The DC-10 Air Tanker

The DC-10 Air Tanker is an American wide-body jet air tanker, which has been in service as an aerial firefighting unit since 2006. The aircraft, operated by the joint technical venture 10 Tanker Air Carrier, is a converted McDonnell Douglas DC-10 airliner, and is primarily used to fight wildfires, typically in rural areas. The turbofan-powered aircraft carries up to 12,000 US gallons (45,000 liters) of water or fire retardant in an exterior belly-mounted tank, the contents of which can be released in eight seconds. Two air tankers are currently in operation, with the call-signs Tanker 910 and Tanker 911.