Test equipment usually is painted orange. Ever seen F-15s and F-16s out of Edwards AFB (”ED” on the tail)? The orange panels and any orange control surfaces indicate special equipment installed for test. This looks like a test to me, they were probably testing how/where the tail would drag (with a tolerance added by the lip of the test rig) when developing charts and procedures for the flight manuals.
The video in #46 shows the testing procedure for the A380.
Looks a bit hairy?
I know some people can become’one’ with a machine, feeling any feedback.
But on a 500 ton fly by wire monster?
Plus human response time, over response,hysteresis...
Amazing.
How many hours did he have to learn the brand new beast?
One sensitive seat of the pants!