Which device is typically used to sense ram air pressure for determining forward velocity?

• A. Static port
• B. Anemometer
• C. Static pressure switch
• D. Pitot tube

Answer: (D)

Sensing ram air pressure to determine forward velocity relies on capturing stagnation (total) pressure created when air is forced into a forward-facing opening. The pitot tube faces into the airflow and collects this stagnation pressure, which the airspeed indicator uses—by subtracting the ambient static pressure from the total pressure—to derive dynamic pressure and then airspeed. The static port provides only ambient static pressure and is used for other instruments; it doesn’t measure ram pressure. An anemometer isn’t the standard cockpit device for aircraft airspeed, and a static pressure switch is just a trigger at a set static pressure, not a tool for measuring ram pressure.