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Power-By-Wire Wins Industry Award
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 The test program for the JSF “power-by-wire” flight control system received Flight International magazine’s 2000 Aerospace Industry Award for engineering, maintenance, and modification in ceremonies during the Paris Air Show in June. The program, led by Lockheed Martin Aeronautics, was part of the JSF/Integrated Subsystems Technology program formed by the US government to reduce the risk of selected technology candidates for the JSF program. For the test, the Advanced Fighter Technology Integration AFTI/F-16 was modified to replace the existing integrated servo actuators with electro-hydrostatic actuators to operate the flaperons, horizontal tails, and rudder. A new power generation and distribution system provided the electrical power for the new system. The electric actuators use power more efficiently, thereby increasing the potential benefits of the system. The modified F-16 was the first manned aircraft of any type to fly with a total electric actuation system and no hydraulic or mechanical backups. |
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