ORIGINAL: Deandome
What, and to whom, are you referring?
I...and Wiki (-pedia, not 'leaks)...am saying a computer is not required for FBW (though they're used 99.99% of the time); it's the elimination of a mechanical connection that defines this term. YOU are the one who said YOUR defnition keyed on the use of a computer as an 'intermediary' in the control signal transer. YOUR definition (incorrectly) allows the inclusion of the MD-11 in the FBW category, not Wiki's!
The MD-11 used computers to help monitor/tweak/limit the HYDRAULIC control systems. That's not FBW, hydraulics are a mechanical connnection.
But when they first tried replacing those connections with the ''control input>convert input to electric signal>send signal via wires to servo-motors>servo-motors move control surface proportionally to signal input'' model...
in the 1930s....THAT is/was fly-by-wire.
ORIGINAL: dirtybird
Your reference to wikeleaks states a computer is used in Fly by wire.
The MD-11 manual control could be called fly by wire according to your definition.
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The F-16 was the first production aircraft to be FBW. It is not only FBW, it has negative flight stability margin to improve maneuverability (think 3D) and lift. That is why is has those triple redundant flight control computers (used to be quad redundant when it was analog computers).
As far as a built-in throttle actuation, besides cost and reliability, you will increase the bulk of the carb. Which for gas it is already bulky enough, and for nitro, the engines are not made to fit bulky carbs. But there are always ways around those issues.