Hi I'm building a flat topped Max and have almost completed fuselage work including engine, controls, instruments, and decided to replace the plastic tank with an aluminum one. I had it made and am now plumbing it to complete the engine connection work. My question is which metal would be better, brass or aluminum, in the pieces going from the tank to the first piece of flexible fuel line? The tank is aluminum, the shut off ball valve is brass, between those two will be a couple of nipples and an elbow. It is those three pieces I am wondering about, I can get aluminum pipe accessories from McMaster Carr and brass fittings from many places. I just am not sure which is preferred metalurgically speaking. Any thoughts? Thank you. Kim Brown New Hampshire
Alcohol in the fuel carries water which corrodes aluminium faster than brass. Brass is heavier. The corrosion is not an issue if you use well filtered fuel so I would choose aluminium.
I was wondering about using metal tubing on one of my microlights, and went on to a kit car website to see what they use to get fuel from the tank to the engine. Typically the run length will be longer on a car than on a light aircraft, so I was interested to see what they use. They advertise copper tube and aluminium tube. Copper would be easier to bend without creasing, so I may go with that, but of course it is heavier, so it's swings and roundabouts.
Good point, and I hadn't thought of that. Although, to be fair I wasn't thinking of using the metal tubing for the full length. I was thinking it would be useful for the first six feet or so from the tank up to the rear of where the engine sits (this is on a Spectrum, not a Minimax), then flexible tube to the vacuum pump, and of course flexible tube to the carb.
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