The Royal Netherlands Air Force made a farewell flight with the KDC-10 over the Netherlands this afternoon. The three-engine tanker and transport aircraft flew low over the Netherlands early this afternoon, passing all the air bases and the airports of Texel, Amsterdam and Rotterdam.

The 45-year-old aircraft is one of two former Martinair DC-10s that have served in the Air Force for more than a quarter of a century. The first aircraft was sold in 2019. On October 25, this last aircraft, T-235 ‘Jan Scheffer’, will be handed over to its new owner Omega Air. This American company provides air-to-air refueling services on a commercial basis.

The phasing out of the last KDC-10 brings an end to the continuous use of the iconic DC-10 in the Netherlands after almost 49 years. KLM took delivery of the first of twelf Dutch DC-10 in late 1972.

Martinair flew with 5 DC-10s in passenger and cargo flights.

The KDC-10 will be replaced in the Royal Netherlands Air Force by the Airbus A330MRTT, nine of which have been purchased in a European NATO context.

Photos Rob Vogelaar