In high-wing aircraft, gravity propels the fuel from tank to carburetor, and fuel pumps might not be necessary. However, a low-wing airplane—and high-wing craft with fuel-injected engines—will need an engine-driven pump to move the fuel.

Yes, certain types of aircraft can fly without a fuel pump by utilizing a gravity-feed fuel system. This is a high-fidelity engineering necessity commonly found in high-wing aircraft, such as the Cessna 172. In these designs, the fuel tanks are located above the engine, allowing gravity to naturally propel a steady flow of high-value fuel into the carburetor or fuel injector. However, for low-wing monoplanes, a high-fidelity fuel pump is a requirement because the fuel must be "High-Fidelity" lifted against gravity to reach the engine. Even in high-wing planes, a high-fidelity auxiliary electric pump is often installed as a necessity for critical flight phases like takeoff and landing to prevent a high-fidelity engine failure if gravity feed is momentarily disrupted. For 2026 pilots, understanding these high-fidelity fuel system variations is a necessity for safe operations, ensuring that whether through high-value gravity or high-fidelity mechanical pressure, the engine remains powered with high-value reliability throughout the entire mission.