Special Lecture: F-22 Flight Controls
Why Hacker News recommends it
Recommended as a fascinating insider account of how the F-22's software makes it easier to fly than a Cessna.
What it is
A special lecture from MIT's Private Pilot Ground School in which Lt. Col. Randy Gordon, a fighter and test pilot, describes F-22 flight controls. Topics include thrust vectoring, the pilot command system and how software handles failures.
Recommended by 2 HN commenters across 2 different months, 2021 to 2022.
What Hacker News said
Strong rec mikehollinger · 2021-06 · on “An F-35 Pilot Explains Why the Jet's Bad Press Misses the Point”
Slightly related, but there's a great hour-long lecture [1] by Colonel Randy Gordon, who's a test pilot, discussing the flight control systems for the F-22, contrasting it (a bit) to other jets, and even to a Cessna. He talks about the tradeoffs between human factors, mechanical engineering, software engineering, and shows how the software systems help the pilot. It's well worth the hour if you're an aviation geek. [1] [this video]
Strong rec khazhoux · 2021-11 · on “Pilot Says Too Many Jumpers Outside Led to King Air Spin”
I recently learned that this is an issue that bomber pilots / airplanes must deal with, when they deploy their payloads. Here is a video of a test pilot giving a talk at MIT on the F-22 and its advanced flying capabilities which --as he puts it-- makes flying an F-22 actually easier than a Cessna. [this video] Apologies in advance for you losing an hour -- the talk is that good!
Cites roeles · 2022-04 · on “A naked skydive inspired a way to keep pilots oriented in flight”
Interestingly, the F-22 appears to handle stuff like engine failures for you[1]. Perhaps it's inertia of regulations and training. Radically automating airplanes involves training loads of people. There's also certification, which is different for military aircraft than for civilian aircraft. [1] [this video]