The pitot static system is responsible for driving which instruments?

The pitot static system plays a crucial role in providing essential information to the airspeed indicator, altimeter, and vertical speed indicator.

The airspeed indicator relies on dynamic pressure from the pitot tube, which measures the airspeed of the aircraft by comparing the pressure of air entering the tube to the static pressure of the surrounding atmosphere. The altitude of the aircraft is indicated by the altimeter, which utilizes static pressure alone; it measures changes in atmospheric pressure as the aircraft ascends or descends. Meanwhile, the vertical speed indicator (VSI) also utilizes static pressure to indicate the rate at which an aircraft is climbing or descending.

In contrast, the other choices include instruments that rely on different systems for their operation. For instance, heading indicators and turn coordinators gauge the aircraft's orientation and rate of turn, which are not dependent on the pitot static system. The artificial horizon and yaw indicator provide information on the aircraft's attitude based on gyroscopic principles rather than air pressure differences. Lastly, the magnetic compass relies on Earth's magnetic field and is not connected to the pitot static system either.

Thus, understanding the specific instruments driven by the pitot static system is essential for comprehending how pilots receive critical flight data during operations.