F-8 Digital Fly-By-Wire test flight aircraft, 1970s. The first fly-by-wire systems were used in the Apollo lunar landers. The technology was later developed for use in aircraft and space shuttles. NASA modified an F-8C jet to be the new Digital Fly-By-Wire (DFBW) research aircraft (marked NASA 802). The Apollo hardware is here installed in the aircraft. The computer is partially visible in the avionics bay at the top of the fuselage behind the cockpit. The display and keyboard unit is in the gun bay. To make room, the aircraft's guns and ammunition boxes were removed. The first flight solely using the new electronic flight-control system took place on 25 May 1972. Photographed on 18 July 1971, at the Dryden Flight Research Center, Edwards Air Force Base, California, USA.