Since it is pretty easy to have issues with cavitation/air bubbles, etc. with long suction lines in our fuel systems, would it not be a good idea to locate the fuel pump close to or even in the tanks? This way the pump would push the fuel instead of pulling it. The advantage I can see doing it this way is the fuel would always be under positive pressure eliminating the cavitation/air bubble problem. Modern cars are plumbed this way with their fuel pumps located in the gas tank. Since I'm new to turbine-powered airplanes, I've been searching through old posts trying to get up to speed on these beasts, and it seems that the fuel systems cause their fair share of grief. I realize that an in-tank pump idea would require a redesign of the pump, but the close-to-the-tank idea seems plausable to me. What are your thoughts?
Thanks,
Luckyflyer