An overview of NASA's digital fly-by-wire technology development program

Abstract

Verbatim from NASA NTRS. Not paraphrased, not summarized.

The feasibility of using digital fly by wire systems to control aircraft was demonstrated by developing and flight testing a single channel system, which used Apollo hardware, in an F-8C test airplane. This is the first airplane to fly with a digital fly by wire system as its primary means of control and with no mechanical reversion capability. The development and flight test of a triplex digital fly by wire system, which will serve as an experimental prototype for future operational digital fly by wire systems, are underway.

Author

• Jarvis, C. R. NASA Hugh L. Dryden Flight Research Center