Jake Anderson wrote:

> > That's interesting as many small airplanes use wires for the rudder. Is it
> > because with planes they have a more strict test virtually every time before
> > flying? Or they think that if rudder gone they can still do something with
> > aileron+elevator?
> >

The mechanical systems have a different kind  reliability problems as well.
I know of  three cases of elevator reversal after maintenance and one of
rudder reversal that were not caught before flight.

One of the elevator reversals resulted in a fatality.

Many years ago I was a passenger in the right seat in a plane with
one of the old VOR and wing leveller type auto pilots, about 20 minutes
after we got underway still climbing out the pilot slid his seat back to take
off his shoes when auto pilot locked up. The controls were out of
his reach. (It's amazing how fast you can find the master switch)
It is these old horror stories that fly by wire systems are still viewed
with suspicion.

w..


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