Designed as a military in-flight refueling tanker version of the DC-10, the KC-10A was first flown on July 12th, 1980. The tanker is based on the DC-10-30CF airframe with most passenger windows and cargo doors removed. Fuel storage tanks occupy the cargo area below the main deck and a flyable refuelling boom is controlled by a boom operator who is stationed at the rear of the plane with a clear view of the receiving aircraft. The long range and large fuel capacity of the KC-10 make it a key component of the US Air Force inventory, greatly extending the range of both combat and transport aircraft alike.
Aviation 200's 1:200 scale DC-10 is a large model in this scale and constructed almost entirely of diecast metal. The wide body fuselage features an all around seamless construction with pad-printed window and doors with delicate antennas found on the top and bottom. Each engine is constructed in diecast metal and plastic with compressor fan blades that spin freely if air is blown through the intake. The model rests on fixed metal landing gear with rotating wheels for ground display. The series include civilian airliners, cargo transports and military air-tanker variants fitted with a refueling boom at the rear.
