PPRuNe Forums - View Single Post - unreliable airspeed jet transport aircraft
Old 15th Apr 2015, 00:56
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flynerd
 
Join Date: Jan 2008
Location: downunda
Age: 76
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Lightbulb Alternative to Pitot

Looking for a different option for determining IAS, what about a "reverse style" pitot that measures vacuum pressure. That way it will not get blocked. Anything in it will get sucked out. Something like a trumpet facing backward. If it needed clearing, just let some cabin air into it, say, every 30 seconds. Probably no need to have the ability to heat it either.

If you know altitude, outside air temp/pressure, and with some sensitive vacuum gauge/wizardry, it should be possible to determine IAS with greater reliability than using pitots.

Has anything like this ever been considered?
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