Silent flight makes ‘boom’ in refueling mission

A KC-10A Extender, from the 349th Air Mobility Reserve Wing, Travis Air Force Base, Calif., gets refueled from a KC-135 Stratotanker, from the 151st Air Fueling Wing, Utah Air National Guard, April 26, 2012. The 151st Air Refueling Wing routinely supports air operations across the western United States. (U.S. Air Force photo by Staff Sgt. Stephany Richards/Released)

305th Maintenance Group Airmen at work

Airman 1st Class Chris Gordon, 514th Aircraft Maintenance KC-10 Extender crew chief from Mapleshade, N.J., performs an inspection of tire pressure on a KC-10 the morning of Feb.3 at McGuire Field. The 605th AMXS Airmen support two active-duty and two Reserve air refueling squadrons. The Airmen can deploy on short notice to support worldwide-contingency operations. Peacetime activities for Airmen include daily training missions, distinguished visitor missions and numerous off-station air refueling and airlift missions. (U.S. Air Force photo by Airman 1st Class Dennis Sloan/Released)

'Elephant Walk'

Members of the 32nd and 2nd Air Refueling Squadrons participated in the Employment Defense and Global Engagement exercise on December 20, 2011 at Joint Base McGuire-Dix-Lakehurst. The event included mass simultaneous aerial refueling of four KC-10s by four other KC-10s. In addition to this main eight KC-10 formation a separate four KC-10 formation also flew. In all, the exercise involved 12 KC-10s as part of a global strike package exercise designed to demonstrate the capability of the Air Force to assemble a large refueling force. The exercise also involved members of the 514th Air Mobility Wing and the 305th Air Mobility Wing. (U.S. Air Force photo by Airman 1st Class Dennis Sloan/Released)

Flightline sunrise

Airmen perform routine maintenance on a KC-10A Extender as the sun rises at McGuire June 10. McGuire Airmen extend America's global reach by generating, mobilizing and deploying 13 C-17 Globemaster III and 32 KC-10 Extender aircraft to conduct strategic airlift and air refueling missions. The base's aircraft have participated in nearly every important military contingency from 1994 to today, including Operations Northern and Southern Watch, Allied Force, Noble Eagle, Enduring Freedom and Iraqi Freedom. (U.S. Air Force photo/Senior Airman Danielle Johnson)

KC-10 EXTENDER

Aircrew members from the 2nd Air Refueling Squadron, McGuire Air Force Base, N.J., finish their post flight checks after landing a KC-10 Extender at Nashville International Airport, Tenn., Oct. 25. (U.S. Air Force Photo/Tech. Sgt. Scott T. Sturkol)

KC-10 REFUELING

A KC-10 Extender from McGuire Air Force Base, N.J., is refueled by another KC-10 from McGuire during a mission somewhere over the Eastern United States Oct. 28. (U.S. Air Force Photo/Tech. Sgt. Scott T. Sturkol)