Gallery: USAF Retires The KC-10

Angus Batey September 30, 2024
A KC-10, flanked by two F-15s
Credit: USAF/Kenneth Abbate

A KC-10, flanked by two F-15s, completes a pass over Travis AFB, Ca, during the type's formal retirement ceremony, September 26.

KC-10 mission patch
Credit: USAF/Kenneth Abbate

The mission patch designed and produced for the retirement ceremony features a KC-10 climbing over the Golden Gate Bridge while the sun sets.

Retired USAF Gen. Paul Selva
Credit: USAF/Kenneth Abbate

Retired USAF Gen. Paul Selva, a former vice chair of the Joint Chiefs of Staff and a pilot whose 3,100+ hours include many in the cockpit of the KC-10, addressing attendees during the retirement ceremony.

Col. Jay Johnson
Credit: USAF/Kenneth Abbate

Col. Jay Johnson, commander of the 60th Air Mobility Wing, during the ceremony.

USAF Air Mobility Command tanker chief Lt. Col. Gary Olkowski
Credit: USAF/Kenneth Abbate

USAF Air Mobility Command tanker chief Lt. Col. Gary Olkowski signs the farewell banner ahead of the final KC-10 flight.

Col. Patrick Brady-Lee, commander of the 349th Air Mobility Wing
Credit: USAF/Tech. Sgt. Daniel Peterson

USAF staff watch from the doorway of a KC-10 as Col. Patrick Brady-Lee, commander of the 349th Air Mobility Wing, addresses the farewell ceremony.

KC-10
Credit: USAF/Tech. Sgt. Daniel Peterson

The KC-10 is readied for the type's final flight.

The final crew to fly a KC-10
Credit: USAF/Kenneth Abbate

The final crew to fly a KC-10 make their way to the aircraft following speeches in the hangar. They are led out by Col. Clinton B Varty, commander of the 60th Maintenance Group.

KC-10 tail number 9194
Credit: USAF/Tech. Sgt. Daniel Peterson

The aircraft, tail number 91948, awaiting the crew.

the last KC-10 prepares to taxi for its final flight
Credit: USAF/Hun Chustine Minoda

The crowd attending the farewell ceremony look on as the last KC-10 prepares to taxi for its final flight.

KC-10 takes off for the last time from Travis AFB
Credit: USAF/Kenneth Abbate

A KC-10 takes off for the last time from Travis AFB. The type was first based at the airfield in 1992.

The last KC-10 flight passes the tower at Travis AFB
Credit: USAF/Kenneth Abbate

The last KC-10 flight passes the tower at Travis AFB.

F-15s assigned to the Air National Guard's Fresno air base join the KC-10 for its farewell flight
Credit: USAF/Kenneth Abbate

F-15s assigned to the Air National Guard's Fresno air base join the KC-10 for its farewell flight.

The United States Air Force has formally retired the last of its KC-10 Extender tanker fleet during a ceremony held at Travis Air Force Base, California, September 26. The aircraft, a derivative of the DC-10 airliner, first flew in July 1980 and entered service the following March. The type's final combat mission took place in October 2023, with a flight from Prince Sultan Air Base, Saudi Arabia. Its role has been transferred to the USAF's KC-46 fleet.

Angus Batey

Angus Batey has been contributing to various titles within the Aviation Week Network since 2009, reporting on topics ranging from defense and space to business aviation, advanced air mobility and cybersecurity.