A retired U.S. Air Force KC-10 Extender has returned to the skies after more than three years in storage at Davis-Monthan Air Force Base in Arizona. The aircraft, formerly designated KC-10A 86-0034, departed the base on October 20 and flew to San Antonio International Airport, Texas.
The aircraft now carries the civilian registration N82247, with Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) records listing Omega Air Inc. as its registered owner. The company, based in San Antonio, specialises in aerial-refuelling services for military aircraft.
According to Air Force records cited by The War Zone, the KC-10 had been stored at Davis-Monthan since May 12, 2023. In 2025, it was among 10 retired KC-10 aircraft offered for sale by the U.S. government in non-flyable condition.
The aircraft offered for sale had been stripped of one wing-mounted engine, while their aerial-refuelling booms had also been removed. During its recent flight to San Antonio, N82247 was still operating without its refuelling boom.
Omega Air has not yet publicly confirmed the aircraft’s final configuration or its intended operational role. However, the company already operates tanker aircraft and provides contracted aerial-refuelling support to U.S. and allied military forces.
The aircraft’s return to flight marks a notable development for the retired KC-10 fleet, although its future use remains unclear.
