Aerotime

APRIL 3, 2025

The 56 aircraft that participated in the 1914 competition presented a wide range of aviation innovations, ranging from assisted starting mechanisms, automatic carburetors, basic stabilization systems, and many other innovations that purported to benefit aviation safety. These inconsistencies caused the autopilot to disconnect.

Weight-Shift-Control

Pilot Institute

JULY 11, 2025

When you reach around 36,000 feet (11,000 m) near the tropopause, the temperature stabilizes at around -56.5 °C. That’s the speed your airspeed indicator shows based on ram air pressure in the pitot tube. The tailplane (horizontal stabilizer) at high Mach can also develop shocks or experience disturbed airflow from the wings.

True Airspeed

Plane and Pilot

NOVEMBER 10, 2024

Sure, there are the removable wings and an unusual-for-an-RV stabilator out back for pitch control, but there’s nothing revolutionary in the concepts or execution. In fact, the unusual pitot-tube location—it peeks out from the center of the prop spinner—was chosen to reduce fuselage-to-wing connections.

Airplanes

Pilot Institute

NOVEMBER 1, 2024

It can also disrupt sensors needed for flight safety, like the pitot tubes. If ice blocks a pitot tube, your aircraft’s instruments will provide inaccurate airspeed readings. Most aircraft are equipped with a pitot heater to prevent icing in the pitot tube.

Pitot Tube

Plane and Pilot

NOVEMBER 10, 2024

Sure, there are the removable wings and an unusual-for-an-RV stabilator out back for pitch control, but there’s nothing revolutionary in the concepts or execution. In fact, the unusual pitot-tube location—it peeks out from the center of the prop spinner—was chosen to reduce fuselage-to-wing connections.

Airplanes