Air Force Reverse Refuels KC-10 Tanker with 'Floating Gas Station'

During the exercise, a C-5M Super Galaxy topped off a KC-10 Extender with 23,500 pounds of fuel in about 30 minutes.

Tuesday, December 19, 2023 at 01:08 PM ET

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A C-5M Super Galaxy approaches the boom of a KC-10 Extender to perform reverse aerial refueling training in an aerial refueling track over Northern California and Oregon on December. 12, 2023. [Courtesy: U.S. Air Force]

Key Takeaways:

The U.S. Air Force successfully demonstrated a "reverse flow air refueling" concept, where a C-5M Super Galaxy refueled a KC-10 Extender.
This marks the first time a C-5M was used to reverse refuel another aircraft, topping off the KC-10 with 23,500 pounds of fuel.
The proof of concept aims to enhance tanker readiness and mission flexibility by allowing C-5Ms to act as "floating gas stations," freeing up traditional tankers for other assignments and extending their range or orbit time.

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A U.S. Air Force aircrew reverse refueled a KC-10 Extender during an exercise the service says is a proof of concept that will maintain readiness of tankers in an emergency.

The reverse flow air refueling test was conducted by the 22nd Airlift Squadron (AS) operating the Air Force’s largest aircraft—a C-5M Super Galaxy—during an exercise over Northern California and Oregon on December 12.