We still have a lot to learn about the assignment and the plane (including WHEN we'll be leaving)..but here's what we know so far:
Plane: KC-10
Nicknames: Extender, Big Sexy, The Gucci Life
Pilot's nicknames: "Gucci boys"
Favorite Saying: "NKAWTG" (Nobody Kicks A** Without Tanker Gas!)
Size:
Length: 178.48ft (54.40m)
Width: 164.04ft (50.00m)
Height: 57.09ft (17.40m)
Empty Weight: 241,027lbs (109,328kg)
MTOW: 585,327lbs (265,500kg)
Performance:
Max Speed: 600mph (966kmh; 522kts)
Max Range: 4,369miles (7,032km)
Rate-of-Climb: 6,870ft/min (2,094m/min)
Service Ceiling: 41,755ft (12,727m; 7.9miles)
They call the 10 the "Gucci Life" because it is what the pilots like to call a "cushy" cockpit in a nice, large aircraft complete with a bathroom, kitchen, and sleeping quarters for multiple crews. We've heard that due to its size, it can't land in smaller (read: yucky, dangerous) places. This means that when they have to land somewhere they apparently go to places like Spain and stay in 5 star hotels. Rough, right? There are only 50-something of them in the Air Force inventory, so it's a small, tight-knit community. Another bonus? It has two bases-McGuire and Travis. McGuire is an hour or two from NYC, Philadelphia, Atlantic City, the Jersey Shore, Appalachian mountains, and Washington D.C. And of course, Jersey has FALL WEATHER!! Yeeehaw! Travis is in beautiful Northern California, right next to Napa Valley!
Drop Night was a blast; the jerseys turned out great!!
As you can imagine....Eric is THRILLED to be "passing gas"!!! (he's a pro already, ;) )
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