What Is a Pitot Tube? | Aircraft Airspeed System Explained by Josh Rawlins

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What does a pitot tube actually do and why is it one of the most important components on an aircraft? In this video from Epic Flight Academy, Chief Operating Officer Josh Rawlins explains how pitot tubes work, what they measure, and how they connect to your airspeed system. Whether you’re working toward your Private Pilot License, prepping for your FAA checkride, or just love learning about aviation, this is a must-know topic for any pilot.

✈️ We cover:
• What a pitot tube measures
• How it powers the airspeed indicator
• What happens if it’s blocked
• Real-world failure scenarios and pilot responses

This foundational concept is crucial for student pilots pursuing instrument or commercial ratings, and anyone serious about aviation safety and systems knowledge.

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Chapters:
0:00 - Introduction
0:47 - Josh Rawlins, Epic Flight Academy Chief Operations Officer explaining what the pitot tube is
1:00 - The science behind measuring airspeed
1:07 - The Venturi Tube and Bernoulli's Principle
1:35 - Henri Pitot and the creation of the pitot tube
2:07 - How does the pitot tube work?
2:15 - Which instruments does the pitot tube create readings for?
2:27 - Types of Pitot tubes
3:28 - Where is the pitot tube on the airplane?
4:10 - What happens if the pitot tube becomes blocked?
5:16 - Aviation accidents from pitot tube blockages
6:25 - How long does a pitot tube last?
7:00 - How do aircraft mechanics maintain the pitot tube?
8:03 - Summary of the pitot tube

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Image Usage:
Image: Location of Pitot tubes on a Boeing 777 by Cassiopeia Sweet is licensed under Public Domain (https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.... Source: Wikimedia Commons (https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index....

Image: Birgenair Boeing 757 by Aero Icarus from Zürich, Switzerland is licensed under CC BY-SA 2.0 (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/.... Source: Wikimedia Commons (https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index....

Image: Memorial for the victims of Birgenair Flight 301 by FeDerickaLAGORDA is licensed under CC BY-SA 3.0 (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/.... Source: Wikimedia Commons (https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index...)

Image: Memorial for victims of Birgenair Flight 301 by Brandrodungswanderfeldhackbau is licensed under CC BY-SA 3.0 (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/.... Source: Wikimedia Commons (https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index...)

Image: The aircraft's vertical stabilizer after its recovery from the ocean by Roberto Maltchik, Repórter da TV Brasil is licensed under CC BY 3.0 BR (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/.... Source: Wikimedia Commons (https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index....

Image: The recovered vertical stabilizer of F-GZCP on 7 June 2009 by Marinha do Brasil is licensed under CC BY-SA 2.0 (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/.... Source: Wikimedia Commons (https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index....

Image: A U.S. Air Force F-16 Fighting Falcon Block 40 aircraft by Master Sgt. Andy Dunaway is licensed under Public Domain (https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.... Source: Wikimedia Commons (https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index....

Image: David Bernoulli portrait 19502 by Unbekannt is licensed under Public Domain (https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.... Source: Wikimedia Commons (https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index....

Image: Bubble canopy, allowing all-round visibility by SSG Caycee R. Cook is licensed under Public Domain (https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.... Source: Wikimedia Commons (https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index....