With all the talk about Webber's transmission failure during the Singapore Grand Prix, and the consequently blamed Moog valve, I thought I'd chime in with my two cents.

From working on F-15s as an avionics technician, I can tell you that Moog valves are used to very precisely ratio the flight control systems in response to airspeed, altitude, and other flight conditions. Specifically, they're used to vary the amount of flight control deflection for a given pilot input to provide the most consistent aircraft response, without exceeding predesigned limits. The valves are installed on a large assembly called the PRCA (pitch roll channel assy) to adjust the various servoactuators.

I don't recall a specific instance where electrical interference caused a ratio problem within a valve, as most of our problems were caused by valves sticking. In fact, on the F-15, the PRCA is mounted right next to the transformer rectifier, a device used to convert the AC power from the generators to the various DC voltages required. As you can imagine, any interference with the proper ratio-ing of the flight controls could be disastrous.

Yet another example of aircraft technology in F1.

Interesting bit of information, Roger. I'm curious: Are "moog valves" proportioning valves that alter the amount of force sent to each servo,or are they on/off valves that simply switch force from one servo to the next?

I may be wrong, but I think the valves that control the shifting in an F-1 transmission are the simple on-off type, with no worry about proportioning. Either you're shifting or you're not.

When you speak of "electrical interferance" affecting how an electrically controlled valve works, that could come from a couple of different places. One is a problem with the electric power that activates the valve, itself. That would be a fairly heavy current with some power. The other would be interferance with the computer control module. I may be wrong, but I beleve they now have a "zero = low" and "+3volts = high" logic, using very low current, on the order of micro-apmeres. Those things can indeed be affected by random currents induced by other sources. If that's the case, it's the computer controlling the valve, not the valve itself, that is causing the malfunction.

That's my guess. I'd be interested in hearing yours.

... I believe "MOOG" is a company ... and they make many different control elements, some of which I am familiar with. Without knowing exactly what model/type is used ... any speculation may not even be worth my 2 cents