"Doug "Woody" and Erin Beal" wrote in message
...
On 4/4/04 5:55 PM, in article , "Tarver
Engineering" wrote:


"Doug "Woody" and Erin Beal" wrote in message
...
On 4/4/04 1:46 PM, in article , "Tarver
Engineering" wrote:


"Doug "Woody" and Erin Beal" wrote in
message
...
SNIP

Missed the front part of the conversation, John. What exactly did he
say?

I made a claim WRT the break out force of the F/A-18 stick and monkey
came
by to correct me.


I'm not sure what break-out force you're talking about. Granted, my
only
experience with MECH is during FCF's, but when you motor the right
engine
(no generators on line), the stabs just move--period. If there was any
sensation of a "break out" force, I'd down the jet for binding flight
controls.

There is a cable system connected such that the stick continues to work
for
a total electric failure in the F-18ABCD.



Yes. Truly. It's in the NATOPS and everything. My confusion with your
statements is this occasional mention of a "break out" or "break out
force."
There is nothing like that.

I know that information from having desiged the first accuratee F/A-18
simulator at Dryden. The reason for bringing up the break out force in the
first place was to demonstrate how much force a Flanker applying an
additional 33# of force directly into his crotch to do a cobra would be
risking. It is a completely different thread, but monkey wanted to branch
off into a demonstration is his huge penis and then immediately stepped on
same.

As I explained before. If while starting up the aircraft, if you simply
windmill the right engine (battery power only, no generators on line, RPM
sitting at about 26-32%), you can wipe out the stick and observe the stabs
move--differentially for roll and together for pitch. There is no binding
and the only force is that of the artificial feel system trying to return
the stick to the neutral position--the same as when the jet is in CAS
mode.
They even have more pitch authority with the flap switch in HALF or FULL.
That's MECH in a nutshell.

There is no FCS in mech mode for the F/A-18ABCD, so the limits are disabled.
The mechanical control system, is of course interesting to the Flanker
discussion in that the F/A-18ABCD are cobra capable under a disabled FCS
system just as the Flanker is. the difference bring that the F/A-18ABCD has
the FCS over ride switches delected for production.

It is mechanically controlled and hydraulically actuated, so you must have
at least one engine windmilling to make it work.

The probabilistic viewpoint is that the system failure most likely is that
"prince of darkness" rotary inverter. It never lived up to it's MTBF
promises.