By the way, Fly By Wire doesn't give the plane the ability to do ridiculous things, it just helps it.  The real advantage of fly by wire is that it allows for precise computer control, precision humans will never achieve.  And it doesn't allow crazy things to fly, it just makes crazy things controllable.

Almost all planes in the future will probably be FBW, mainly because it is more reliable (less moving parts), lighter (um, less parts), and more comfortable (if the plane can detect turbulance and make quick precise control adjustments, you will be much more comfortable)

Great response in your first reply, and a very unique perspective on the topic. Thanks.

Jayhawk Jake wrote on Sep 5^th, 2009 at 10:34am:



My supporting evidence for the fly by wire statement was the F-117 mostly, it was designed to look a certain way to maximize the stealth features of it's angular shape, and then fbw was used to make it fly. Function followed form in that particular case. Without fbw that plane wouldn't fly.
The F-16 is another good example of utilizing fbw to get an otherwise aerodynamically unstable design to fly, thus allowing certain design elements to be incorporated, ignoring traditional design rules to a degree.

Based on that, would it not make some sense that a certain amount of 'pretty' or 'cool' is put into aircraft design for marketing, or even subconscious aesthetics? Otherwise, wouldn't most planes just look the same for having to follow strict aerodynamic design laws?
  I think this is why differing nations aircraft all have a distinct appearance from each other, yet are instantly recognizable to which country made them. That human 'aesthetic' element of design.

olderndirt wrote on Sep 7^th, 2009 at 12:40pm:



Yep, hence the 707, 727 and 737 all pretty much share the same nose.

i spoke to an Airforce pilot and asked him whats better? a boeing or a Airbus he said

The boeing is better not by look by how it performs. Because of the FBW on the AB it doesnt have good low speed control and stuff like that. its true and i just cant remember what he said but it was the basis of the FBW on the airbuses are ruining it or something to that degree!

i think it was more like you dont get the feeling that your stalling with FBW then on and airbus.

Like theres no mechanics with the airbus right so instead of feeling the stall you cant and so on i know what it is i just cant explain it well enough

Leigh wrote on Oct 12^th, 2009 at 2:17am:


Which end of him was doing the talking?!

As Doug says, if anything FBW gives far better low speed characteristics, and protection against losing control throughout the flight envelope.

BSW727 wrote on Nov 12^th, 2009 at 6:40pm:


Early CFD or improved wind tunnel performance perhaps?