Re: Turbo Scram

["Tom Sanderson"]

"Bret Cahill" <BretCahill@xxxxxxx> wrote:
> What I don't understand is why they were never able to control the
> Harrier and other vertical takeoff planes better.  It seems that's one
> problem where computer controls easily could handle any instability.

The Harrier is a really old design...computer control of unstable aircraft 
has come a long way since it was first developed.

> It should be as safe as any plane.

I don't think we'll ever get that far...a VTOL aircraft is, almost by 
necessity, dynamically unstable.  Failure of the control system will kill 
it.  Not true for most aircraft.

Tom.