In the following years the tanker aircraft were heavily used in several conflicts in the world like operation Deny flight, in the Balkan, and operation Enduring freedom flying from Manas Air base in Kyrgyzstan. Also for humanitarian relief both aircraft flew to South America, Iran and Africa. In 2003 the Dutch government was convinced that the need of another DC-10 was there. This aircraft will not be converted in to a tanker aircraft but would be used a Pax/Freighter so it can relief the two others and made them more available for the AAR task. After a long search the KLu found an example, a DC-10-30CF, which is the same configuration as the other two. This aircraft will receive the serial T-255 and will be handed over to the KLu very soon. 

In the past the Dutch KDC-10s refuelled some different aircraft from different Air Forces Like C-130s, A-10s, F-15s, F-16s and even a KC-10 from the USAF as well F-16s from Belgium, Denmark, Norway, Greece, Turkey and Portugal. This year 334 Squadron flew with its KDC-10s some very interesting AAR mission with some nice receivers and we had the opportunity to take a ride with them.

On May 25^th there where some F-15s and F-16s on the tasking list for some air to air in the Dutch TRA3 and 6 which are situated in the Northern part of the Amsterdam FIR. There are 3 AAR tracks in the Netherlands, in TRA3 and 6, the Carol Track and the Polly track. The most used altitude for AAR is FL280, that’s around 9,5 km height. But some receivers require much lower like the A-10.

Two days later 2 very rare aircraft, for the KDC-10, paid a visit. First there was a German F-4F, which was there for some test hook ups and the certification of this type. We managed too shoot some very nice shots above the Isle of Texel. In that same mission a first time visit took place, an Italian F-16B the MM7269 which arrived the day before at Volkel Air Base, made the first Italian-Dutch hook up in history.