 334 squadron on Eindhoven Air Force Base.

After they had been bought they were converted to tanker and military transport aircraft. Other systems that were build nto the planes are: the installation of the 'boom'-system and -lightening, adjustment of the fuel-, electric and hydraulic systems to use the boom, a 'Remote Air Refueling Operating' (RARO)-control station with the corresponding systems. The boom operator control station is directly behind the cockpit.
 


Transport
The KDC-10 from the RNLAF can transport cargo and passengers. By only transporting cargo it has a maximum of 65 tons or a combination of 165 passengers and the other half cargo. Usually the RNLAF use this combination.

Missions
The KDC-10 was send for a period of ??? to Kirzigstan on Manas AFB. From there it was used to refuel Dutch, American and other allied aircraft during Operation Enduring freedom.

2013
In November 2013, one KDC-10 flew 29 ton of supplies to the Philippines for the victims of the typhone Haiyan.

Update
In 2005 Fokker Services (NL) was awarded with a contract to update the avionics from the 2 KDC-10 and DC-10 airplanes from the Royal Netherlands Air Force. The contract value was 30 million dollars.
The project contained: design & layout, engineering, installation, integration, tests and certify of state-of-the-art cockpit avionics and accessories.
The airplanes were updated with digital cockpits, Link 16 and satellite communications.



Royal Netherlands Air Force KDC-10
     
 
 


References

1. Royal Netherlands Air Force
2. Omega Air Refueling
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Last updated: 27 April 2014