From Captain Crunch
We're agreed then, that the studies of GPWS escape maneuvers at low altitude come into play AFTER Controlled Flight Into Terrain is avoided with an aggressive pull up, not before
?????
Were you 'tired' when you wrote this. How can GPWS escape maneuvres come in to play after we have avoided terrain? Sorry to state the obvious but GPWS maneuvres are FOR avoiding CFIT. Being able to pull 3.5 instead of 2.5 g in an 'old' aircraft is of no benefit whatsoever for the following reasons:
1. The difference in clearance is in the order of a few feet over a period of a fraction of a second, the FBW aircraft will offer more clearance with its alpha prot in almost any recorded or likely GPWS event.
2. Your assertion assumes that your 'old' aircraft is being flown by a pilot who can accurately pull instantly to 3.5g and no more. If he pulls 1.0g less you have lost your benefit, if 0.25g (the standard margin) more he has folded your wings. He will alos have to apply full control deflection until the required g is achieved and then accurately sustain it for the second or so before he stalls.
If you really believe such a pilot exists and is therefore likely to be able to get a better GPWS maneuvre from a conventional aircraft than a FBW type then I can only marvel at your innocence.
FBW alpha prot gives better GPWS performance.