Started November 1, 2006
The Fuel System:
The basic fuel system is shown in the January 1999 Bear-Tracks newsletter. It is a very simple, yet efficient and reliable system. The basic system is gravity fed like the Cessnas and requires no fuel pumps. If you elect to go with extended range tanks, you will need a transfer pump. I have a personal limit of about 3.5 to 4 hours before I'm ready to land and stretch my legs. Since I have a Lycoming O-360, I will get about 10 gallons per hour. With 55 gallons on board I have about 5 hours fuel so a 4 hour leg gives me a reserve of about 1 hour of fuel so I have elected to not go with the extended range tanks. I save on weight and complexity that way.
The fuel lines run from the tanks in the wings, down the front and rear door flanges and all converge at the fuel selector valve located on the floor of the cockpit. From the selector valve, the line runs to the gascolator which is the low point in the fuel system. From the gascolator, the fuel line runs up to the firewall, then to the carburetor.
While constructing the fuselage, I welded in some mounting brackets for the
fuel valve and gascolator as shown here:
Now, after sandblasting and priming the fuselage the fuel system has been
fabricated and installed:
Note: this is a picture from the top, looking aft from the firewall.
Here is a picture from the bottom, looking up:
