Heavier-than-air flight control systems can be as simple as shifting our weight around the center of gravity or as complicated as a full fly-by-wire arrangement where the cockpit controls have no mechanical connection to the moving surfaces. Early aviators copied the birds with wings of wax and feathers while others tried wing warping—and even flapping wings—none of which worked well.
When it was discovered that lift could be created by air flowing over a cambered surface, the technology took a giant leap forward. Along came the Wright Brothers, who experimented with flight controls and tried several designs and modifications to accomplish directional control in the vertical as well as the horizontal plane. Flight control was soon introduced in conjunction with aerodynamic surfaces that produced sufficient lift and control for extended flight. With these initial problems solved, aircraft development rapidly progressed to allow for faster and heavier aircraft.
