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Why do air craft still rely on archaic pitot tubes?

  1. May 2, 2008 #1

    wolram

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    Gold Member

    If GPS is or can be so accurate why do air craft still rely on archaic pito tubes? sure keep one as a back up, but for your PRIMARY instrument no way.
     
    wolram, May 2, 2008
  2. jcsd
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  3. May 2, 2008 #2

    russ_watters

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    Staff: Mentor

    GPS provides ground speed, not airspeed. If you were in an airliner and had a 100kt tailwind, GPS would think you were going supersonic.
     
    russ_watters, May 2, 2008
  4. May 2, 2008 #3

    jaap de vries

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    Yes for stall and flight characteristics the indicated airspeed is the most important. I don't know if for navigation they use INS (Inertial Navigation System) with laser guided Giro's, or GPS for speed calculation.
     
    jaap de vries, May 2, 2008
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