Abstract
This paper presents a short account of the flight control systems used in commercial transport, military combat and general aviation aircraft. The effects of aircraft safety, reliability and weather delays on satisfactory aircraft operations are shown to be significant reasons for the extensive use of flight control systems. The principles of flight control, the sensors and actuators required and the various modes which can be selected are treated, together with a short account of the primary flying controls and the use of manual reversion in emergency situations. The paper concludes with a consideration of the fly-by-wire (FBW) and fly-fby-light concepts, and covers relaxed static stability, carefree manoeuvring and the use of canards before discussing some FBW flight control systems which are used in passenger aircraft.
