Originally Posted by
Mac the Knife
"Almost certainly, the real problem with manual trimming in the sorts of situations we are considering is just that the H-stab is huge and, at some combinations of attitude, (out-of-) trim positions and airspeed, the aero loads make it either unlikely or impossible to crank those wheels enough to recover."
Then why are they still there? As a panacea? Decoration? Tradition probably....
Mac
Interesting to note -AFIK the 767 never had similar mechanical trim wheels but did/does have a few cable controls for spoilers etc.
The 767 with an early glass cockpit and redundant sensors-some truly redundant computers and AFIK had electric trim ( but no mechanical backup ? ). Now we add a tanker version ( KC-46) and a MCAS system which uses multiple sensors.
The 767 in all variations has apparently had few HS related problems.
Those who do not learn from history - do not learn from history..
MY guess is that IF they removed the trim wheel ( by ANY method ) as compared to NG, it would require new certification, cost bucu $$$$$, and then raise more questions as to why no RAT, no APU, et
Or in simple terms - faster and cheaper was absolute priority above ALL else.Those grunts who did not agree were encouraged to spend time with family..