Definition
A type of aircraft carburetor that delivers fuel to the engine under positive pressure rather than relying on the suction created by airflow through a venturi. Fuel is metered based on the difference between air pressures sensed at the carburetor inlet and at the venturi throat, and is then sprayed into the airstream under pump pressure. This design largely eliminates the icing and fuel-starvation problems associated with float-type carburetors and allows reliable operation through abrupt attitude changes, including inverted flight and negative-G maneuvers.
Plain English
A carburetor that pushes fuel into the engine under pressure instead of letting the engine suck it in. Because the fuel is forced in, the engine keeps running cleanly even during steep climbs, dives, or upside-down flight, and the carburetor is much less likely to ice up.
Context Anchor
Seen in aircraft engine system descriptions, maintenance manuals, and discussions of fuel metering on reciprocating engines.
Derivation
‘Carburetor’ comes from the French ‘carbure,’ meaning a compound of carbon — the device that mixes fuel (a carbon compound) with air. ‘Pressure’ is added because, unlike a float carburetor that depends on engine suction, this design delivers fuel under positive pump pressure.
Why Pilots Care
Maintains consistent fuel delivery during climbs, dives, and unusual attitudes where gravity or venturi effect alone would interrupt flow.
Intuition Check
Do not read “pressure carburetor” as just “a regular carburetor with more pressure.” Here, pressure is part of how the unit measures and delivers fuel to match the air entering the engine.
Example Sentence 1
The radial engine on the old transport was fitted with a pressure carburetor, which kept it running smoothly through the steep banks during the airshow demonstration.
Example Sentence 2
During the steep climb the pressure carburetor continued to supply steady fuel without hesitation.