> So the "direct control" you're describing isn't actually direct; it's mediated by the avionics, just like Dragon. Very true, but I'm more describing the diff

> So the "direct control" you're describing isn't actually direct; it's mediated by the avionics, just like Dragon. Very true, but I'm more describing the difference in the UX of how pilots access the avionics rather than arguing for fully manual control. Most pilots raised on FBW would find fully manual flight rather tricky (think an F-16 pilot stepping into a P-51), so I'm not suggesting we do that. It's just that Dragon's design philosophy seems like kind of an interesting departure from conventional wisdom. > The pace of operations in space is also much, much slower than it is in the air. These aren't ace top guns doing split-second maneuvers with lightning reflexes. They aren't even airline pilots switching off the autopilot at 100' AGL. Docking is slow. Don't let the orbital velocities or the excitement of launch and reentry fool you--spaceflight is much more like sailing than it is like aviation. This is a pretty solid point, and one I hadn't really considered. Leave that up to Hollywood and Kerbal Space Program for misleading everyone on how fast-paced spaceflight really is, heh!