pitotboom

A pitot boom, also known as an air data boom, is an extended probe used on aircraft and other flying test vehicles to measure undisturbed air pressure and related air data during flight testing and research. The primary purpose is to obtain accurate airspeed, altitude, and pressure information by placing sensors well ahead of the vehicle’s fuselage, where the airflow is less disturbed by body shock, lift, and boundary layer effects.

A pitot boom typically houses multiple sensors, including a pitot (total pressure) port, static pressure ports, and often a total temperature sensor. Some designs also incorporate angle-of-attack vanes or side-port pressure measurements. Booms are usually slender and aerodynamically shaped to minimize interference with the vehicle’s airflow and may be fixed to the airframe or mounted on a retractable or jettisonable mast. Materials are chosen for stiffness and lightness, with attention to weather and icing protection.

In practice, pitot booms are used during flight testing to calibrate the aircraft’s air data systems and to validate performance across a range of speeds, altitudes, and angles of attack. Data collected from the boom is compared with the aircraft’s onboard sensors and air data computer outputs to establish accurate calibration curves. After testing, booms are often removed or stowed, and standard air data sensors on the aircraft become the primary source of flight condition measurements.