From which tanks can engines be gravity-fed?

The correct answer highlights that engines can be gravity-fed from the wing tanks. This design is based on the structural and operational layout of the A320 aircraft. The wing fuel tanks, which are located in each wing, are positioned above the engines, allowing gravity to facilitate the flow of fuel directly to the engines during normal operations.

In airframe design, using wing tanks for fuel gravity feeding plays a vital role in ensuring efficient fuel management and delivery to the engines. Gravity feeding minimizes reliance on fuel pumps for initial fuel supply, which is particularly important in certain operational scenarios, such as takeoff and landing, where maximizing engine performance and reliability is crucial.

Understanding the functionality of each tank type is essential. The surge tanks, center tank, and auxiliary tanks serve different roles in fuel storage and management. Surge tanks, for example, are designed to accommodate fuel movement and prevent slosh during flight, rather than to serve as direct feeds to the engines. The center tank typically contains fuel meant to be pumped to the engines, and while auxiliary tanks provide additional fuel storage, they also do not facilitate gravity feeding in the same manner as the wing tanks. Thus, knowing that only the wing tanks can effectively supply fuel to the engines by gravity is essential for proper aircraft operation