KC-10 Final Flight

[EAGLE]

KC-10 79-1948 under the callsign GUCCI10 is about to takeoff for the final flight. Tracking is available here https://globe.airplanes.live/?icao=ae020e - Its expected route will be a flypast over Travis, down to San Francisco and the Pacific, then a run down the coast, down to LA and Long Beach, then down to Arizona and the AMARG.

Pair of California ANG F-15's will be with it most of the way too.

[Blackcat1]

That’s so sad . So that’s definitely the end of KC10 operations?

[AyrForce1]

Curiously close to the KC10 flightpath this evening east of Long Beach was Omega N974VV, which is presumably the nearest thing you'll see to a KC10 from now.

[Pete Da Bear]

So would this Thursday RIAT arrival be an historic final KC10 landing in the UK ?
RIAT 2024. Thursday arrivals & practices. by Peter Jackson, on Flickr

[James Cutting]

Pete, I believe that same airframe had a stopover not too long ago at RAF Mildenhall.

[AyrForce1]

So would this Thursday RIAT arrival be an historic final KC10 landing in the UK ?

Prestwick got that frame on 17-18/08/2024, complete with water cannon salute.

[AyrForce1]

Landed 19:52 UTC. Thanks for posting about this EAGLE.

[panta615]

Thanks for the update EAGLE.

Sad to see this coming to an end. Maybe Omega will take up some of the airframes?

TWZ have a story published:

https://www.twz.com/air/final-kc-10-ext ... retirement

Will miss seeing ‘Big Sexy’.

Dave

[luxto]

Best KC-10 time for me was seeing 15 gathered at Mildenhall and another 9 at Fairford for Operation `El Dorado Canyon` in April 1986.

[Unknown74]

My most notable sightings of the USAF KC-10 Extenders were my first couple ever at RAF Mildenhall in March 1988 - (29/3/88) 91713 and 40188 and many many Years later 2 which came into Edinburgh Airport quite by surprise having diverted from Prestwick in February 2022 - (26th(on approach)&27th(parked at Edinburgh Airport)/2/22) 86-0031 and 79-1948 with a few more seen over the intervening Years at such places as Leuchars, Prestwick, Edinburgh, Mildenhall and Fairford. Another type it's going to be strange not to see around.

[plmc135]

Does not seem possible that it was 43 years since I first espied a KC-10A at Long Beach in June 1981. In those days they wore that very smart scheme of white roof and thin blue cheat line.

[Blackcat1]

Does not seem possible that it was 43 years since I first espied a KC-10A at Long Beach in June 1981. In those days they wore that very smart scheme of white roof and thin blue cheat line.

I’ve got a die cast model of one in that scheme. I shall miss the Tri jet

[luxto]

Does not seem possible that it was 43 years since I first espied a KC-10A at Long Beach in June 1981. In those days they wore that very smart scheme of white roof and thin blue cheat line.

Reminds me of the time of my first sighting - 2nd BW 79-0434, on the first KC-10 visit the UK. This was at RAF Wittering, where it arrived at 1945 local, on Saturday the 30th of May 1981. Part of "Coronet Canvas" it supported the movement of 8 Oklahoma ANG A-7D's from Tulsa to Wittering and landed 5 minutes after the last of the A-7's had arrived. Later that evening it re-positioned to Mildenhall, where I was fortunate to have a tour inside the a/c 2 days later. On the 2nd of June it departed to the Paris Air Show wearing a show code of "100". It was also involved in the return of the A-7's back home. Arriving at Wittering from Le Bourget on the 11th of June, it picked up personnel and equipment and then continued to Mildenhall to be ready for the transatlantic flight the next day.

[T_J]

At least 10 KC-10s are up for auction.

KC-10 Aircraft, Tail Number 86-0036, Engines: Mfr. General Electric, Mdl. CF6-50C2.

This aircraft is missing 1 of the 3 commercial engines. The refueling boom system has been removed and is not included. This aircraft is in a NON-FLYABLE condition, and it is NOT in compliance with applicable FAA requirements.

See attached "Documents" Section for additional information.

Buyer is responsible for bringing the aircraft into compliance with 14 CFR Chapter or other applicable standards, by obtaining all necessary FAA inspections or modifications.

https://gsaauctions.gov/auctions/preview/321142

[Chris in Tennessee]

Best KC-10 time for me was seeing 15 gathered at Mildenhall and another 9 at Fairford for Operation `El Dorado Canyon` in April 1986.

I remember that event very well. I was running the Avionics Maint Sq launch truck full of techs to catch any avionics problems on the KC-135's taking off. There weren't a lot of problems and no mx cancels that I remember since the crews wanted to go. That was a pretty long night on the MIldenhall flightline though.

[Vulcanone]

The other 9 after a few minutes digging

https://gsaauctions.gov/auctions/auctio ... nced=false