[lug] can't make this stuff up, folks...

[Zan Lynx]

On 10/20/09 1:59 PM, Kenneth D Weinert wrote:

> One of the first things the Air Force test pilots tried on an early F-16
> was to tell the computer to raise the landing gear while standing still
> on the runway. Guess what happened? Scratch one F-16. (my friend says
> there is a new subroutine in the code called 'wait_on_wheels' now...)

I can see this bug two ways. Sure, the computer is able to keep the 
wheels down. But why should it have to?

In a smaller plane pulling the manual/hydraulic gear lever is going to 
raise the landing gear too. You could also lower the wing flaps and rip 
the wings apart.

These are just things the pilot isn't supposed to do!

This is almost Windows vs. Unix. Unix lets you shoot yourself in the 
foot or script a machinegun to do so automatically thousands of times 
per second. Windows will gray out the "shoot" button while it points at 
your foot or ask "Are you sure? Are you really sure? You need 
Administrator privileges for this option. Do you wish to allow this action?"

-- 
Zan Lynx
zlynx at acm.org

"Knowledge is Power.  Power Corrupts.  Study Hard.  Be Evil."