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I have followed with interest the writhing and
contortions of those who wish to have a header tank and the lengths they will go
to to install it and the care and feeding of it.
KISS to me means extend the the main tanks in the
wing. This gives you the same extra fuel as removing the header tank takes
away. Forget about the header tank, this REALLY makes a big
difference to
Behind the panel installations. You have room
for the battery and the hydraulic pump.
C of G movement
Work load in flight
Complicated set ups to monitor or pump fuel to the
header tank. (Not needed)
Safety, no fuel tank in the cockpit in the event of
an accident, electrical fire or whatever.
Use an Andair 3 way cock. Left/Right and
OFF
Put your fuel boost pump under your seat in series
with the main engine pump, stays cooler. Less likely to give you hot start
problems.
If you have an electrical failure your engine pump
can pull from either tank. If you have an engine pump failure your electrical
pump does the same. If both fail at the same time, hard luck.
In a fuel injected engine set up your header tank
is no good at all to you if the engine and boost pump fail. The pressure head
available is negligible. Probably below what is specified for a
carburretor
So guys, throw out all your complicated systems
along with your header tank. Do what Mr. Piper did with his low wing
single engine aircraft. If anyone really needs the fuel in the header PLUS
the extra wing fuel he doesn't have a bladder he has a reservoir.
One last word. Plastic piping is not safe for
the handling of high octane fuel in the cockpit. I have no plastic fuel
piping at all and would not ever use it. It is an accident waiting to
happen.
Regards
Ian Crowe
C-FKRO 360 110 hours and counting
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