Which is a design feature meant to aid AFCS off flight?

• A. Spoiler on fwd pylon
• B. Strakes on ramp and fuel pod
• C. Blunted aft pylon
• D. None of the above

Answer: (C)

When AFCS is off, the pilot must rely on hand-flying skills, so the design that best aids manual control focuses on keeping the airflow smooth and the tail surfaces responding predictably. A blunted aft pylon helps by reducing sharp flow separation and the energetic wake that can reach and disturb the tail. With a smoother, less disruptive wake, the tailplane and control surfaces react more predictably to pilot inputs, making the aircraft easier to stabilize and fly manually without automation. The other options don’t target this manual-control stability in the same direct way; a forward spoiler would introduce disruptive lift changes, and strakes on the ramp and fuel pod address different flow characteristics that aren’t specifically about improving AFCS-off handling.