The pitot tube is a small L shaped tube (usually) that protrudes from underneath the surface of the wing. It measures total air pressure through a small hole in the front of the tube. There is another tiny opening called a static port, usually positioned on the side of the aircraft, which measures static pressure. The difference between total pressure and static pressure is dynamic pressure, which equates to airspeed. This drives the airspeed instrument in the cockpit. You will often see aircraft have a “pitot heat” switch in the cockpit, which is used when you get in icing conditions, because if the pitot gets iced up then you get an incorrect pressure reading and hence an incorrect indicated airspeed.
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