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If the altitude of the aircraft is given by the pitot tube, in icing condition with pitot heat on how is real altitude /speed interpretation done? Because the air density and temperature is not realistic, due to the fact that pitot tube is hot .

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    $\begingroup$ The pitot tube is used for airspeed, not altitude measurement. $\endgroup$
    – GdD
    Commented Oct 6, 2021 at 7:20
  • $\begingroup$ No, because I asked about altitude not relative speed. WHAT instrument do that? $\endgroup$
    – George Geo
    Commented Oct 6, 2021 at 10:16
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    $\begingroup$ @GeorgeGeo You asked about a heated pitot tube, which is answered in the linked duplicate. Altitude is derived from static pressure, which is usually measured by a static port, which is not heated. The two functions can be combined (see What is the difference between a pitot tube and a pitot-static tube?), but that does not change the validity of the answer in the linked duplicate. $\endgroup$
    – Bianfable
    Commented Oct 6, 2021 at 11:43

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The pitot tube measures pressure, not density. The pressure is not affected by the heating of the tube.

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    $\begingroup$ Would it be affected by viscosity? And would viscosity be affected by temperature? $\endgroup$
    – mins
    Commented Oct 6, 2021 at 11:11
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    $\begingroup$ @Bianfable: I cannot quantity the effect, so my question, it should be more important at low velocity since the inertia effect will be lower (the linked article is not accessible). $\endgroup$
    – mins
    Commented Oct 6, 2021 at 11:51
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    $\begingroup$ @mins Interesting, thanks for the link. It's probably a small effect (since viscosity is increasing less than linear with temperature), but it might make for an interesting new question. $\endgroup$
    – Bianfable
    Commented Oct 6, 2021 at 11:56

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