Aircraft

Gulfstream this year could take fly-by-wire to a new level by throwing out the wire. In addition to its tests with fly-by-light control, the Savannah, Georgia-based aircraft maker has been experimenting with a system that will use a wireless channel or channels to pass data back and forth to a spoiler actuator on the company's G550 advanced flight-controls testbed.

Pres Henne, senior vice-president of programmes, engineering and test, told Flight International that a key benefit of wireless control, beside the obvious savings in weight, is the reduction in failure scenarios and associated design drivers that must be considered if an engine rotor bursts.

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While wireless control may not be applicable as a primary means of control, at least in the near term, Henne says it may prove to be beneficial as a back-up control mode. In addition to electrical interference concerns, wireless design issues include finding ways to power receivers and transmitters for the actuators.