Scary stuff.
Originally Posted by
SigWit
There are two modes: Normal mode, where the Flight Control Modules process the flight control inputs and provides the processed inputs to the Actuator Control Electronics.
And then there is Direct mode, where the FCM's are left out of the equation and the flight control inputs are send unprocessed to the ACE's
At least on the SIM there's not much of a difference to be felt between the two modes flying around in the pattern.
On the SIM the A/C is demonstrated to be flyable without any aileron input at all, just using elevator and rudders.
According to lore the aircraft was originally supposed to have three-axis FBW but a deadline for delivery to JetBlue could only be met by using conventional ailerons. Aileron control quadrants are rather prominently placed inside the main gear wheel wells with the aileron servo just forward of the left wheel well.
As for the control check, you always try to be vigilant but with a little distraction ailerons moving the opposite way could escape detection.
Will be very interesting to learn what happened.