I love that in the f18 you can pitch craft up and it will stay there without trimming it. Same for turns. It just makes sense to me that input stays the same until you change it. 

That’s built into the plane itself. It’s a feature.

Edited December 5, 20214 yr by Tuskin38

This is the Fly-By-Wire system of the F18. Like in the A320, which you don't have to trim either.

I'm not an airline pilot IRL. But I don't see how Boeing is competing with Airbus. In sims, the UK liners are easier to fly. Perhaps its the cost of the planes.

11 hours ago, Fielder said:

I'm not an airline pilot IRL. But I don't see how Boeing is competing with Airbus. In sims, the UK liners are easier to fly. Perhaps its the cost of the planes.

yeah, this is true.  I listen to a podcast called the 'airlinepilotguy' and there is a regular guest that recently transitioned from Boeing to Airbus and speaks about the abrupt lack of technology and comfort in the cockpit at least.  I think he flew for JetBlue and went to Southwest.

Until the current generation of aircraft, Boeing's advantage lay in better-performing aircraft.  They could fly farther, carrying more weight and do it more efficiently.  They were also more expensive, which is why more of the world's lower-cost airlines fly Airbuses.

This changed roughly around the current generation of aircraft. On the narrowbody side, Boeing was hamstrung by many airlines' (led by Southwest and Ryanair) insistence / strongarming that the new-gen narrowbody (what became the 737 MAX) share a common pilot type rating with earlier versions of the 737.  The Airbus NEO models also share a type with earlier members of their family, but the A320 family was designed with an eye towards future lengthening, whereas the 737 never was (having been originally designed a couple decades earlier to be what we would think of these days as a regional jet).  On the widebody side, my understanding is that the 787 still outperforms the A350, but marginally.  The 777 still well outperforms comparable Airbuses of the same era.

The problem for Boeing is that, going forward, they have to compete on price with a state-subsidized competitor.  Boeing is not subsidized (though they likely would be if they ever went bankrupt), and this has resulted in an erosion of innovation, quality control, and safety culture, as they attempt to compete on price.  They face significant challenges. 

All that said, speaking as a 737 pilot, it's a solid airplane.  Very little of what any airline pilot does these days can be considered "real" stick-and-rudder flying, but there are times.  On a lousy night in Southeast Alaska, facing potential severe rotor turbulence going into Ketchikan or up the channel into Juneau, I personally prefer an aircraft which provides instantaneous feedback on the aircraft's energy state.  This happens via things like control "feel" and trim state - things that can be masked by a fly by wire system. 

 

Airbus and Boeing have different design philosophies ! I think while automation undoubtedly makes flying easier and safer (in case of airbus). However, when things go "south" it becomes very completed troubleshooting mess. There are plenty high profile airbus accident that involving failed automation and inability of crew to solve problem in timely manner. In contrast, Boeing approaches automation form different angle . There is no alpha floor protection or other airbus safety features that controlled by computer.  Boeing takes more direct control with assisted automation (not talking about MAX hiccup  though). So if pilot insufficiently prepared! Say ..coming from a country where aviation training and safety not at the top of the bar, I think Airbus has an edge given that things go smoothly. On the other hand, Boeing "stick and rudder" philosophy may give pilot will give simpler option  in case of emergency. First rule of emergency "fly airplane" perhaps better fit for Boeing That is of course requires more pilot skill.

I do genuinely believe both Airbus and Being pilots are professionals in par of their domain. But again my favorite youtube personality Capt. Joe who was flying Airbus  for Air Berlin (if I remember correctly) dreamed all his life to fly Boeing 747! And my friend who flies 737 for American enjoy his Piper Cub Legend on weekend. I believe "stick and rudder " if when one actually feels flying 100%! If pilot struggle to transition from Airbus to Boeing it may give one a clue. Overreliance on automation is hos aviation safety topic around the world!

1 hour ago, sd_flyer said:

Airbus and Boeing have different design philosophies ! I think while automation undoubtedly makes flying easier and safer (in case of airbus). However, when things go "south" it becomes very completed troubleshooting mess. There are plenty high profile airbus accident that involving failed automation and inability of crew to solve problem in timely manner. In contrast, Boeing approaches automation form different angle . There is no alpha floor protection or other airbus safety features that controlled by computer.  Boeing takes more direct control with assisted automation (not talking about MAX hiccup  though). So if pilot insufficiently prepared! Say ..coming from a country where aviation training and safety not at the top of the bar, I think Airbus has an edge given that things go smoothly. On the other hand, Boeing "stick and rudder" philosophy may give pilot will give simpler option  in case of emergency. First rule of emergency "fly airplane" perhaps better fit for Boeing That is of course requires more pilot skill.

I do genuinely believe both Airbus and Being pilots are professionals in par of their domain. But again my favorite youtube personality Capt. Joe who was flying Airbus  for Air Berlin (if I remember correctly) dreamed all his life to fly Boeing 747! And my friend who flies 737 for American enjoy his Piper Cub Legend on weekend. I believe "stick and rudder " if when one actually feels flying 100%! If pilot struggle to transition from Airbus to Boeing it may give one a clue. Overreliance on automation is hos aviation safety topic around the world!

Very well said and appreciated, thank you for the perspective.