cowpatz wrote:A great machine. I enjoyed working on the civilian counterpart many years ago. A shame I never had the opportunity to fly it as well.
A shame to see these workhorses go……although the way the worlds heading they might reconsider holding on to them.
Well done Chris.
CP re the world, it's a mess alright, and they may well be required.
I can't find any reason (so far) for the KC-10 retirement. That visitor is only 33 years old and there are 135's twice that age still working.
Boeing has delivered 78 KC-46s (as of October 2023)
But regarding the 135s "The USAF operates around 400 of these aircraft, including around 160 active duty aircraft, 60 reserve aircraft. Further, 180 tankers are used by the Air National Guard. Currently used variants are the KC-135R and KC-135T."*
Guess it just comes down to money with KC-10, they will all be gone by September this year, 60 of them.
*Air and Space Forces Magazine.