MartinW 0 Posted June 21, 2015 Report Share Posted June 21, 2015 Seems Diamond are developing fly-by-wire for their twin engine DA42. Flight envelope protection. The aircraft will be able to autoland, and an electronic parachute. Here's the video... Diamond Aircraft tests successfully "Fly-by-Wire" technology Diamond Aircraft successfully tested the first fly-by-wire system for General Aviation on the twin-engine DA42. The system enables flight envelope protection which protects the pilot from unintentional flight manoeuvres that could lead to structural or aerodynamical overstressing of the aircraft. Furthermore the aircraft should be able to land automatically in case of incapacity of the pilot in a single pilot operation. Fly-by-wire is already part of every big airliner like Airbus or Boeing and Diamond Aircraft expects a big increase in safety. The tests take place within the EU project SAFAR (Small Aircraft Future Avionics Architecture) with partners from Austria, Germany, The Netherlands, Czech Republic, Spain and Belgium. In the long run the company is working on fully automatic take-off, flight and landing for every DA42 and other aircraft models. http://www.diamond-air.at/about-dai/research-projects.html Link to post Share on other sites
brett 2,316 Posted June 21, 2015 Report Share Posted June 21, 2015 >The aircraft will be able to autoland, and an electronic parachute. Sort of takes the thrill out of flying. Link to post Share on other sites
Jess-b 420 Posted June 21, 2015 Report Share Posted June 21, 2015 @brett, I think you mean the thrill of flying badly. . 1 Link to post Share on other sites
MartinW 0 Posted June 22, 2015 Author Report Share Posted June 22, 2015 I regard this as a positive development. Yes, there are some that regard fly-by-wire negatively. However, how many lives have been saved by fly-by-wire? How many accidents have been averted? There are probably many incidents where fly-by-wire has intervened that have never been reported. Given the number of accidents associated with general aviation, I'm all in favour. General aviation has always seemed archaic to me, the aircraft are expensive but relatively primitive. Seems crazy to me that in the 21st century we fly around in our Cessna's, or equivalent, and have to do something as basic as trimming manually. Seems to me manufactures have settled for archaic technology with a few bolt on electronic instruments for far too long. Link to post Share on other sites
MartinW 0 Posted June 22, 2015 Author Report Share Posted June 22, 2015 >The aircraft will be able to autoland, and an electronic parachute. Sort of takes the thrill out of flying. Don't worry Brett I have a solution for you... In a car you can switch off traction control, EBD etc. I'll get Diamond to design the system like a car for you. I'll get them to add a "scary button". Hit the button and all flight envelope protection will be off!!! The DA42 FBW job also eliminates turbulence and gusts, that will be off too. Link to post Share on other sites
brett 2,316 Posted June 22, 2015 Report Share Posted June 22, 2015 Thanks Martin but I drive a 2000 Jeep, there are not many protections on it to begin with and if I really want scary I take a drive on the Cross Bronx Expressway into to the G.W. bridge. Link to post Share on other sites
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