KC-10 EXTENDER Legacy Project

KC-10 EXTENDER

Legacy Project

The KC-10 Legacy Project is CALLSIGN Magazine's effort to document and preserve the 43-year history of the McDonnell Douglas KC-10 Extender and the airmen who flew, maintained, and depended on her through every major American air campaign since 1981. Known to her crews simply as "the Gucci bird," the KC-10 quietly retired from active service in 2024. This collector's-edition print issue will join CALLSIGN’s collection of legacy projects to immortalize the KC-10, capturing the oral histories of the pilots, boom operators, and engineers who flew her before those stories are lost to time.

The KC-10 entered Air Force service in 1981, a tri-engine derivative of the McDonnell Douglas DC-10 built to close a glaring gap exposed during the 1973 airlift to Israel, when the smaller KC-135 simply couldn't carry enough fuel over long oceanic legs. Sixty were built at the Douglas plant in Long Beach, California; one, "Lady Luck," was lost in a 1987 ground fire at Barksdale AFB. From her first combat test over Libya in 1986's Operation El Dorado Canyon through Desert Storm, Bosnia, Iraq, and Afghanistan, the KC-10 carried more fuel and cargo than any tanker before her — at one point flying continuously in the CENTCOM theater for 33 uninterrupted years, from August 1990 to October 2023.

A commercial airplane flying above the clouds on a clear day.

To tell that story right, CALLSIGN flew aboard one of the Air Force's last active KC-10s, tail number 1948, affectionately known as "Excalibur," embedded with the 9th Air Refueling Squadron and the 70th Air Refueling Squadron (Reserve) at Travis Air Force Base. We sat in the boom pod during live refueling of F-15s and a C-5M Super Galaxy, and spent hours with the people who lived the KC-10's story from the leadership and pilots to the boom operators and aircrew — oral histories spanning the type's introduction in 1981 through her final flights in 2024 from both current and retired personnel.

This project is about capturing the history of the KC-10 Extender before it fades, and putting it on heavy paper where the next generation can learn from it and be inspired.

A large commercial airplane flying high above the blue ocean, viewed from the front and slightly below.
An airplane flying over the ocean at night with clouds visible below.
Silhouette of a jet airplane on the runway during sunset with an orange sky and cityscape in the background.
A military aircraft is on the runway with ground crew working around it, viewed from the front.
A military aircraft flying over a desert landscape, taken from directly above.
Close-up of the rear of a military jet aircraft, focusing on the jet engine and vertical tail fin with an American flag decal and identification numbers, against a clear blue sky and a visible moon.
Close-up of a uniform patch on a military jacket, with the text "Universal" on top and "9th Air Refugee U.S." on bottom, featuring a globe, a pipeline, and a circular design.
Two workers in military uniforms inspecting or repairing a rocket engine inside a large industrial hangar.
Technicians working on a large airplane jet engine on the tarmac, with tools and equipment nearby.
Pilot in cockpit flying above mountains and clouds, with a view through the windshield showing snow-capped peaks.
A patch on a military uniform commemorates the KC-10 farewell ceremony, scheduled for September 26, 2024, at Travis Air Force Base in California. The patch features an illustration of a KC-10 aircraft flying over a sunset with a bridge in the backgro
Silhouette of a military aircraft on the tarmac during sunset with a smaller drone nearby.
Close-up of the nose section of a military aircraft featuring a dragon emblem and the text "60th AMW", under a clear blue sky.
A circular blue sign with white text reading "VFC 10" and "FINAL FLIGHT." It contains numerous handwritten notes and signatures surrounding the sign, with some names, dates, and messages, including farewell messages, signatures, and personal notes.
Close-up of the underside of a military fighter jet, showing engines, wings, and tail against a clear blue sky.
Close-up of a U.S. Air Force aircraft nose with military insignias and markings, including a dragon emblem and text indicating it belongs to the 60th and 349th Air Mobility Wings, against a clear blue sky.

To tell that story right, CALLSIGN flew aboard one of the Air Force's last active KC-10s, tail number 1948, affectionately known as "Excalibur," embedded with the 9th Air Refueling Squadron and the 70th Air Refueling Squadron (Reserve) at Travis Air Force Base. We sat in the boom pod during live refueling of F-15s and a C-5M Super Galaxy, and spent hours with the people who lived the KC-10's story from the leadership and pilots to the boom operators and aircrew — oral histories spanning the type's introduction in 1981 through her final flights in 2024 from both current and retired personnel.

This project is about capturing the history of the KC-10 Extender before it fades, and putting it on heavy paper where the next generation can learn from it and be inspired.

Silhouette of a U.S. Air Force cargo plane on the tarmac at sunset, with a smaller aircraft in the background.
Close-up of the nose of a U.S. Air Force aircraft with military insignia and markings, set against a clear blue sky.
A large metal sign with the number '1948' painted in black, surrounded by handwritten messages, names, dates, and signatures in black and red ink. The sign includes instructions for maximum tow angle and no exceeding certain angles, with a blue sky b
Neon sign reading 'Fly DC Jets' with an airplane and a stylized jet trail against a dark sky.
A large military cargo plane flying in the sky, flanked by two fighter jets on either side.
View of a small passenger airplane flying overhead, seen from inside a cockpit.
A U.S. Air Force Boeing KC-135 Stratotanker aircraft refueling a military fighter jet mid-air against a clear sky and cloudy landscape below.
Two military cargo planes parked on an airfield with a cloudy sky in the background.
Close-up of an aircraft cockpit with a pilot visible through the window, wearing sunglasses and a uniform, with part of the aircraft's exterior and registration number visible.
A speaker in a black suit and tie stands at a podium with a microphone in front of a U.S. Air Force aircraft. Three military personnel in uniform are seated on stage, with two flags behind them: the American flag and the U.S. Air Force flag. The scen
U.S. Air Force personnel loading cargo onto a military aircraft at an airbase.
A gray US Air Force cargo plane taxiing on a runway in a desert landscape.
An aerial view of a fighter jet seen from inside the cargo bay of an aircraft, with the sky and clouds below.
Large military aircraft on airport tarmac surrounded by people and military personnel.
Close-up of an aircraft cockpit's control column and instruments
Cockpit of an airplane with various instruments, gauges, and flight controls.
Group of diverse military personnel in uniforms standing in front of a large military cargo aircraft on an airfield, holding an American flag, with a clear blue sky overhead.
A circular embroidered patch on a military uniform sleeve, commemorating a KC-10 farewell ceremony on September 26, 2024, by Travis Air Force Base in California. The patch features an aircraft flying over the Golden Gate Bridge at sunset.
U.S. Air Force aerial refueling aircraft with two fighter jets flying in formation behind it over a city landscape.
Pilot inside an aircraft cockpit looking out at cloudy sky and snow-capped mountains.
A large military cargo plane on an airport runway being de-iced with a spray of water and anti-icing solution on a clear, sunny day.
A person in military uniform entering the open door of a large gray military aircraft with engines mounted on the aircraft's back, set against a clear blue sky.
A worker in military camouflage pants and tan shirt is inspecting a large airplane jet engine, holding a tool, inside an airport hangar.
A technician inspecting or working on the front of a jet engine mounted on an aircraft, with various metal components, pipes, and wires visible, on a platform outside during daytime.
Close-up of a military uniform shoulder with a colorful patch that reads 'UNIVERSAL 9TH AIR REFUELING SQ' and features a stylized red and white globe with a tail around it.
Two military aircraft flying in formation over desert landscape.
Two U.S. Air Force aircraft flying over a desert landscape with mountains and farmland visible below.
Military jet airplane on the tarmac with two personnel working near it, one inspecting the front and the other walking underneath.
A man in a suit and tie speaking at a podium with a serious expression, pointing with his right hand, in front of a sign that reads "KC-10A ROLL OUT CEREMO".
Two men in military uniforms examining a large model of an aircraft with a transparent top showing vehicles and personnel inside. The background displays informational posters about the KC-10 Extender aircraft.
A U.S. Air Force Boeing C-17 Globemaster III cargo aircraft flying alongside a fighter jet in clear sky.
Silhouette of a military aircraft under a sunset or dusk sky, with the aircraft's lights on.
Inside a tunnel with metal walls and an orange insulated ceiling, showing industrial equipment and lighting, with a track running through the center.
Cockpit of an aircraft cockpit with various gauges, control panels, and a yoke with a display attached showing a 10-kilogram weight.
Silhouette of a military aircraft on the tarmac at sunset with buildings in the background.
Military cargo planes lined up on an airport runway during sunset, with the front plane prominently in view, showing its nose, cockpit, and engines.
Close-up of a military jet aircraft's tail section with a large jet engine and vertical stabilizer marked with an American flag and the name 'TRAVIS'.
View from inside the cockpit of an aircraft looking out at a fighter jet flying above the ocean.
A U.S. Air Force aircraft flying over a mountainous landscape.
A gray U.S. Air Force aircraft taking off from a desert runway with housing structures in the background.
Multiple military transport aircraft lined up on an airport runway under a cloudy sky.
A lineup of military cargo planes parked on an airfield with overcast skies, with the sunlight shining through in front of the closest plane.
A military aircraft flying through cloudy skies with its underside visible.