Graybeard, (#3028), thanks for the reminder. I was probably being carried away by the ‘logic’ of the argument.
However, even if my thoughts on pitot systems are corrupted by my experience in developing another type (it most probably was a static error in a sideslip), the magnitude of the differing inputs required by the ‘digital’ comparators in the A330 might be more than is feasible in turbulence. Relatively a lot of dynamic pressure for the reduced static pressure at altitude?
Also, depending on the system architecture and input mechanism, and the way in which the ADC uses static pressure, the resultant airspeed should still be a function of the difference in total (pitot+static) and static pressures; thus there could be some ‘logic’ in this area.
JD-EE, if you consider a stalled situation or any other low speed scenario, then the aerodynamic forces on the fin would be quite low anyway, and thus it would not require any protection from the low-set horizontal tail.
Last edited by safetypee; 5th Jul 2009 at 13:00.
Reason: clarification