> As far as I understand without MCAS software the aircraft is impossible to fly manually. Why does anyone think this? The MCAS system rarely engages. The is

> As far as I understand without MCAS software the aircraft is impossible to fly manually. Why does anyone think this? The MCAS system rarely engages. The issue is simply to make the stick behavior similar to the older 737s at high AoA. For an older 737, when you're pitching way up, you really have to pull on the yoke to keep that high AoA. The plane naturally wants to return to a neutral AoA, so you have to fight it. With the new design, the engine position keeps the plane from wanting to return to the neutral AoA, at least to the degree it did before. Hence, the 'stick feel' at high AoA is lighter. You don't get the same tactile feedback about being near a stall. (you still have the stick shaker) The MCAS is simply there to bring back that resistance to extreme AoA, and thus make it less likely to accidentally stall. MCAS isn't even active with flaps down (i.e. around takeoff and landing) so can't possibly affect those aspects of flight. It's a questionable design for a number of reasons, but it's not at all necessary for flight, let alone 'basically impossible' without it.