Remove Aviation Technology Remove Center of Gravity Remove Runway
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Examining over 100 years of flight automation and the history of the autopilot

Aerotime

As the French mechanic slid himself along the wing of the aircraft, shifting its center of gravity, the aircraft became unbalanced. This permitted the Trident to be guided automatically to an airfield, approach the runway, flare, touchdown, and then roll out from the landing runway without a pilot interfering with the controls.