Patent ID: 8016238

Claim:
A system for increasing fuel storage volume and fuel carriage capacity of external fuel stores suspended on an aerial vehicle by formation of at least one external extended fuel stores configuration, the system comprising: at least one single functionality external fuel tank carrier pylon providing fuel tank carriage capability and fuel transfer and control capabilities from at least one externally carried fuel tank; at least one dual functionality external fuel tank carrier pylon providing fuel tank carriage capability and fuel transfer and control capabilities from at least one externally carried fuel tank and to support fuel transfer and control capabilities for the at least one single functionality external fuel tank carrier pylon; at least one externally mounted Stores Transfer Kit to provide enclosure for at least one external fuel line and at least one external fuel control line linking between the at least one single functionality external tank carrier pylon and the at least one dual functionality external tank carrier pylon, said external fuel line is located externally to the aerial vehicle and connected to an existing fuel system of the aerial vehicle; whereby an alternative external fuel transfer and fuel control path is established between at least one external fuel tank carried by the at least one single functionality external fuel tank carrier pylon and the fuel system of the aerial vehicle via the at least one externally mounted Stores Transfer Kit and the at least one dual functionality external fuel tank carrier pylon, such that the at least one external fuel tank carried by the at least one single functionality external fuel tank carrier pylon is enabled to provide fuel directly to the fuel system of the aerial vehicle.