An airspeed indicator measures an aircraft’s speed relative to the outside air, using air pressure measurements. It is part of the pitot static system and is important for safe flight, but does not show speed relative to the ground.
An airspeed indicator is an instrument in the cockpit of an airplane or helicopter that tells the pilot how fast the plane is traveling relative to the outside air. Airspeed indicator calibration is generally measured in knots (nautical miles per hour), which are units of speed equal to 1,852 kilometers per hour (approximately 1,151 miles per hour). Airspeed indicators are extremely important instruments used in all stages of flight, including takeoff, climb, cruise, descent, and landing. Different types of aircraft have different rules for how fast the pilot must aim during each leg of the flight, and the aircraft speed indicator helps the pilot fly safely in accordance with these rules.
Aircraft speed indicators typically measure speed indirectly, using air pressure measurements. Velocity is calculated by measuring the difference between static air pressure and impact air pressure. Static air pressure describes the normal air pressure at the altitude at which the aircraft is traveling, and is usually measured on an aircraft through a static port, located on the exterior of the aircraft in a location where the air is relatively still. . Impact pressure, also called Pitot pressure, is measured through a tube, called a Pitot tube. This tube is typically located at the leading edge of the wing, or nose, where the force of air generated by the aircraft’s motion can be measured.
An airspeed indicator is part of the pitot static system of the aircraft in which it is housed. The pitot-static system works through a series of devices that are sensitive to pressure. The system will typically include a pitot tube, static port, the aircraft’s airspeed indicator and a host of other instruments, including an altimeter, which the pilot uses to determine how high above sea level he is flying.
It is important to understand that an airspeed indicator does not show the speed at which the aircraft is moving relative to the ground. It only measures the speed of the plane relative to the air outside the plane. This is significant, because an aircraft’s forward speed is irrelevant to its performance in the air. Airspeed is not only affected by the movement of the plane, but also by the speed of the wind. Consequently, while the speed at which a specific aircraft takes off will generally be the same, the speed of advance will be very large, depending on the direction and speed of the wind on any given day.
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