September 2024: retirement USAF McDonnell Douglas KC-10 Extender tankers. Updates, etc...

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https://www.349amw.afrc.af.mil/News/Art ... last-time/
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https://militaryleak.com/2023/04/04/us- ... al-flight/

July 2023 will mark 43 years of service for the KC-10A Extender and its inaugural flight. The following year in 1981, the U.S. Air Force received delivery of this magnificent airframe at Barksdale Air Force Base, LA.

In March of this year, the 70th Air Refueling Squadron filed a final flight plan for ORCA01,
a KC-10A Extender, known as 1951 by her crew.

The Reserve Airmen were flying this awesome tanker to her final resting place at Davis-Monthan Air Force, AZ.

The Air Force has operated a total of 59 KC-10A Extenders. It has been a key asset in mission readiness and with able success.

“Tail 91951 has been a test aircraft for over 40 years. She has been a great work horse for the Air Force,” said Hinton.

“The final flight of 79-1951 was very special to me. It was also my last mission with the 70th ARS and flying the KC-10 before I retire this year,” said Darrow.

Ironically, July 2023 is the expected arrival month for the KC-46A Pegasus, and the last KC-10A Extender will be retired in September 2024.

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https://www.jbmdl.jb.mil/News/Article/3 ... nspection/
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https://www.dvidshub.net/image/7733847/ ... inspection

JOINT BASE MCGUIRE-DIX-LAKEHURST, N.J. –

On Apr. 10, 2023,
the 305th Maintenance Squadron conducted its final inspection of the KC-10 Extender,
marking the end of an era for the 305th Air Mobility Wing’s legacy refueling tanker.

his final inspection also marks a significant milestone in the 305th AMW’s history,
as they have fully converted to the KC-46A Pegasus.
This represents a new chapter in air-to-air refueling capabilities for the Joint Force.

As one chapter ends, another begins while KC-10 maintainers at JB MDL transition to becoming fully qualified with the KC-46.

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https://theaviationist.com/2023/05/23/j ... t-airshow/

Airshow At Joint Base McGuire-Dix-Lakehurst Displays Finale For 305th AMW’s KC-10s
May 23, 2023 Airshows

The days of the legendary workhorse tankers, KC-135 and KC-10, are numbered.

In fact, on May 11, 2023, a KC-10 tanker of the 305th AMW took off on a training sortie from the base for the final time.

Therefore the KC-10s being demonstrated at the Open House were flying for the last time until June 22 ,
when the bases final KC-10 heads to Davis-Monthan AFB
to retire at their giant “Boneyard” facility.

As of last weekend’s airshow
there are three KC-10s at JB MDL and this is one of the reasons
the airshow was so significant and bittersweet for East Coast KC-10 fans.

Going forward the only other base that will operate KC-10s is Travis AFB in Northern California.

And what about the plans for JB MDL’s KC-135s of the New Jersey Air National Guards 141st Air Refueling Squadron?
Well its footprint is shrinking.
The base currently has 6x KC-135’s and, by September of this year, sadly, they too will be gone from the installation.

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...several piccies thru
https://www.jbmdl.jb.mil/News/Article/3 ... of-an-era/

NEWS | June 22, 2023

The End of an Era

By Senior Airman Sergio Avalos Joint Base McGuire-Dix-Lakehurst Public Affairs

JOINT BASE MCGUIRE-DIX-LAKEHURST, N.J. –

The 305th and 514th Air Mobility Wings bid farewell to KC-10 tail number 84-0188 on June 21 and 22, 2023,
at Joint Base McGuire-Dix-Lakehurst, N.J.

The farewell ceremonies commemorated the 33-year legacy of the KC-10 and marked the ending of the KC-10 fleet for the joint base.

“It’s been the best 10 years of my life,” said Tech. Sgt. Tiffany Irby, 305th AMW boom operator.
“Being able to fly on the KC-10, give out gas,
cargo and getting people wherever they need to go has been an incredible experience.”

Altogether, KC-10 tail number 84-0188 flew 33,475.5 flight hours supporting missions in six different continents
and refueled more than 125,000 aircraft from 25 different countries.
It was flown by 11,000 aircrew members, while another 12,000 maintainers worked to keep it airborne.

“While we are sadden to see the KC-10 depart JB MDL for the last time,
it’s the Airmen among us who made this aircraft great,
and it’s your stories of perseverance, courage, excellence, and camaraderie that will continue to shine upon the legacy of the KC-10,”
said U.S. Air Force Col. Elizabeth Hanson, 305th AMW commander, during her ceremonial remarks.


Following the ceremony,
the aircraft was flown to the 309th Aerospace Maintenance and Regeneration Group at Davis-Monthan Air Force Base, Arizona,
where it will continue to support the remaining Extenders with spare parts
as they are flown for several years
while the KC-46A is integrated into Air Mobility Command’s Total Force tanker enterprise.