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Pitot probe alternative on the B2

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  • Pitot probe alternative on the B2

    During the AF447 aftermath we recognized the need for a backup airspeed sensor that did not have the environmental vulnerability of the others. We never did identify a solution.

    Well it seems it's been there all along. I just spotted this on Wikipedia:

    The [B2] flight computer receives information on external conditions such as the aircraft's current air speed and angle of attack via pitot-static sensing plates, as opposed to traditional pitot tubes which would negatively affect the aircraft's stealth capabilities.
    Now, in the wake of all the incidents of UAS revealed by AF447 (and the crash itself) I wonder why this bit of DoD magic hasn't made it into commercial aircraft design. You simply cannot call autoflight systems redundant if all the air data sensors share the same vulnerability.

  • #2
    Again, why couldn't something similar to the RAT be used to calculate airspeed?

    Also, didn't the A330 have some optional back-up airspeed system?

    But it's worth looking into how these "pitot-static sensing plates" work.

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