flying by wire

Posted by James Briggs on November 22, 2005

In Reply to: Flying by wire posted by Martin Christie on November 22, 2005

: Recently I've experienced a lot of people saying things like "now your flying by wire" or "now that's what I call flying by wire" it seems to imply being up with current thinking or technology or fashion.....am I correct?
: What is the origin of these sayings?

This is modern aircraft language. Modern aircraft control the flying surfaces - elevator, rudder, etc elctronically and not mechanically, as in the past - they 'fly by (electrical) wire'. It seems that this usage has been extended to people.

• flying by wire Smokey Stover 23/November/05