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It's the pitot tube. It is used to collect clean (unaffected) air for the airspeed system. The airspeed system takes two sources of air, the "ram" air from the pitot tube and a source of static air from somewhere on the fuselage where there is no local turbulence or air impingement. Comparing the ram to the static air source gives an airspeed readout.
More than one pilot or ground crewmember has nearly impaled himself on one of those dang things. On the T-37 it stuck out just a few inches below belt level. Yeah, you imagine correctly what THAT felt like. The end of the pitot tube is also heated to prevent ice buildup. Grab it at the end of a flight and you get a whole different surprise.
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