"Fly-by-wire" in this definition means electronic input to the main control surfaces via computer (among many other things like fuel delivery, . This is much like the newer Mercedes and BMW's. There is no throttle cable in those cars. When you depress on the accelerator, an electronic pulse is sent to the computer and the throttles are opened accordingly. As a commercial pilot, I can vouch for the benefits of such a system. It has been available in military aircraft for years. The Concorde was the first commercial fly-by-wire aircraft but most new aircraft produced after 1991 made by Boeing (B-777) and Airbus (A-330) are fly-by-wire aircraft.