A flight control system for an aircraft, comprising: a plurality of flight control surfaces movably attached to said aircraft; a plurality of hydraulic actuators (1-18, 20, 21) coupled to a single flight control surface, said hydraulic actuators configured to position said single flight control surface; a first actuator assembly including a first of said plurality of hydraulic actuators; a first cylinder/piston assembly; and a first servo valve including means for selecting a direction of operation of said first cylinder/piston assembly; a second actuator assembly including a second of said plurality of hydraulic actuators; a second cylinder/piston assembly; and a second servo valve including means for selecting a direction of operation of said second cylinder/piston assembly; a first central pressure means for providing hydraulic fluid under high pressure to said first hydraulic actuator; a second central pressure means for providing hydraulic fluid under high pressure to said second hydraulic actuator; a local pump unit coupled to said first hydraulic actuator, the local pump unit including a one-way pressure pump for providing hydraulic fluid under high pressure to said first hydraulic actuator, a connection to the first central pressure means for providing hydraulic fluid under high pressure to said actuator, and a motor for driving said pump, the first servo valve being connectable to receive fluid under pressure from said one-way pressure pump and from the first central pressure means; and means for detecting a reduction in operational hydraulic pressure provided by said first central pressure means; wherein the first hydraulic actuator has the local pump unit connected thereto; and the second hydraulic actuator does not have a local pump unit connected thereto. a plurality of flight control surfaces movably attached to said aircraft; a plurality of hydraulic actuators (1-18, 20, 21) coupled to a single flight control surface, said hydraulic actuators configured to position said single flight control surface; a first actuator assembly including a first of said plurality of hydraulic actuators; a first cylinder/piston assembly; and a first servo valve including means for selecting a direction of operation of said first cylinder/piston assembly; a second actuator assembly including a second of said plurality of hydraulic actuators; a second cylinder/piston assembly; and a second servo valve including means for selecting a direction of operation of said second cylinder/piston assembly; a first central pressure means for providing hydraulic fluid under high pressure to said first hydraulic actuator; a second central pressure means for providing hydraulic fluid under high pressure to said second hydraulic actuator; a local pump unit coupled to said first hydraulic actuator, the local pump unit including a one-way pressure pump for providing hydraulic fluid under high pressure to said first hydraulic actuator, a connection to the first central pressure means for providing hydraulic fluid under high pressure to said actuator, and a motor for driving said pump, the first servo valve being connectable to receive fluid under pressure from said one-way pressure pump and from the first central pressure means; and means for detecting a reduction in operational hydraulic pressure provided by said first central pressure means; wherein the first hydraulic actuator has the local pump unit connected thereto; and the second hydraulic actuator does not have a local pump unit connected thereto.