Patent ID: 8640782

Claim:
An aerial retardant delivery system for use with an aircraft having a pressurized fuselage, the system comprising: a retardant tank mountable in the fuselage of the aircraft, the retardant tank including: at least one pressure opening in fluid communication with the fuselage such that pressure in the fuselage may act on retardant contained in the retardant tank; and at least one outlet extending through a sidewall of the fuselage, through which retardant may be delivered to a target; and at least one discharge gate operative to selectively open and close the outlet; and a variable flow controller that (i) controls a discharge gate open position in order to provide retardant over a desired area of terrain and (ii) includes a pressure differential interlock whereby the at least one discharge gate is not opened if the difference in pressure between the pressure in the fuselage and ambient pressure exceeds a selected threshold level.