Originally Posted by
Old Carthusian
CONF iture
...It is, in fact, a dangerous illusion to regard more modern computerised aircraft as more complex. In fact older aircraft were often the more complex requiring more attention and work. As technology has developed aircraft have in fact become simpler.
In general - and thus independent of specifics pertaining to a certain manufacturer - the modern/current airplanes are hugely more complex, and there is a lot more work and attention than before when summing up all the work and attention on all the components packed into one airplane.
That more complexity and that more work and attention may not be obvious to a casual observer, but it is there, even if hidden by the huge reduction in electronics components dimensions, huge advance in electronics integration, and modularization, or by the physical character of the components - software - and the stages and different areas, disciplines, R&D, development or manufacturing facilities in which the attention and work is performed.