JOINT BASE MCGUIRE-DIX-LAKEHURST -- Airmen with the 305th Maintenance Squadron maintain the massive tanks on the KC-10 Extender fleet at Joint Base McGuire-Dix-Lakehurst.
The KC-10 Extender can store up to 365,000 pounds of fuel in cells located throughout both the fuselage and wings of the aircraft. That’s the equivalent of about 55,000 gallons of oil – more than enough to fill two family-sized swimming pools.
When maintenance issues or leaks arise within the tanks, Airmen with the 305th MXS suit up in oxygen masks and protective coveralls before climbing into the aircraft to perform an investigation from the inside.
“There are certain things they cannot fix on the [flight]line, so we bring the aircraft into the hangar and purge the fuel tanks so we can get inside,” said Staff Sgt. Steven Warner, aircraft fuels system mechanic with the 305th MXS. “If we find a leak when we troubleshoot the jet, we go inside of the fuel cells and fix it internally.”
The fuel tanks of the KC-10 Extender extend from wing to wing in sections, called cells. Each internal cell of the tank smaller than the last, reaching all the way out towards the tips of the wings. The fuels Airmen squeeze and contort through the aircraft in bulky protective gear, finding their way into the tight spaces to perform the required maintenance.
“We’re fitting in tiny holes, squeezing into tight spaces and maneuvering around components,” said Warner. “It is dangerous and can get claustrophobic sometimes; if you’re not careful you may be unable to get out on your own.”
The fuel stored in the KC-10 Extender is used to supply mission essential in-air-refueling for aircraft in different theaters around the globe.
“I’ve seen real world scenarios; I’ve seen directly what our maintenance does to help people around the world,” said Warner. “We keep the fuel in the tanks going to the engines. It’s extremely important that we keep these jets in the air.”
The Airmen of the 305th MXS fuels section make rapid global mobility a reality with their ability to ensure the Air Force’s in-air refueling capabilities remain available.