reply to post by Now_Then
Interesting find, Now_Then,
Looks like the Russians are adopting Airbuses's joystick, fly-by-wire approach. Some collaboration there? I don't know, since I really haven't
heard about this project until now...fascinating.
As far as I know...(which ain't much!)...Boeing has shied away from fly-by-wire, though not sure about the 787. Only know the 777 has FBW in the
throttles, still rely on cables for flight controls.
...you know, I was on an A320 jumpseat, years ago, about ten...it was on America West, and I felt this really odd vibration. The two guys up front
said to each other 'there it goes again', something like that. So, I'm sitting there thinking, 'What?' I had to ask, since I don't know much
about the A320 (flew the old A-300, back in the 1980s...lots of differences!).
Anyway, they told me about a continuing anomoly in the elevators...an electronic 'glitch' that caused the elevators to vibrate a bit, just a little
bit, in certain postions at cruise. The airplane's LogBook had a history of write-ups, and sign-offs, because the problem was deemed minor, but
could not be traced. Needless to say, I was a little disturbed...but the two guys who flew the A320 every day seemed unconcerned, so I knew it was
minor...probably just an aspect of FBW technology. I just hope they have a buttload of fail-safes built or programmed in....!
I know that FBW is proven, tested in military airplanes, saves weight and rigging, and MX costs...and cables can jam, etc, etc...I am trying to learn
to trust it, call me old school....