Pitot Tubes P1 and P2 are pitot-static tubes while P3 is only a pitot tube.

• A. True
• B. False
• C. It depends on operating mode
• D. Only P2 is pitot-static

Answer: (A)

Airspeed is determined by the difference between stagnation (pitot) pressure and static pressure. A pitot-static tube provides both pressures in one assembly, letting you compute dynamic pressure and thus speed. P1 and P2 are described as pitot-static tubes, meaning they include both a forward-facing pitot port and static pressure ports. P3, being only a pitot tube, has the forward-facing pressure port but no static port, so it cannot measure static pressure on its own. Without that static reference, you can’t reliably compute airspeed from the pitot reading alone. So the statement is true.