tsugambler From United States of America, joined Jul 2010, 302 posts, RR: 0 Posted (2 years 3 weeks 4 days 1 hour ago) and read 5318 times:
I know a regular DC-10-30 has a range of about 10,000km (6200 miles)... but what about the KC-10? I've read that , as a tanker, it can draw on internal fuel stores, which makes it the longest-range production aircraft ever. What would its theoretical range be if it used all the fuel from all of its tanks?
n53614 From United States of America, joined May 2007, 229 posts, RR: 1 Reply 1, posted (2 years 3 weeks 3 days 23 hours ago) and read 5266 times:
I did a quick Google search and found that the unrefueled, zero cargo range of a KC-10 is 11500 SM. Of course, the KC-10 can be refueled inflight so the only limitation to range would be engine oil quantity.
Max Q From United States of America, joined May 2001, 3326 posts, RR: 19 Reply 6, posted (2 years 3 weeks 1 day 16 hours ago) and read 4593 times:
Quoting tsugambler (Reply 5): What's the difference? Why are there different types of miles?
It's just a unit of measurement tsugambler.
A statute mile is what you are most familiar with in the US, it amounts to 5280 feet, if you see a speed limit of 70 mph
it is 70 statute miles in an hour.
A Nautical mile is considerably more, at 6076 feet it is the standard unit of speed and distance measurement for Aircraft
and ships.
If travelling at 70 nautical miles per hour in An Aircraft or a ship you are moving at 70 Knots.
Sometimes, when an article is written about how far or fast an Aircraft can fly the writer will convert this value to Statute Miles to make it sound even more impressive (it will be larger)
The best contribution to safety is a competent Pilot.
747400sp From United States of America, joined Aug 2003, 3301 posts, RR: 2 Reply 7, posted (1 year 12 months 4 days 16 hours ago) and read 3981 times:
Quoting tsugambler (Thread starter): I know a regular DC-10-30 has a range of about 10,000km (6200 miles)... but what about the KC-10? I've read that , as a tanker, it can draw on internal fuel stores, which makes it the longest-range production aircraft ever. What would its theoretical range be if it used all the fuel from all of its tanks?
I have read that a 77L, has a longer range than a KC-10.
KC135TopBoom From United States of America, joined Jan 2005, 11738 posts, RR: 51 Reply 8, posted (1 year 12 months 4 days 7 hours ago) and read 3870 times:
The KC-10 can fly half way around the world, meaning it can go anywhere on Earth (great circle) on just one hop, depending on the direction it flies. The B-777-200LR actually has more range because it has to fly ETOPS to get from point A to point B, making nearly capable of flying anywhere on Earth, depending on the direction it takes. The closest ranged aircraft to the KC-10 would be the A-340-500 as it does not have to fly ETOPS routes, but it takes more than one sortie to fly anywhere on Earth.
Flighty From United States of America, joined Apr 2007, 7502 posts, RR: 2 Reply 9, posted (1 year 12 months 4 days 1 hour ago) and read 3760 times:
Last yr I met an older man in Oregon who was KC-10 master pilot instructor (or something?) for many years, and KC-135 before that, and so on since the 1950s. I asked him about crew rest and other stuff. Great old fellow, working at a tourist lighthouse selling magnets. He was wearing a KC-10 hat. He said he really enjoyed his career over those many years.
gigneil From United States of America, joined Nov 2002, 16215 posts, RR: 88 Reply 10, posted (1 year 12 months 4 days 1 hour ago) and read 3751 times:
Quoting Max Q (Reply 6): A Nautical mile is considerably more, at 6076 feet it is the standard unit of speed and distance measurement for Aircraft
and ships.
KC135TopBoom From United States of America, joined Jan 2005, 11738 posts, RR: 51 Reply 11, posted (1 year 12 months 2 days 21 hours ago) and read 3592 times:
Quoting Flighty (Reply 9): Last yr I met an older man in Oregon who was KC-10 master pilot instructor (or something?)
He was probibly a Command Pilot (star and wreath on top of his wings) who was also an Instructor Pilot. I wore Command Aircrew Wings and was also an Instructor Boom Operator.
Sometimes, when an article is written about how far or fast an Aircraft can fly the writer will convert this value to Statute Miles to make it sound even more impressive (it will be larger)
Yeah, I thought I noticed that in the back of DL's in-flight mag where it lists their 77L's as having over 10,000mi range.
Quoting KC135TopBoom (Reply 11): I wore Command Aircrew Wings and was also an Instructor Boom Operator.
Ah, hence the name then? That makes sense. That must have been a really cool AFSC, 1A081, or something... In another life I think that would have been a great thing to do...
PolymerPlane From United States of America, joined May 2006, 991 posts, RR: 3 Reply 13, posted (1 year 12 months 2 days 12 hours ago) and read 3524 times:
Quoting tsugambler (Reply 3): 11,500 miles, huh? That's one heck of a long flight... almost 20 hours by my calculations!
The 777-200LR has much longer leg, 11,664 NM, or 13,400 miles, in 22 hr 40 min, with 35 souls on board.
Max Q From United States of America, joined May 2001, 3326 posts, RR: 19 Reply 14, posted (1 year 12 months 1 day 15 hours ago) and read 3426 times:
Quoting PolymerPlane (Reply 13):
The 777-200LR has much longer leg, 11,664 NM, or 13,400 miles, in 22 hr 40 min, with 35 souls on board.
Kind of meaningless, it was a specially planned flight with next to no payload and all three auxiliary fuel tanks were installed (which no Airline customer uses as it cuts into freight payload)
The KC10 on the other hand can fly nearly as far with no special modifications or planning.
The best contribution to safety is a competent Pilot.
PolymerPlane From United States of America, joined May 2006, 991 posts, RR: 3 Reply 15, posted (1 year 12 months 1 day 2 hours ago) and read 3378 times:
Quoting Max Q (Reply 14): Kind of meaningless, it was a specially planned flight with next to no payload and all three auxiliary fuel tanks were installed (which no Airline customer uses as it cuts into freight payload)
The KC10 on the other hand can fly nearly as far with no special modifications or planning.
How do you think KC-10 stores its extra fuel? it's actually in the under floor cargo hold. The most DC-10 can carry was 240klbs, while the KC-10 can carry 356klbs. I would argue that the 772LR record breaking flight did not need "special" modification. Fact is that the aux tank is an OEM option, which means it is commercially available, not "special" as you'd call. If your car has the optional navigation system, does it mean it needs "special" modification?
I'm not arguing whether the 777 flight was or was not meaningless, but the OP's concern was the maximum zero payload range.
Max Q From United States of America, joined May 2001, 3326 posts, RR: 19 Reply 16, posted (1 year 12 months 17 hours ago) and read 3329 times:
Quoting PolymerPlane (Reply 15):
How do you think KC-10 stores its extra fuel? it's actually in the under floor cargo hold. The most DC-10 can carry was 240klbs, while the KC-10 can carry 356klbs. I would argue that the 772LR record breaking flight did not need "special" modification. Fact is that the aux tank is an OEM option, which means it is commercially available, not "special" as you'd call. If your car has the optional navigation system, does it mean it needs "special" modification?
I'm not arguing whether the 777 flight was or was not meaningless, but the OP's concern was the maximum zero payload range.
Good points.
I guess my point was / is the KC10 rolls out of the factory with this capability, the extra fuel tanks are built in, in commercial service, no 77L operator uses them so it's a realistic range.
The best contribution to safety is a competent Pilot.
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