Patent ID: 7051979

Claim:
An aircraft comprising: a fuselage; at least one engine configured to provide propulsive thrust; a fuel system configured to distribute fuel to at least one of the engine and an aerial refueling manifold; and an auxiliary fuel tank system operably coupled to the fuel system, the auxiliary fuel tank system including: a first tank assembly removably installed in the fuselage, the first tank assembly including a first tank body configured to hold fuel; at least a second tank assembly removably installed in the fuselage at least proximate to the first tank assembly, the second tank assembly including a second tank body configured to hold fuel, the second tank body being at least approximately identical to the first tank body; and at least one fuel transfer pump operably coupled to a fuel outlet manifold and configured to draw fuel from the first and second tank assemblies, wherein the fuel outlet manifold includes a first fuel inlet positioned in the first tank assembly and a second fuel inlet positioned in the second tank assembly.