Stunning Images Of The KC-10 Extender

A KC-10 Extender is parked on the ramp as a C-5M Super Galaxy takes off at Travis Air Force Base, Calif., Mar. 16, 2017.

A McDonnell Douglas KC-10 Extender is parked on the ramp as a C-5M Super Galaxy takes off at Travis Air Force Base, Calif. These KC-10 Extender images were photographed by military veterans and service members.

A KC-10 Extender launches a a sortie in support of Combined Joint Task Force-Operation Inherent Resolve from an undisclosed location in Southwest Asia, Feb. 14, 2017. Extenders have provided fuel to multi-national Coalition aircraft in an effort to weaken and destroy Islamic State in Iraq and the Levant operations in the Middle East region and around the world.

A KC-10 Extender launches a a sortie in support of Combined Joint Task Force-Operation Inherent Resolve from an undisclosed location in Southwest Asia.

U.S. Air Force Col. Joel Jackson, Commander, 60th Air mobility Wing, Travis Air Force Base, Calif., arrives from is fini flight which he took on a KC-10 Extender from the 6th Air Refueling Squadron. Col Jackson has been the Commander since February 20, 2015 and will be moving on as the Special Assistant to the Supreme Allied Commander in Europe, June 17, 2016.

U.S. Air Force Col. Joel Jackson, Commander, 60th Air Mobility Wing, Travis Air Force Base, Calif., arrives from his final flight which he took on a KC-10 Extender from the 6th Air Refueling Squadron.

Pilots of a KC-10, from the 78th Air Refueling Squadron, 514th Air Mobility Wing, experience a phenomenon called St. Elmo fire while flying threw a thundercloud overseas. St. Elmo's fire occurs when the electric field around the aircraft causes ionization of the air molecules, producing a glow, and sparks, easily visible in low-light conditions

Pilots of a KC-10, experience a phenomenon called St. Elmo fire while flying threw a thundercloud overseas.

A U.S. Air Force KC-10 Extender assigned to the 60th Air Mobility Wing, Travis Air Force Base, Calif., refuels an F-15 Eagle and an F-16C Fighting Falcon. Both fighters are with the 144th Fighter Wing, California Air National Guard, Fresno, Calif., Nov., 7, 2013. The 144th Fighter Wing says "farewell" to the F-16C Fighting Falcon after converting to the F-15 Eagle for the unit's guard mission.

A U.S. Air Force KC-10 Extender assigned to the 60th Air Mobility Wing, Travis Air Force Base, Calif., refuels an F-15 Eagle and an F-16C Fighting Falcon.  These KC-10 Extender images were photographed by military veterans and service members.

A 380th Expeditionary Aircraft Maintenance Squadron maintainer completes a KC-10 Extender inspection before launching a sortie in support of Combined Joint Task Force-Operation Inherent Resolve from an undisclosed location in Southwest Asia, March 22, 2017. Extenders have provided fuel to multi-national Coalition aircraft in an effort to weaken and destroy Islamic State in Iraq and the Levant operations in the Middle East region and around the world.

A 380th Expeditionary Aircraft Maintenance Squadron maintainer completes a KC-10 Extender inspection before launching a sortie in support of Combined Joint Task Force-Operation Inherent Resolve from an undisclosed location in Southwest Asia.

An "Elephant Walk," comprising 12 KC-10 Extenders and six C-17 Globemaster IIIs from the 305th Air Mobility Wing, was held Nov. 21, 2013, as part of a training exercise at Joint Base McGuire-Dix-Lakehurst, N.J. The exercise enabled aircrew, maintenance, command post and operational support personnel to test their ability to launch a mass amount of aircraft in support of real-world operations. An Elephant Walk is a nose-to-tail taxi formation.

An “Elephant Walk,” comprising of 12 KC-10 Extenders and six C-17 Globemaster IIIs from the 305th Air Mobility Wing as part of a training exercise at Joint Base McGuire-Dix-Lakehurst, N.J.

A U.S. Air Force KC-10 Extender, out of McGuire Air Force Base, takes off from Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson, Alaska, while supporting operations for the 90th Fighter Squadron, March 28, 2016. The 90th Fighter Squadron deployed personnel, cargo and several F-22 Raptors to Southeast Asia this month to support United States Air Forces Central Command operations. AFCENT’s mission is to deliver decisive air, space, and cyberspace capabilities for United States Central Command in concert with coalition, joint, and interagency partners.

A U.S. Air Force KC-10 Extender, out of McGuire Air Force Base, takes off from Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson, Alaska, while supporting operations for the 90th Fighter Squadron. These KC-10 Extender images were photographed by military veterans and service members.

U.S. Air Force maintainers from the 380th Aircraft Maintenance Squadron launch prepare to tow a KC-10 Extender at an undisclosed location in Southwest Asia Dec. 1, 2010. The KC-10 Extender is an advanced tanker and cargo aircraft designed to provide increased global mobility for U.S. armed forces.

U.S. Air Force maintainers from the 380th Aircraft Maintenance Squadron prepare to tow a KC-10 Extender at an undisclosed location in Southwest Asia.

An U.S. Air Force KC-10 Extender from the 380th Expeditionary Air Refueling Squadron flies over Southwest Asia in support of Operation Inherent Resolve, Dec. 9, 2015. OIR is the coalition intervention against the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant.

An U.S. Air Force KC-10 Extender from the 380th Expeditionary Air Refueling Squadron flies over Southwest Asia in support of Operation Inherent Resolve.

Airman 1st Class Aaron, 908th Expeditionary Air Refueling Squadron in-flight refueler, operates the centerline drogue in the rear of a KC-10 Extender over an undisclosed location in Southwest Asia, Oct. 9, 2016. Aaron is responsible for operating and monitoring aircraft refueling.

Airman 1st Class Aaron, 908th Expeditionary Air Refueling Squadron in-flight refueler, operates the centerline drogue in the rear of a KC-10 Extender over an undisclosed location in Southwest Asia.

A KC-10 Extender prepares to land at RAF Fairford, United Kingdom, June 29, 2016. The aerial refueling tanker led a three-ship formation of F-35B Lightning II's on their inagural journey to the United Kingdom.

A KC-10 Extender prepares to land at RAF Fairford, United Kingdom. The aerial refueling tanker led a three-ship formation of F-35B Lightning II’s on their inagural journey to the United Kingdom.

A KC-10 Extender is photographed at Travis Air Force Base, Calif., May 7, 2015. The KC-10 plays a key role in the mobilization of U.S. military assets, taking part in overseas operations far from home. These aircraft performed airlift and aerial refueling during the 1986 bombing of Libya (Operation Eldorado Canyon), the 1990-91 Gulf War with Iraq (Operations Desert Shield and Desert Storm), the 1999 NATO bombing of Yugoslavia (Operation Allied Force), War in Afghanistan (Operations Enduring Freedom), and Iraq War (Operations Iraqi Freedom and New Dawn). The KC-10 is expected to serve until 2043.

The KC-10 plays a key role in the mobilization of U.S. military assets, taking part in overseas operations far from home. These KC-10 Extender images were photographed by military veterans and service members.

A Navy F/A-18 Hornet fighter receives fuel from a KC-10 Extender over Afghanistan Sept. 7, 2006.

A Navy F/A-18 Hornet fighter receives fuel from a KC-10 Extender over Afghanistan.

A U.S. Air Force KC-10 Extender from the 305th Air Mobility Wing takes off after doing a touch-and-go practice landing at Joint Base McGuire-Dix-Lakehurst, N.J., Sept. 16, 2016.

A U.S. Air Force KC-10 Extender from the 305th Air Mobility Wing takes off after doing a touch-and-go practice landing at Joint Base McGuire-Dix-Lakehurst, N.J.

A crew chief maintains contact with the flight crew of a 305th Air Mobility Wing KC-10 Extender at the Combat Readiness Training Center at Gulfport, Miss., in support of Crisis Response '17 March 6, 2017. Close to 700 Air Mobility Command Airmen with the 514th Air Mobility Wing, the 305th Air Mobility Wing, the 87th Air Base Wing, and the 621st Contingency Response Wing are participating in the mobilization exercise.

A crew chief maintains contact with the flight crew of a 305th Air Mobility Wing KC-10 Extender at the Combat Readiness Training Center at Gulfport, Miss., in support of Crisis Response. These KC-10 Extender images were photographed by military veterans and service members.

A U.S. Air Force KC-10 Extender is prepped for take off in formation departure with a Royal Australian Air Force KC-30A from an undisclosed location in Southwest Asia, Oct. 24, 2016. The KC-10 has two capabilities for refueling U.S. and allied military aircraft with its advanced aerial refueling boom and drogue centerline refueling system. With the capability to stay in flight for nearly 44,000 miles and diverse refueling options, the KC-10 provides critical refueling support to several coalition airframes working to liberate the city of Mosul, Iraq.

A U.S. Air Force KC-10 Extender is prepped for take off in formation departure with a Royal Australian Air Force KC-30A from an undisclosed location in Southwest Asia.

A U.S. Air Force KC-10 Extender from Joint Base McGuire-Dix-Lakehurst, N.J., is prepped for takeoff in the early morning smoky haze due to nearby wildfires June 24, 2015, during Exercise Northern Edge at Eielson Air Force Base, Alaska. Northern Edge 2015 is Alaska’s premier joint training exercise designed to practice operations, tactics, techniques and procedures as well as enhance interoperability among thousands of service members from active-duty, Reserve and National Guard units.

A U.S. Air Force KC-10 Extender from Joint Base McGuire-Dix-Lakehurst, N.J., is prepped for takeoff in the early morning smoky haze due to nearby wildfires.

An "Elephant Walk," comprising 12 KC-10 Extenders and six C-17 Globemaster IIIs from the 305th Air Mobility Wing, was held Nov. 21, 2013, as part of a training exercise at Joint Base McGuire-Dix-Lakehurst, N.J. The exercise enabled aircrew, maintenance, command post and operational support personnel to test their ability to launch a mass amount of aircraft in support of real-world operations. An Elephant Walk is a nose-to-tail taxi formation.

An “Elephant Walk,” comprising of 12 KC-10 Extenders and six C-17 Globemaster IIIs from the 305th Air Mobility Wing, as part of a training exercise at Joint Base McGuire-Dix-Lakehurst, N.J. These KC-10 Extender images were photographed by military veterans and service members.

A KC-10 Extender from the 908th Expeditionary Air Refueling Squadron lines up for take-off for a combat air mission in the U.S. Central Command area of responsibility during operations at a non-disclosed base in Southwest Asia, April 5. The KC-10s deployed to Southwest Asia with the 908th EARS and the 380th Air Expeditionary Wing are from Joint Base McGuire-Dix-Lakehurst, N.J., and Travis Air Force Base, Calif. The KC-10 is the Air Force's largest tanker and in 2009, aircraft assigned to the 908th EARS flew more than 4,700 combat missions offloading more than 422 million pounds of fuel to more than 31,400 aircraft.

A KC-10 Extender from the 908th Expeditionary Air Refueling Squadron lines up for take-off for a combat air mission in the U.S. Central Command area of responsibility during operations at a non-disclosed base in Southwest Asia.

A KC-10 Extender returns from a mission during flightline operations for the 380th Air Expeditionary Wing at a non-disclosed location in Southwest Asia, Feb. 12, 2010. The KC-10 is forward deployed to the U.S. Central Command area of responsibility from Joint Base McGuire-Dix-Lakehurst, N.J. On Jan. 17, 2011, the KC-10 marked 20 years of continuous deployment. Air Force KC-10 home stations are in only two places, Joint Base MDL and Travis Air Force Base, Calif.

A KC-10 Extender returns from a mission during flightline operations for the 380th Air Expeditionary Wing at a non-disclosed location in Southwest Asia. You might also like the KC-135 Stratotanker force multiplier. See all military aircraft images.