Maintaining the Extender

U.S. Air Force Staff Sgt. Steven Lynch, 380th Expeditionary Aircraft Maintenance Squadron flying crew chief, inspects the landing gear and Airman 1st Class Kevin Kahn, 380th EAMXS fuel systems apprentice, performs maintenance on the fuel system of a KC-10 Extender, deployed from McGuire AFB, N.J., at an undisclosed location in Southwest Asia Mar. 29, 2013. Both Lynch and Kahn are deployed from Travis Air Force Base, Calif. The Extender has six fuel tanks that can carry more than 356,000 pounds of fuel. (U.S. Air Force photo by Tech. Sgt. Christina M. Styer/Released)

Maintaining the Extender

U.S. Air Force Airman 1st Class Kevin Kahn, 380th Expeditionary Aircraft Maintenance Squadron fuel systems apprentice, deployed from Travis Air Force Base, Calif. performs maintenance on the fuel system of a KC-10 Extender, deployed from McGuire AFB, N.J., as another Extender takes off in the background at an undisclosed location in Southwest Asia Mar. 29, 2013. The Extender can transport up to 75 people and nearly 170,000 pounds of cargo a distance of about 4,400 miles. (U.S. Air Force photo by Tech. Sgt. Christina M. Styer/Released)

908th EARS Refuels aircraft in fight

SOUTHWEST ASIA - Two Dutch F-16s fly beside a KC-10 Extender Sept. 18, 2012. The KC-10 can carry 170,000 pounds of cargo and more than 350,000 pounds of fuel. (U.S. Air Force photo/Master Sgt. Scott MacKay)

908th EARS Refuels aircraft in fight

SOUTHWEST ASIA - A Dutch F-16 aircraft is refueled by a KC-10 Extender from the 908th Expeditionary Aerial Refueling Squadron Sept. 18, 2012. The KC-10 is an advanced tanker and cargo aircraft designed to provide increased global mobility for U.S. armed forces. (U.S. Air Force photo/Master Sgt. Scott MacKay)

Extending the mission

SOUTHWEST ASIA - A KC-10 Extender from the 380th Air Expeditionary Wing flies over Southwest Asia during an aerial refueling mission May 11, 2012. Extenders and their crews are able to refuel joint and coalition aircraft as well as carry cargo. During the month of April, the squadron offloaded 23.5 million pounds of fuel over 285 sorties to 2,137 receivers. The jet and crew are deployed from Joint Base McGuire-Dix-Lakehurst. (U.S. Air Force photo/Staff Sgt. J.G. Buzanowski)

Extending the mission

SOUTHWEST ASIA - A KC-10 Extender from the 380th Air Expeditionary Wing flies over Southwest Asia during an aerial refueling mission May 11, 2012. Extenders and their crews are able to refuel joint and coalition aircraft as well as carry cargo. During the month of April, the squadron offloaded 23.5 million pounds of fuel over 285 sorties to 2,137 receivers. The jet and crew are deployed from Joint Base McGuire-Dix-Lakehurst. (U.S. Air Force photo/Staff Sgt. J.G. Buzanowski)