A System Look at Actuation Concepts and Alternatives for Primary Flight Control

Flight control engineers and managers are facing a dilemma in selection of actuation systems and concepts for new high performance aircraft. The dilemma is created by:

• a demand for simpler, more reliable actuators
• a need for higher performance required by statically unstable aircraft
• an increasing awareness of and demand for survivability
• new hydraulic valve concepts
• all electric airplane and electromechanical actuator programs
• a new look at energy efficient hydraulics
• innovative combinations of several of the above.

This paper addresses these issues, the current state of the art of actuation system concepts, their benefits and shortcomings and the factors that influence the selection of a concept or design.