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Aircraft speed: Difference between revisions
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==Pitot tube== | ==Pitot tube== | ||
The pitot tube is the tool to measure the airspeed. It is a tube directed forwards, exposed to the airstream. The air is being pushed inwards (rammed) by the motion of the aircraft and the (ram) pressure is measured. The measured pressure is corrected indicating the airspeed. Bigger aircraft have two pitot tubes and the indicator displays the average of the two. However, most often only one pitot tube is used to control the autopilot, even when the indicator is connected with two. | The pitot tube is the tool to measure the airspeed. It is a tube directed forwards, exposed to the airstream. The air is being pushed inwards (rammed) by the motion of the aircraft and the (ram) pressure is measured. The measured pressure is corrected indicating the airspeed. The ram pressure is also called the dynamic pressure opposite the static pressure that us used to indicate [[altitude]]. Bigger aircraft have two pitot tubes and the indicator displays the average of the two. However, most often only one pitot tube is used to control the autopilot, even when the indicator is connected with two. | ||
The pitot tube can be blocked easy, once blocked, or worse, partially blocked the IAS will have no relation with the speed of the aircraft. This situation is enhanced if the pitot tube controlling the autopilot is blocked. | The pitot tube can be blocked easy, once blocked, or worse, partially blocked the IAS will have no relation with the speed of the aircraft. This situation is enhanced if the pitot tube controlling the autopilot is blocked. | ||