Stability and control

Aircraft stability and control has evolved from stick and rudder through stability augmentation to redundant digital flight control systems (FCS) and finally to digital fly-by-wire (FBW). Substantial advances in avionics have occurred as aviation progressed from biplanes to civil transports to sub/supersonic military craft and finally the Space Shuttle. Aircraft stability can be defined as aircraft control by maintaining a favorable relationship between center of gravity (CG) and the center of pressure (CP).