In every rerun of this topic on HN, I've heard two countervailing viewpoints:
1) The 737 MAX is a perfectly viable airplane without the MCAS, whose sole purpose is to not invalidate the type rating;
2) The 737 MAX has dangerous, uncertifiable flight characteristics without the MCAS; namely, the stick force gradient inverts at high angles of attack. One comment[1] in this thread has even linked the relevant legislation[2].
1) The 737 MAX is a perfectly viable airplane without the MCAS, whose sole purpose is to not invalidate the type rating;
2) The 737 MAX has dangerous, uncertifiable flight characteristics without the MCAS; namely, the stick force gradient inverts at high angles of attack. One comment[1] in this thread has even linked the relevant legislation[2].
So, which is it?
[1] https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=20607242 [2] https://www.law.cornell.edu/cfr/text/14/25.173