American Stick Grips

Hi Phil,

Good to hear from you again!

As mentioned above, as far as I am aware, the Skyraider was originally fitted with the shorter NAF1173- ‘3’ style grip and then it was replaced with a more ergonomic modern ‘Mason’ made grip during it’s later use.  Problems arrise when people get hold of these items with no clue and rely on the previous vendor’s sales pitch for provenance!  

My thoughts would be, that it would have probably been fitted/used on a rotary wing or, primary training aircraft, as the trigger is often used for the radio/comms switch with no need for additional stores/function buttons.  I have no idea what the ‘BAC’ serial relates to but, it is interesting to note that it is an ‘official’ stamp rather than a field etched number.  I have attached a picture of my A-1 column and ‘Mason’ grip fitted to it.  (A similar grip was also fitted to th F-4D Skyray)

Still, unique, good catch!

Martyn

GYD

Hi GYD,

Sorry to resurrect such an old thread, but this seemed the best option – I’m trying to ID a stick grip, as shown in the photos below. It’s clearly, by your info above, an NAF 1173-1, and it has the etched ID of BAC-S30V-?. The ID doesn’t bring anything up on google except a reference to a NAF 1173-3. On the side of the grip you can just make out ‘NAF‘, but nothing more…

It was sold to me a number of years ago as a A-1 Skyraider, but I can’t find any cockpit photos which have a -1 stick, they all seem to be -3. 

Do you have any good info in your memory banks?

Cheers,

Phil

(ex-Tonkenna on the favourite stick thread)

Hi FP,

The NAF (Naval Aircraft Factory) 1173 appears in several variations, the -1, -2 or-3 suffix. The suffix number represents the number of functions the handle supports, i.e. 1173-1 trigger only, 1173-2 trigger and ‘bomb’ button and 1173-3 trigger, bomb and (usually) rockets from a side operated switch. The design you have, is the ‘longer’ version that was used on mainly post WWII aircraft, helicopters, armoured fighting vehicles and others, including submarines! Most U.S. Navy fighting aircraft used this grip for a time but, it was a cut down version, about an inch shorter than your example. Why? I have no idea. The amount of these grips that appear on that well known auction site, stating they are from a Corsair, wildcat, Hellcat etc are disingenuous to say the least. However, the age of the grip can usually be determined by the colour of the trigger/bomb switch. Dull brick red = old, bright blood red = new. The style of wiring will also indicate age, braided insulation = old, PVC new. Additionally a true and genuine F-4U Corsair will have a ‘VS’ part number rather than a NAF one but, (short) NAF 1173’s’ were also used too, especially when the later rocket armed aircraft appeared after WWII.

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GYD

P.S. Ian, I’ve blagged your pictures!

Hi AA,

I have an NAF 1173-1 grip, it has both the trigger and bomb buttons, I have also seen many 1173-1 grips with both buttons. Maybe 1173-1 grips were upgraded when F4F Wildcats started carrying bombs?

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Hi Aviation Artist, if you are interested in this area you will find some more info on grips and photos here :

https://forum.keypublishing.com/showthread.php?121888-Your-Favourite-Control-Column-Stick-Yoke-Grip!

Hello Martyn,

Thank you for your really comprehensive reply! I have spent a little time looking on the Web for details, and was surprised that I hadn’t come across a site dedicated to the subject…or perhaps I have been looking badly. Anyway, many thanks, Dad was USAF so it’s a subject I’ve always been interested in.

Hi AA,

Indeed, there are quite a few companies that manufacture these control handles. Probably the most prolific is ‘Guardian Electric’ however both Mason and Bendix make the B7, B8-A and MC-2 too (as well as the more modern HOTAS styles now seen on the F-15, Harrier and F-18 etc). On contacting Guardian to enquire about the grips some time ago, they say there is no physical difference between the B-8 and the MC-2, just the designation and part number 50C 4719 and 56C 3002 respectively. There does not seem to be any apparent ‘rule’ as to what is fitted to the various types of aircraft although, from what I have seen, most of the US Air Force ‘fighter’ style complete and as removed control sticks that I have in my collection, tend to have an MC-2 and the trainer/second line aircraft and Helicopters the B8/B8A. But as I said, I haven’t seen any specific documentation to confirm my thoughts regarding this.

The US Navy, unlike the US Air Force seemed to develop an individual style grip for the aircraft type for quite a while (F8, F14, FJ-3 & FJ-4, Vigilante etc), but, there are of course many US Naval aircraft sporting the B8 style grip too. When this is the case, the handles generally tend to be of the style with no ‘Amphenol’ connector and the grip ‘slotted’ straight onto the column. However, like all things there are exceptions out there (F9 Panther/Cougar spring to mind)!

The earlier WWII naval aircraft seemed to use a ‘standard’ style grip made by the Naval Aircraft Factory (NAF) with a designation NAF 1173-1, NAF 1173-2 or NAF 1173-3. This last digit denoting the number of switch functions on the grip. These also came in two sizes or heights. The most common seen is the larger of the two, (often seen on e-bay etc advertised as FU-4 Corsair whereas, they were fitted with the shorter style grip made by Vought and therefore having a ‘VS’ part number). The FU-4 were also seen with the shorter NAF variant as well. As the early jets entered Naval service, many were fitted with a short style grip similar to the B-7 but, manufactured by the Mason Electric Corporation.

Hope that helps?

Martyn

GYD