Patent ID: 6474600
Filing Date: 2002-11-05
Classification: B64C,B64D

Abstract:
A modification to a pressurizable aircraft fuselage for permitting in flight dispatch of an elongate item, said aircraft including a cargo storage compartment for storing at least one elongate item having a relatively small transverse dimension compared to its length and a rear bulkhead for the compartment for withstanding internal air pressure in the fuselage, said modification including:at least one closeable opening in the rear bulkhead through which said at least one elongate item can be passed, said at least one closeable bulkhead opening being sized to accommodate said relatively small transverse dimension of said at least one elongate item; and at least one closeable opening in said fuselage rearward of said rear bulkhead through which said at least one elongate item passes to be despatched from the aircraft in flight with the fuselage de-pressurized.