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The last, last KC-10 at Mildenhall? BORA11 12.08.24.

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WinchesterMGF
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The last, last KC-10 at Mildenhall? BORA11 12.08.24.

Post by WinchesterMGF » Mon Aug 12, 2024 7:30 pm

KC-10A 86-0031 arrived at Mildenhall on Friday 09.08.24 as BORA11 and departed today 12.08.24 to take F-16 reworks back to the US from Charleroi. It may have been the Last Hurrah for the mighty KC-10 in Suffolk so I thought it prudent to capture it.
ImageIMG_9627 by Andrew St Edmunds, on Flickr
ImageIMG_9684 by Andrew St Edmunds, on Flickr
ImageIMG_9694 by Andrew St Edmunds, on Flickr
ImageIMG_9702 by Andrew St Edmunds, on Flickr
Last edited by WinchesterMGF on Mon Aug 12, 2024 8:44 pm, edited 1 time in total.

Ian in Leeds
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Re: The last, last KC-10 at Mildenhall? BORA11 12.08.24.

Post by Ian in Leeds » Mon Aug 12, 2024 7:41 pm

Great shots of a lovely aircraft.

Ian

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Thunder
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Re: The last, last KC-10 at Mildenhall? BORA11 12.08.24.

Post by Thunder » Mon Aug 12, 2024 8:08 pm

When they finally go it must be leaving a fair capability gap in the USAF.

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Re: The last, last KC-10 at Mildenhall? BORA11 12.08.24.

Post by paddyboy » Tue Aug 13, 2024 3:07 am

Excellent shots, Andrew :thumbs:

Thanks for posting :thumb:

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Mustang531
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Re: The last, last KC-10 at Mildenhall? BORA11 12.08.24.

Post by Mustang531 » Tue Aug 13, 2024 9:28 am

Thanks for sharing these with us, great shots.

Alf
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Re: The last, last KC-10 at Mildenhall? BORA11 12.08.24.

Post by Alf » Tue Aug 13, 2024 10:37 am

Thunder wrote:
Mon Aug 12, 2024 8:08 pm
When they finally go it must be leaving a fair capability gap in the USAF.
I think the gap has already been filled by the KC-46 as there are only around 3 KC-10s left in service.

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Thunder
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Re: The last, last KC-10 at Mildenhall? BORA11 12.08.24.

Post by Thunder » Tue Aug 13, 2024 10:55 am

How many KC-46’s have been delivered. Weren’t they having issues with them and delivery schedule was greatly reduced. It’s a less capable a/c as well I believe??

Bilvo
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Re: The last, last KC-10 at Mildenhall? BORA11 12.08.24.

Post by Bilvo » Tue Aug 13, 2024 11:28 am

Thunder wrote:
Tue Aug 13, 2024 10:55 am
How many KC-46’s have been delivered. Weren’t they having issues with them and delivery schedule was greatly reduced. It’s a less capable a/c as well I believe??
They are having ongoing issues with the aircarft which is less capable than the KC-10.

Boeing lost the tender to Airbus which was then over-turned by the whitehouse in nothing more than a political move to "save US jobs". It's on a par with UK defence purchase cock-ups.
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Alf
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Re: The last, last KC-10 at Mildenhall? BORA11 12.08.24.

Post by Alf » Tue Aug 13, 2024 11:41 am

Thunder wrote:
Tue Aug 13, 2024 10:55 am
How many KC-46’s have been delivered. Weren’t they having issues with them and delivery schedule was greatly reduced. It’s a less capable a/c as well I believe??
The 94th KC-46 built was delivered to Travis recently, I know a few of the early ones are still with Boeing though.. but still more KC-46s now delivered than total KC-10 production.

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Thunder
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Re: The last, last KC-10 at Mildenhall? BORA11 12.08.24.

Post by Thunder » Tue Aug 13, 2024 12:39 pm

I seem to remember being told by a KC-10 crew member many years ago, that three KC-10’s could fully support a whole unit(12 jets) deployment from the CONUS to the Middle East on their own, as in refuelling the jets, carrying the ground crews/aircrews and the ground support equipment. Pretty impressive!!

Unknown74
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Re: The last, last KC-10 at Mildenhall? BORA11 12.08.24.

Post by Unknown74 » Wed Aug 14, 2024 1:57 pm

I remember well my first experience of KC-10 Extenders was 1988 around Easter at RAF Mildenhall 91713 and 40188 taxied out and departed, probably my best (non - Airshow) sighting of Extenders I can remember.

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Re: The last, last KC-10 at Mildenhall? BORA11 12.08.24.

Post by Blackcat1 » Wed Aug 14, 2024 9:14 pm

I shall miss another tri Jet.

I “Extend”, a huge thank you for the services this aircraft has made over the years .
Gareth

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Pune
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Re: The last, last KC-10 at Mildenhall? BORA11 12.08.24.

Post by Pune » Wed Aug 14, 2024 10:38 pm

Great images, thanks for posting, we were on our way on Monday from the midlands but sadly missed it, held up by an accident on the A14 :Wow:
If you can keep your head whilst all around are losing theirs, you have probably completely misread the situation!!

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Re: The last, last KC-10 at Mildenhall? BORA11 12.08.24.

Post by eagle driver » Thu Aug 15, 2024 4:32 am

Thank you for the post excellent shots
44 years nearly since I saw the first two KC-10s 79-0434 at Long beach and then 79-0433 at Edwards Show a couple of days later
I hope another makes it over just to complete the 44years it would be a fitting end.

Alf
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Re: The last, last KC-10 at Mildenhall? BORA11 12.08.24.

Post by Alf » Thu Aug 15, 2024 6:07 am

Unknown74 wrote:
Wed Aug 14, 2024 1:57 pm
I remember well my first experience of KC-10 Extenders was 1988 around Easter at RAF Mildenhall 91713 and 40188 taxied out and departed, probably my best (non - Airshow) sighting of Extenders I can remember.
For quite a few members I would guess April 1986 would be a major KC-10 moment, with around 20 KC-10 (how many was it?) between Mildenhall and Fairford for operation Eldorado Canyon. I had hardly seen any KC-10s until those few days (April 14/15th).

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Re: The last, last KC-10 at Mildenhall? BORA11 12.08.24.

Post by Stratocruiser » Thu Aug 15, 2024 8:50 am

"It may have been the Last Hurrah for the mighty KC-10 in Suffolk so I thought it prudent to capture it"
And superbly captured dear fellow making a truly fitting tribute to a much-loved and soon to be much-missed airframe.
I echo Alf's comments as I too fondly remember operation Eldorado Canyon, also those at Boscombe Down August & September 1986 supporting ‘Coronet Papago’ and ‘Coronet Comanche’ EF-111A & F-111D deployments :D

Thanks for sharing your superb captures and triggering fond memories :thumbs:
Best regards, Terry
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