Extender tanker/transport becomes latest exhibit at California museum
McDonnell Douglas KC-10A Extender serial 84-0185 has joined the permanent displays at the March Field Air Museum in California. In the hands of Maj Gen Jeffrey T. Pennington, deputy commander of Air Force Reserve Command, the tanker/transport made its final flight to the adjacent March Air Reserve Base on 10 August, and underwent demilitarisation prior to going on show at the museum site five days later.
The KC-10 has an extensive history in relation to what is now March ARB. During 1982, the 22nd Air Refueling Wing began operating the type from the then March AFB, becoming the second Extender unit after the 2nd Bomb Wing at Barksdale AFB, Louisiana, which incorporated its own air-to-air refuelling squadrons. The 22nd ARW continued to fly the KC-10 at March until 1994, when the wing was transferred to McConnell AFB, Kansas and took over the KC-135R Stratotankers formerly on the strength of the 384th ARW. Its Extenders were reallocated to the 60th Air Mobility Wing, stationed at Travis AFB, California.
Serial 84-0185 was stationed at March with the 22nd ARW during the 1980s. It arrived on 10 August from Travis, having been retired as part of the draw-down of the US Air Force’s KC-10 fleet. The Extender is being phased out in favour of the new Boeing KC-46A Pegasus, based on the Boeing 767; the last example is set to leave the USAF inventory by the end of September 2024.
