On 2008-06-20, Le Chaud Lapin wrote:
Fly by wire is pretty pointless on the kinds of planes we fly, it's
adding complexity where none is needed and steel cables and pulleys are
pretty reliable in airplanes, and pushrods to the swash plate in a
helicopter seem very reliable too. Changing those to electronics would
have pretty much zero benefit in a light airplane or helicopter (and
some significant disadvantages).

I disagree.

For XC flights, a computer can do a far better job optimizing fuel
efficiency, for example, by controlling control surfaces dynamically
during flight. A computer can also minimize the effects of
turbulence, by reactively changing the same control surfaces
dynamically.

But what you're describing is FADEC and autopilots, and they already
exist. You still don't need fly by wire; all you've described is a fancy
autopilot. I suspect it'll also have rather less effect on turbulence
than you expect, or Airbus would have done it.

-Le Chaud Lapin-

....in French, meaning 'The sex maniac', literally 'the hot rabbit'. The
French have such a way with words!

--
From the sunny Isle of Man.
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