Patent ID: 7357355

Claim:
A modular fuel tank assembly for use with an aircraft, the modular fuel tank assembly comprising: a first tank body having a first end wall and an opposite second end wall; a first manifold portion extending at least partially through the first tank body; a fuel system interface operably coupled to a dual-purpose fuel inlet/outlet manifold, the dual-purpose fuel inlet/outlet manifold having an inlet manifold interface and an outlet manifold interface, wherein the outlet manifold interface is operably coupled to the first manifold portion and positioned toward the first end wall; and a manifold interconnect operably coupled to the first manifold portion and positioned toward the second end wall, wherein the manifold interconnect is configured to operably couple the first manifold portion to a second manifold portion associated with a second tank body, and wherein the fuel system interface is configured to operably couple the first and second manifold portions to a fuel system of the aircraft.