air speed sensor for rc plane

[Josh Joseph]

hey guys I'm actually the friend greg posted the question for - I decided to just register so I can give some feedback on this...

The main problem with an anemometer is that it will be for a micro air vehicle (like the picture greg posted) so the added drag of a device like that is too much.

Also I've considered a pitot tube but I'm afraid because the craft is so small the airflow will be not be nearly uniform enough to get an accurate reading. I could definitely be wrong here seeing as how I've never tested this.

It's all electric powered and is driven by a brushless motor. I've talked to a couple of EE friends of mine and they didn't seem very convinced I could relate current draw to velocity very accurately.

I'd be interested if anyone has tried a pitot tube even on anything as small as a typical RC airplane...or had some luck relating current draw to velocity..or anything else...

I'm currently trying to relate forward/backward acceleration to velocity but seeing as how it's on one of these college project budgets the sensors are anything but high end and at first glance it's seeming like I'm not going to get the accuracy I'd need.

thanks guys