Two KC‑10 extenders still fly despite USAF retirement

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Two KC‑10 extenders still fly despite USAF retirement

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KC-10 Extender | Wikipedia

By Sky Industry News

Feb 3, 2025

The KC-10 Extender, once a key aerial tanker for the United States Air Force, was retired in September 2024. These aircraft were sent to storage at Davis-Monthan Air Force Base in Arizona. Despite their retirement from the Air Force, two KC-10s continue to serve by refueling U.S. military aircraft as of January 2025.

Omega Air operates these remaining KC-10s. The company acquired two KDC-10 tankers from the Royal Netherlands Air Force, which had modified DC-10-30-CFs under a Foreign Military Sales program. Omega's fleet also includes an ex-Japan Airlines DC-10 converted into a tanker with Navy certification.

"The KDC-10s are already certified to refuel receptacle aircraft such as the A-10, B-1B, B-52H, C-17, E-3, E-8C, F-15C/D/E, F-16A-D, F-16F, F-16I, F-35A, KC-10, KC-135R/T," stated Omega Air.

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Omega began its operations with the ex-Dutch tankers in November 2019 and provides contractor refueling services primarily to the U.S. Navy and Marine Corps but also serves other branches like the Air Force and Joint Special Operations Command.

In April 2024, FlightGlobal reported that Omega became the first contractor to provide refueling services to an Air Force B-52 Stratofortress bomber using one of its KDC-10 tankers.

Despite Omega's operations continuing with some of these aircraft models still active today globally—four used as water bombers by 10 Tanker Air Carrier during recent fires and another operating as a cargo transporter—the era of widespread use for these planes is drawing to a close.