Dutch Air Force bids farewell to KDC-10 tanker aircraft
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| With a welcome shower, the Dutch Air Force bids farewell to its KDC-10, which has been in service for 26 years. |
Eindhoven Airport, NL - On Thursday October 07th, 2021, the last McDonnelDouglas KDC-10 tanker and transport aircraft (with registration T-235) of the Royal Netherlands Air Force flew a farewell round past Dutch airports.
The aircraft departed from Eindhoven Air Base (ICAO: EHEH) and flew at a low altitude over the military air bases of Leeuwarden, Den Helder, Woensdrecht and Gilze-Rijen. Due to the low clouds, the KDC-10 subsequently flew on to Volkel Air Base. The airports on Texel, Amsterdam and Rotterdam were also visited. Plus the headquarters of the Royal Netherlands Air Force in Breda. After landing, the aircraft received a water shower from the fire brigade.
On October 25th, 2021, this aircraft will leave the Netherlands and will be flown to its new owner in the United States, who also took delivery of the first aircraft at the end of 2019, with registration T-264. The new owner, OMEGA, will use the aircraft to refuel US Air Force aircraft on a commercial basis.
Both KDC-10s were acquired from airline Martinair in 1992 and were converted into tanker and transport aircraft, before entering service in mid- 1995. With the arrival of the KDC-10, the Royal Netherlands Air Force has the ability to transport large amounts of cargo and personnel quickly and over long distances. The KDC-10 also serves as a flying gas station. By refueling in the air, fighter aircraft such as the F-16 and F-35, as well as aircraft from other countries, can be deployed much longer in the air.
With the departure of the KDC-10, the Royal Netherlands Air Force concludes a period in which it had its own strategic air transport. The tasks of the KDC-10 will be taken over by the new Airbus A330 MRTT aircraft. The Netherlands participates in an aircraft pool for tanker and transport aircraft. At the initiative of the Netherlands, a total of 6 European partners are taking part. The fleet will consist of 9 aircraft, 5 of which are based at Eindhoven Air Base.
The aircraft departed from Eindhoven Air Base (ICAO: EHEH) and flew at a low altitude over the military air bases of Leeuwarden, Den Helder, Woensdrecht and Gilze-Rijen. Due to the low clouds, the KDC-10 subsequently flew on to Volkel Air Base. The airports on Texel, Amsterdam and Rotterdam were also visited. Plus the headquarters of the Royal Netherlands Air Force in Breda. After landing, the aircraft received a water shower from the fire brigade.
On October 25th, 2021, this aircraft will leave the Netherlands and will be flown to its new owner in the United States, who also took delivery of the first aircraft at the end of 2019, with registration T-264. The new owner, OMEGA, will use the aircraft to refuel US Air Force aircraft on a commercial basis.
Both KDC-10s were acquired from airline Martinair in 1992 and were converted into tanker and transport aircraft, before entering service in mid- 1995. With the arrival of the KDC-10, the Royal Netherlands Air Force has the ability to transport large amounts of cargo and personnel quickly and over long distances. The KDC-10 also serves as a flying gas station. By refueling in the air, fighter aircraft such as the F-16 and F-35, as well as aircraft from other countries, can be deployed much longer in the air.
With the departure of the KDC-10, the Royal Netherlands Air Force concludes a period in which it had its own strategic air transport. The tasks of the KDC-10 will be taken over by the new Airbus A330 MRTT aircraft. The Netherlands participates in an aircraft pool for tanker and transport aircraft. At the initiative of the Netherlands, a total of 6 European partners are taking part. The fleet will consist of 9 aircraft, 5 of which are based at Eindhoven Air Base.
Report by: Joris van Boven and Alex van Noije
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