Guys I know this is a contraversal and sometimes touchy subject but I need some clarity. There is widespread condemnation of the practise of using barbed fittings and hose clamps in an aircraft's fuel system plumbing. Could somebody in the know please tell me why this is so. I can't think of any reason why using a good quality reinforced "rubber" hose with fire sleeve over it (forward of the firewall) would be in any way inferior to using aluminuim piping and AN fittings. In the event of a mishap and things move around, I can't see how the solid installation will be superior to the rubber hose as it will not have near as much flexibility to absorb the movement. I would imagine that an aluminuim pipe would be much more prone to cracking and leaking when kinked.
Over here the practise of using barbed fittings and flexible hose is almost universal unless you are assembling a RV kit which comes with all the appropriate AN fittings. Am I missing something here? Regards Dene Collett Avlec Projects cc Port Elizabeth South Africa
