why is the pitot tube on the left wing?
Thread Starter
why is the pitot tube on the left wing?
Why is the pitot tube on the left wing in Pipers and Cessnas?
As I was idly cutting a hole in the wing skin for the pitot tube mast, I wondered why Left?
Is it just to keep the plumbing length the shortest? Is there some obscure technical reason to do with Coriolis force or something? Is it tradition? Habit? A throw of the dice?
I suppose I will ponder this during the week of deburring to come
As I was idly cutting a hole in the wing skin for the pitot tube mast, I wondered why Left?
Is it just to keep the plumbing length the shortest? Is there some obscure technical reason to do with Coriolis force or something? Is it tradition? Habit? A throw of the dice?
I suppose I will ponder this during the week of deburring to come
Less distance to walk/sneak when you realise you left it on???
Mind you this only applies to those of us smart enough to fly a plane which has a door for the pilot
Mind you this only applies to those of us smart enough to fly a plane which has a door for the pilot
Last edited by rioncentu; 1st Nov 2012 at 04:26.
Because you can see it from the left side of the aeroplane.
Ideally it would be mounted on the nose of the aeroplane, however on a single engine aeroplane the prop slipstream isn't ideal.
Ideally it would be mounted on the nose of the aeroplane, however on a single engine aeroplane the prop slipstream isn't ideal.
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Shortest plumbing and tradition.
Being seen by the pilot is not relevant - consider low wing aircraft, unseen pitot either side.
Being seen by the pilot is not relevant - consider low wing aircraft, unseen pitot either side.
Last edited by Oktas8; 1st Nov 2012 at 05:10.
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Another useful reason may be that if you sit on the left, as we do, then you will possibly yaw the plane to the right, to give yourself even more visibility. For example if I sideslip it's by yawing right, so I can still see. As a result the nose may disrupt airflow over the right wing. So put the pitot on the left.
However I don't think the nose sticks out far enough for it to be an issue.
It's probably, a tradition, or old charter or something.
However I don't think the nose sticks out far enough for it to be an issue.
It's probably, a tradition, or old charter or something.
Shortest plumbing and tradition.
Being seen by the pilot is not relevant - consider low wing aircraft, unseen pitot either side.
Being seen by the pilot is not relevant - consider low wing aircraft, unseen pitot either side.
Traditionally aeroplanes were high wing with a good view of it. Prior to the pitot tube they had venturi's on the left side of the fuselage.
On a low wing aeroplane such as a Bonanza etc I never had a problem spotting the Pitot from the hot seat.
Funny thing is they appear to be on the right side?? I remember one that used to be in the charter game some time back. They were on the left side from memory.
Here is a venturi setup on an old Cessna
http://makingtimeforflying.********....en-vacuum.html
Okay after further investigation some appear to be on the right and some appear to be on the left.
Here is a venturi setup on an old Cessna
http://makingtimeforflying.********....en-vacuum.html
Okay after further investigation some appear to be on the right and some appear to be on the left.
Last edited by The Green Goblin; 1st Nov 2012 at 08:13.
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Why do some cessna 206's have the static ports just behind the engine bay . It is not un-disturbed air and there is definitely a pressure drop once you start the engine . It does make it difficult to adjust the VSI.
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Propeller rotation
Nanchangs and Yaks have pitot tubes on the right wing, and engine turns opposite to cessna piper etc. an observation, pointing towards the undisturbed airflow hypothesis.
But - did the Griffon engined Spitfire have its pitot tube on a different side to the Merlin powered Spits?
But - did the Griffon engined Spitfire have its pitot tube on a different side to the Merlin powered Spits?
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Brian, This was when aviation sucked
Prior to the pitot tube they had venturi's on the left side of the fuselage.
Prior to the pitot tube they had venturi's on the left side of the fuselage.
Less distance to walk/sneak when you realise you left it on???
Mind you this only applies to those of us smart enough to fly a plane which has a door for the pilot
Those dumb B737 and A320 pilots should learn from you !
Mind you this only applies to those of us smart enough to fly a plane which has a door for the pilot
Those dumb B737 and A320 pilots should learn from you !
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Nanchangs and Yaks have pitot tubes on the right wing, and engine turns opposite to cessna piper etc. an observation, pointing towards the undisturbed airflow hypothesis.
But - did the Griffon engined Spitfire have its pitot tube on a different side to the Merlin powered Spits?
It's not going to be engine rotation. It would take some MIGHTY side-slip angles to get the prop wash out near the wing-tips. I think it's just a convenience/internal plumbing thing.
And just to further muddy the waters:
Tiger Moth - Right
Chipmunk - Left
Last edited by Wanderin_dave; 2nd Nov 2012 at 02:54. Reason: kant spel