Abstract: A pair of electrical generators (14,16) are installed on a jet engine (10). The generators (14,16) are coupled to each other in a manner so that together they can be used as crank motors to start the engine.

Abstract: A control apparatus for use in a fly-by-wire flight control system. The apparatus comprises a support structure, a tube (22) mounted to the support structure for rotation about the tube lengthwise axis, at least two joysticks (18, 20) mounted to the tube, a coupling bar (24) and sensors (14, 16). Each joystick has a first end (30) adapted for gripping by an operator, a second end pivotally connected to the coupling member, and an intermediate portion (64) pivotally mounted to the tube such that the joystick is rotatable about a transverse axis (40) fixed in the tube and perpendicular to the lengthwise axis, the transverse axes of the joysticks being parallel to one another. The sensors include a two axis photodetector (44) and light emitting diodes (46) for directing a beam of radiation to a point on the photodetector.

Abstract: The counter-EMF generated by electromechanical actuators (14), (16), (18) and (20) during deceleration of the actuators is pooled to power various temperature control devices, such as Peltier-type thermoelectric modules (26) associated with the actuators themselves or a similar thermoelectric module (24) and a fan (30) used to cool an AC-to-DC power converter (10) situated at a location remote from the electromechanical actuators. An electronic commutator circuit (44) is operably coupled to windings (38), (40) and (42), of the actuators to energize the windings to operate the actuators as motors and terminate such energization of the windings to permit deceleration of the actuator whereby it operates as a generator.