>> My definition of good controls is they should have light forces that build up steadily with deflection.... [unquote the Chief Test Pilot of Harriers]
John, thanks for your reply. Now I know I am not the only fellow on earth to complain about Boeing's design of the flight controls : they have a rather harsh centering mechanism. I missed the lighter and gentler centering on the Airbus. When I talked to my colleages, they would just shrug it off and said it is normal for powered controls to behave like that. I am of the opinion that a centering mechanism with much lower thresholds (lighter and less abrupt break-out force) allows for more precise control input.
Thanks John, your experience and knowledge on control systems is beyond challenge. You are the man.
PS: The Harrier has always intriqued me as an 'unflyable' plane for the lack of natural stability. Helicopters have their big rotors (=gyroscope) for stability.
[This message has been edited by Old Dog (edited 04 December 2000).]