---
title: "This Cockpit Video Of A KC-10 Refueling Another KC-10 Is Amazing"
description: "It all looks so smooth and almost easy until you take a closer look at the pilot's control inputs and the boom's movement."
date: "2019-12-22"
modified: "2019-12-22"
authors:
  - name: "Tyler Rogoway"
    job_title: "Editor-in-Chief"
    link: "https://www.twz.com/authors/tyler-rogoway.md"
url: "https://www.twz.com/31609/this-cockpit-video-of-a-kc-10-refueling-another-kc-10-is-amazing"
categories:
  - "Air"
  - "KC-10"
  - "Tankers"
tags:
  - "Aerial Refueling"
  - "Extender"
  - "KC-10"
  - "Mid Air Refueling"
  - "Must Read Features"
  - "Tanker"
  - "video"
---

# This Cockpit Video Of A KC-10 Refueling Another KC-10 Is Amazing

![](<https://www.twz.com/wp-content/uploads/images-by-url-twz/content/2019/12/23525ddaads.jpg>)
*www.twz.com*

We see many [awesome aerial refueling](<https://www.twz.com/20379/f-15e-crew-and-kc-135-boom-operator-talk-the-merits-of-coffee-while-refueling.md>) videos from the [boom operator's](<https://foxtrotalpha.jalopnik.com/confessions-of-a-usaf-kc-135-flying-gas-station-boom-op-1578048155>) point of view, but far fewer from the receiver's point of view, especially of one KC-10 Extender refueling another. That's why the video below, posted by KC-10 pilot [Solongflyboyz on Instagram](<https://www.instagram.com/solongflyboyz/>) is so cool. Not only is the perspective really unique and fantastic, but you get to see the masters of aerial refueling practicing the art directly with one another.

If you watch the boom carefully along with the pilot's control inputs, you get an idea of just how talented these folks are. It all looks so smooth, but a lot of work and concentration goes into creating that illusion. This is a challenging skill to master, as many have [found out the hard way](<https://foxtrotalpha.jalopnik.com/aerial-refueling-hooking-up-is-hard-to-do-1559495801>).

https://www.instagram.com/p/B5Y3v2ABoU3

While the force of 59 KC-10s can refuel in flight, nearly the entirety of the KC-135R force cannot, with just a handful of special operations-focused KC-135RTs equipped with their own refueling receptacles. You can read all about those aircraft and their [shadowy mission here](<https://www.twz.com/21794/the-dark-world-of-usaf-special-ops-air-refuelers-and-their-modified-kc-135rt-tankers.md>).

It's unclear just how long the KC-10 force will remain in the USAF's fleet. [Major delays in the KC-46](<https://www.twz.com/29933/air-force-says-it-will-be-years-before-boeings-faulty-new-tankers-are-fully-operational.md>) program has extended its service, but even when they do eventually get retired, they are highly likely to fall directly into the hands of private aerial refueling contractors, [which is a good thing](<https://www.twz.com/31168/the-first-boom-equipped-tanker-for-a-private-aerial-refueling-company-has-arrived.md>).

In the meantime, Extender crews will keep fighter, bomber, surveillance, and transport aircraft's tanks full, as well as each other's.

*Contact the author: Tyler@thedrive.com*

## Author
Tyler’s passion is the study of military technology, strategy, as well as foreign policy, and he has fostered a dominant voice on those topics in the defense and national security space. Tyler was the creator of the hugely popular defense site *Foxtrot Alpha* before developing *TWZ*, which he continues to lead as the Editor-In-Chief to this day.

### Author social links  
[Twitter](<https://twitter.com/Aviation_Intel>)