L1011 - AFCS engaged during takeoff
 

"On May 25, 1972, veteran test pilots Anthony LeVier and Charles Hall transported 115 crew members, employees, and reporters on a 4-hour, 13- minute flight from Palmdale, California, to Dulles Airport outside Washington, D.C., with the TriStar’s AFCS feature engaged from takeoff roll to landing. It was a groundbreaking moment: the first cross-country flight without the need for human hands on the controls. Fly-by-wire technology was here to stay." source: Lockheed Martin

My question is: I've never seen any report or video, does anybody know how that takeoff using the auto system was performed?

Thanks.

It's been a while, but ISTR there was a "Takeoff" mode on the AFCS which I can't remember being ever used or discussed. There was also the Paravisual Display (PVD) that was 'streamed' on entering the runway if a valid LOC signal was present, to give Left/Right cues to centreline on LVP takeoffs. However, this was not a stopper defect in the MEL so latterly it wasn't maintained just like the Ground Run Monitor (which took a direct drive from the main wheels to measure exactly how much runway had been used, thus informing your 'STOP' in LVPs. I think that if you had Takeoff mode active on the AFCS and engaged the autopilot, then this might have been what the article referred to. It was a long time ago, sorry.

Typical L1011 - ahead of its time but electro-mechanical and prone to failure/high maintenance requirements! I see that Airbus has recently tested an autopilot takeoff mode.

An understatement )

I never cease to be amazed by the avionics on this a/c, in the game a bit late to experience this masterpiece but recall seeing them (in an all white livery, probably charters) at Dublin in the 90's and they stood head and shoulders above everything else.

I flew the 767 for 2+ years and the L1011 as F/O for 1 year early in its service life, and 15 years later as captain for 3 years. The 767 was more advanced in my view.

But, there was a fourteen year gap (or perhaps a little less) between them. I am not familiar with Airbus kit however I do believe the 767 was the first with a glass cockpit, and the first long haul without a F/E (Ansett aside) admittedly.

I flew the early 767 for TWA. Perhaps a year after I qualified it became the first ETOPS approval. However, I flew it only on domestic. As to glass, yes, but limited. And, the glass displays were CRTs that needed constant cooling, unlike the great LED displays of today.