Is the big rod sticking from the nose of an F-16 a pitot tube?

Question

I was curious. Thanks.

Answer 1

Yes - the full nomenclature is actually a pitot-static tube. Here is a photo that shows the probe during early test flights with additional instrumentation attached for correlation...

http://www.dfrc.nasa.gov/Gallery/Photo/F...

ADDED: The static portion of the probe is provided by small holes in the side of the tube that sense static pressure. The hole in the front of the tube senses total, or stagnation pressure. By measuring both of these accurately, one can determine both altitude (MSL) and airspeed.

Answer 2

It is a 'pitot tube' for sensing the static and dynamic pressures for sensing height and speed respectively.