Afterburner.nl - third DC-10 for the KLu

T-255 deliverd to Eindhoven after overhaul

Part two in the story about the new DC-10 for the Royal Netherlands Air Force. In September 2005 the aircraft left Eindhoven for Roma-Fiumicino where it received an extensive D-check with Alitalia.

Today (30 May 2006) after some 7 months maintenance the aircraft is capable of flying again. Although it is not expected to make that many operating hours in the near future. During the overhaul, it also received the new standard colour scheme for the RNLAF DC-10 fleet.

Before it will return to operational business the DC-10 will first receive an upgraded cockpit. Following this modification the aircraft will be fitted with a new floor, making pallatised seats possible. Equiped with the latter feature, a reasonable quick make over from full passenger to full cargo configuration (or combination of both) will be possible. This aircraft will not be equiped with a refueling boom and RARO station. It will only be used as a cargo en passenger plane.

You will imagine that all these modifications will take time to realise. The aircraft is not expected to fly operational missions before the summer of 2007. When the work on this aircraft is finished, the remaining KDC-10s will receive the same cockpit- and floor modifications. So it might take a couple of years before there are really three operational DC-10s on the ramp of Eindhoven Air Base.