Heated Pitot tube

Cement85 · #1 01-03-2011, 05:24 PM

Have any of you had problems with the pitot tube freezing up?

Friend of mine has a Cherokee and had this happen to him several times in the last week.

He is an experienced IFR pilot, IA the whole nine yards so I do not question that it is occurring.

Anyone have heated pitot tube on any of vans products?

SkywayCaptain · #2 01-03-2011, 05:47 PM

If you fly in visible moisture and the temp. is below freezing, the pitot may (will) freeze. I have had it happen years ago in other aircraft. My RV has a heated probe, but you might ask yourself if you should be flying in icing weather without full deice

Kevin Horton · #3 01-03-2011, 05:47 PM

I've got an AN5812 heated pitot tube on my RV-8. Works great. The only gotcha is that you need to turn if OFF very shortly after landing, to give it time to cool down before putting the pitot cover on.