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Old 20th August 2006 | 13:11
  #6 (permalink)  
TruBlu351
 
Joined: Apr 2005
Posts: 209
Likes: 6
From: Australia
The Hornet flight control system can do some awesome things (fly by wire)!

When flying in formation at slow speed, with no manoeuvring, the flight controls are always doing their "funky chicken" moves. You can see the control surfaces fluttering away keeping the aircraft in smooth balance, but the pilot isn't even moving the stick. All the control surfaces can move independently of eachother as they are all computer controlled.

The pilot in that shot is definitely in a right roll (ailerons & rudders). As mentioned, the stabs look backwards to assist that move, but the "computer box down the back" figures it all out and does what it needs

The Hornet also has what is called an RSRI (Rolling Surface to Rudder Interconnect). You jam in full aileron, and the rudders automatically deflect to assist.

Without the flight control computers helping the pilot out, it will fly like a brick and a very real chance you'll lose control. Fighter jets are normally quite unstable, which allows them to manoeuvre well.
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