MD80 slat system...
doodahdave, very good description of the system!
I flew the DC9/MD80 series aircraft for 16 years, and I have the same positive impression of the system - safe, simple and reliable. No failures except the odd Auto Slat failure, as doodahdave mentions may happen.
To the best of my knowledge the failure reported in post #1671 is of this category - and it is NO factor in the accident.
doodahdave, agree?