Aircraft Videos and Images
 

http://www.popularmechanics.com/tech...-447-6611877-2

credits for finding this link go to "airway"

The whole series of events does seem to indicate that modern 'pilots' may manage to qualify without actually understanding even basic aerodynamics. Of course, most of the time, the airlines would rather leave the flying to the autopilot, which can probably squeeze out the last half-percent of fuel economy better than any human pilot. And when it goes wrong, they blame 'human error', and automate even more. Instead, we have to rely on software, which as everyone knows is entirely reliable, bug free, and guaranteed to deliver as advertised...

Its not quite as bad as that. Airbus mechanisation is such that Control inputs from both sticks are Algebraically summed and then transmitted to the Flight control computers.

However if 2 pilots are actively polling (an absolute no no in Airbus ideology) a voice alert "DUAL INPUT" is repeated. Its not subtle and clearly lets you know. Each joystick also has a Takeover button. When pressed this automatically prevents the inputs from the other stick getting to the flight control computers. When the button is pressed another voice alert blares "PRIORITY LEFT or RIGHT" together with a visual indication (an arrow) placed directly in the pilots line of sight indicating exactly who has control. In addition if the takeover button is pressed and held the other side stick is deactivated.

As to the reversion from "NORMAL" law to "ALTERNATE" law this is a very (imo) subtle indication. All you see is a small amber X in each corner of the attitude indicator. A better cue imo would be another voice alert like "ALTERNATE LAW" to leave you in no doubt that you are in a mode with reduced protections. The link makes mention that none of these pilots may have flown the aircraft in Alternate Law. Well maybe not in the actual aeroplane but they would have done a reasonable amount of Alternate law handling in the Simulator.

This accident presented the pilots with an horrific set of conflicting cues. A lot is going to be learnt from this accident. Changes to training and certification will undoubtedly result.

most aircraft have the dual controlls physically linked together so they can't operate independently, with airbus sidestick they are like computer joysticks and as IvanK said it's up to the computer to decide which one to pay attention to.

When we do our CRM (crew resource management) courses they often use a classic little video to highlight exactly this particular point, the video is of a group of players, half wearing white and the others wearing black, the instructor asks you to count how many times a ball is passed between players wearing whichever colour, when the video finishes he asks how many times....most people give a similar answer, but then he asks if anybody saw the gorilla....anybody who never saw the video before really don't see the gorilla, he plays the video back and sure enough a guy in a gorilla suit walks across the screen and pauses in the middle of it to beat his chest and a carries on out of the picture, it's the same video, but it highlight how when the human brain is really focused or preoccupied it can miss the most obvious things.

I got a solution: Instead of normal joysticks, they need Sidewinders!
With FFB you can't stall without noticing. http://www.cheesebuerger.de/images/s...onfus/a020.gif
lol

Inside Interesting WW2 Planes
 

Please share here, I just found this and think it looks awesome

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v3...d-Interior.jpg

The mid gunner section in the Sunderland!

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v3...den-Office.jpg

Hampden cockpit

A bit OT but,
next time you're in the Imperial Museum of War in London, have look at the Zero tail there, focus on the fasteners and the used technique.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v3...t-Interior.jpg
Sitting in the back of a bf110

keep 'em coming. :grin:

LOL


At this point of twisted minded code, Microsoft is fully qualified to writte part of the airbus FBW laws ;)