Pitot Tube Recommendation

[Robert Eilers]

I am finally getting around to seriously looking at installing a heated pitot tube on my 170B. I fly quite a bit of light IFR and would feel more comfortable if I could flip on pitot heat when climbing through or descending through an overcast, or flying through rain. I know many of you have installed heated tubes and would welcome any recommendations regarding the best tube to buy. I have been researching aircraft Spruce and others .

[Brad Brady]

Buy one from a salvage yard, (wrecked 172), and have the paper work done......Brad

[GAHorn]

Recommendation wanted???
Place a piece of "Post-It-Note" paper over your Airspeed Indicator and practice flying around with no airspeed at all.
Full throttle and 5 degrees nose up equals climb @ 70 mph.
2450 and nose level equals 115 mph.
2500 and nose 5 degrees down equals 140 mph.
1700 and nose level equals 80 mph.
1700 and nose level w/partial flaps equals 65 mph. Full flaps equals a nice descent in addition.
(Those are all only illustrations, and you should go find out what YOUR engine/prop/airplane will do.)

Save your money because if you have sufficient ice to block your pitot tube then you have other more serious problems anyway and need to get out of ice. Your airplane will shortly be too heavy to fly anyway. A portable GPS will almost suffice just as well for trend data. (And a "floppy" type pitot protector will build up a ball of ice and block your pitot anyway.)

If you still want a heated pitot tube, the classic look is the type seen on C-190/195 and is approved install per the type cert. (I have the paperwork and can get a copy to you.) If you want a "L" type, like modern Cessna's, you have a more complicated certification matter.

[n3833v]

I have a Kollsman that I wanted installed and JRA put on the 172 style when we redone the wings.
John

[Robert Eilers]

I am not sure what it is about my request for recommendations on heated pitot tube manufacturers that set you off George. You truely can't imagine that you are the only person flying a 170 that is familiar with the normal operating speeds associated with different configurations, or that some one interested in installing a heated pitot tube is an idiot who dosen't know enough to avoid flight into known icing conditions. What I truely don't understand is what value you imagined your post to be.

[Bruce Fenstermacher]

Buy a used one as Brad said, new ones are fairly expensive. Make sure your electrical system will support the load before buying anything.

[blueldr]

Best bet is to get one from a junk yard out of a C-172 or a C-182 that has had the heater checked out. Then install it just like it is done in a C-172. Then if anyone questions why its there, just tell them you got the airplane that way.

[GAHorn]

I am not sure what it is about my request for recommendations on heated pitot tube manufacturers that set you off George. You truely can't imagine that you are the only person flying a 170 that is familiar with the normal operating speeds associated with different configurations, or that some one interested in installing a heated pitot tube is an idiot who dosen't know enough to avoid flight into known icing conditions. What I truely don't understand is what value you imagined your post to be.

Well, I guess this is another example of how the written-word is completely misunderstood as to intent due to lacking "voice inflection".

I was not..."set off". My post was not...intended to be controversial. It was completely...intended to be helpful as regards evaluating the relative usefulness of a heated pitot tube in an airplane like a Cessna 170 in icing conditions. You ..asked for... recommendations. That's why I began my post with that request as a reminder.

(And it's why I also offered two ways to install heated pitot tubes.)

I never imagined I was the only person flying familiar with operating speeds...such as your thought process immediately conceived. (Isn't it interesting that your thoughts lept to criticism of my...non-critically-intended message?)

Perhaps, Robert, you did not imagine that someone else, maybe months later, who is new to flying.... with little or no experience flying airplanes solely by attitude....may come upon this message thread and read my words and have a learning-moment? (Not everything I write is intended for the present....these forum topics live on for ....years....and sometimes are re-visited by new-comers.)

I have an idea. Let's all begin a new relationship with the Forums by eliminating all pre-conceived ideas about other persons and presumed attitudes. Let's all presume that no one is here to criticize others ...unless it's very specifically directed as blatant criticism. Because sarcasm almost never works well on the internet.

If you do install a heated pitot, be certain to come back and let us know how you did it and how much it cost and if/when you ever found it truly useful.

[n2582d]

If you still want a heated pitot tube, the classic look is the type seen on C-190/195 and is approved install per the type cert. (I have the paperwork and can get a copy to you.)

I'm in the process of installing this original style pitot tube on the end of a two foot mast. I found the pitot tube for sale at an online auction site. I also found some aluminum channel with an inside dimension of 1.25" for sale online. This was used to make the bracket that the two foot tube attaches to. (If anybody needs some of this channel I've got extra.) It was a challenge getting the bracket location exactly right on the wing spar. And that was with the lower skin removed. Good luck doing this through the inspection hole. My recommendation is that you go with the C-172 style pitot tube unless you're another one of those originality nuts. Getting a field approval for this would be a lot easier than mounting the original mast style.

[Bruce Fenstermacher]

I'm sure I'm not alone here when I say I've seen a lot of 170s. For some reason they catch my eye.

I have only seen ONE 170 with the original approved heated pitot and that was at the convention in Branson. Besides me, only the owner and George seemed to know it was the original approved heated pitot and the owner didn't know how uncommon it was.

If your installing a heated pitot just put the later L style on. Unless your unlucky enough to have George, Gary and me for judges, no one will know better,