Typhoon twin-engine canard-delta wing airplane: Stability aircraft design 06/06

The Typhoon is a highly agile aircraft at both supersonic and low speeds, achieved through having an intentionally relaxed stability aircraft design. Roll control is primarily achieved by use of the wing flaperons. It has a quadruplex digital fly-by-wire cockpit control system providing artificial stability, manual operation alone could not compensate for the inherent instability.

The aircraft fly-by-wire cockpit system is described as “carefree”, and prevents the pilot from exceeding the permitted manoeuvre envelope. Pitch control is by operation of the foreplanes and flaperons, the yaw control is by rudder.Control surfaces are moved through two independent hydraulic systems, which also supply various other items, such as the canopy, brakes and undercarriage; powered by a 4000 psi engine-driven gearbox.