CorvAircraft> Fuel system opinions.

[601corvair]

  Ok guys I have a questions for the group about fuel systems that my EAA technical advisor (TA) asked us.  First some background.  Our advisor has built and flown behind many aircraft.  He has restored several classic aircraft, is a retired airline captain and currently spends his days flying corporate and running an airport.  He is the kind of guy who has, or will, fly behind everything he suggests..  Our project is a Zenith 601 HDS that has 2 ten gallon leading edge wing tanks.  It currently calls for a plain vanilla corvair engine and an MA3 carb.  TA has warmed to the idea of Corvair, although he is not crazy about it.  He has helped people in the past with other auto-conversion and was helpful, but not overly enthusiastic.  All that being said, here is the issue.  During a conversation on fuel system design we showed him the WW design for the Zenith XL, using the 2 in series electrical pumps and no mechanical pump.  He recommended against it on the principle that we
 had placed all our eggs in the one basket, that being the electrical system.  His suggestion was to use one electrical pump and the corvair mechanical pump and fly it like a Cherokee using the electrical pump as a boost pump and only during take off and landing.  Alternatively, he suggested a header tank, pumping fuel to the header and gravity feeding the carb.  This would probably require a return line to the wing tank.   We discussed this for sometime and then he asked me this.  Could I name a certificated aircraft, low wing, that only had one type of pump to move fuel to the carb?  If not, why did I think that was?  Interesting question as the FAA guys “fly behind” lots of airplanes.  I would be interested in any help or suggestion I can get with fuel systems, especially flying airplanes and their different fuel systems.  Thanks phill

       
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