Charlie, et al,
One of the reasons that the Lancair 200/320/360 "header tank" fuel
system can be considered "advanced" is because it has only 1 main fuel tank
(header) that feeds the engine and 2 aux tanks to re-supply the
main. This feature certainly allows one to easily meet many of the
regulations that you referenced. My installation uses an old style
gascolator (Cessna type) with the ability to activate
the drain remotely - i.e. a cable pull available thru the oil filler
access door. I like it because it allows for back flushing the filter in
the gascolator each time engine oil level is checked.
The header sump drain is a little more difficult to get to as it is
located in the nose wheel well and I have become girth challenged.
Just think, with one main tank there is no selector valve to put in
the wrong position or commit a John Denver. Top-ups generally only fill
the aux tanks so that the next takeoff is going to use the good fuel taken
from the same tank as that used for the last successful landing. Ah,
safety thru simplicity.
Of course, if the builder has provided a system to keep the header always
full by simultaneously pumping from both aux tanks, lateral trim doesn't
change at all during the entire flight.
Scott Krueger
AKA Grayhawk
Lancair N92EX IO320 SB 89/96
Aurora, IL
(KARR)
Darwinian culling phrase: Watch
This!