KC-10 Extender Poster - Strategic Aerial Refueling & Airlift Tanker

The McDonnell Douglas KC-10A Extender is the US Air Force's larger and more capable aerial refueling tanker, a derivative of the DC-10 wide-body commercial airliner modified to carry both a Boeing-style flying boom for Air Force receivers and a hose-and-drogue system for Navy and allied aircraft, making it the only tanker in the US inventory capable of refueling both types simultaneously on the same mission. Entering service in 1981 to supplement the KC-135 Stratotanker fleet, the KC-10 offers nearly triple the fuel offload capacity of the KC-135, up to 200,000 pounds of transferable fuel, along with the ability to carry its own cargo and personnel, blending the tanker and strategic airlift missions in a single aircraft.

Sixty KC-10As were built and all were assigned to Strategic Air Command and its successors, operating from Travis Air Force Base, California, and McGuire Air Force Base, New Jersey. In combat, KC-10s have been central to every major US air campaign since their introduction, supporting the 1986 bombing of Libya, Desert Storm, Allied Force, and operations throughout the War on Terror. A single KC-10 can refuel an entire strike package of fighters from takeoff to target and back, dramatically extending the combat radius of tactical aircraft beyond what the KC-135 could achieve alone. The Air Force began retiring the KC-10 fleet in the late 2010s as the KC-46 Pegasus entered service, accelerating retirements through the early 2020s. The last KC-10s were retired from active service in 2024, closing a four-decade chapter in American air power.

Our prints are museum-quality posters made on thick matte paper. They add a wonderful accent to your room or office and are sure to brighten any environment.

• Paper thickness: 10.3 mil
• Paper weight: 189 g/m²
• Opacity: 94%
• ISO brightness: 104%
• Paper is sourced from Japan

We print your poster especially for you once you place an order, which is why it takes us a bit longer to deliver it to you. Printing our posters on demand instead of in bulk helps reduce overproduction. Thank you for your understanding and making thoughtful purchasing decisions!