Mass air flow sensor with stress free sensor element mounting

An air flow sensing apparatus with a plastic housing having at least two leadframes that are embedded in the plastic housing and adapted for the attachment of a sensing element whose major axis is oriented across the leadframes in a first direction such that, during a thermal cycle, the difference in relative movement between the leadframes in the first direction is minimized while the leadframes move substantially synchronously in other two directions; the leadframes being bent in a pattern that is substantially parallel to each other, and arranged in close proximity with each other, with the dimensions spacing apart the leadframes in the pattern being minimized.