Flight Assist: Difference between revisions

'''Flight Assist''' is an on-board computer which keeps a [[ship]] within flight parameters, constrains the angular and linear velocity and makes it easier to pilot.<ref name=":0">https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/1461411552/elite-dangerous/faqs</ref> It helps maintain control of a spacecraft by automatically countering rotation and controlling trajectory when a pilot applies or releases input on his or her controls. Space, having no atmosphere, has no forces which can stabilize a craft aerodynamically, and so all rotational forces and trajectory changes applied will continue to have an effect unless acted upon and changed again.  

This effect is noted in Newton's First Law of Motion, or in Galileo's Law of Inertia: "An object in motion will remain in motion until acted upon by an external force." A Flight Assist system will counter rotational forces and change a ship's trajectory to make it behave more like a vessel in a medium such as water or air. Without it, a pilot would need to manually counter every application of thrust with an equal, but opposite, application in order to change direction.

Flight assist is always On by default, though there's an option to turn it Off. However, Flight Assist and fly-by-wire is always partially on to keep the ship movement in specified limits.<ref name=":0" /> For more information see the [[Flight Model]].