July 18, 2012 at 11:43 am
Chaps,
I’m still learning here, so be gentle with me 🙂
I thought I knew what a Javelin Stick top looked like. Here’s mine ( an AC 61050)
I’ve subsequently found out that there are quite a few stick tops for Javelins & during my searches have found that they all look the same ….. Until I found this on Flickr …..

The stick top looks more like a Hunter variant than a Javelin. The Flickr comment says it’s a scan from the MK4 pilots notes.
A 50 year old printed document may have mistakes in it, so I looked further… & found this => http://www.nationalcoldwarexhibition.org/explore/aircraft.cfm?aircraft=Gloster%20Javelin%20FAW1
Containing this picture ……
So, does anyone know any more about this type of Javelin Stick top ?
By: ian_ - 19th July 2012 at 12:04
I try and save ebay pics but they have changed the format and they don’t copy well, you just get a web address. I had a look last night but couldn’t find a saved pic sorry.
By: stevew62 - 19th July 2012 at 11:49
Hi Ian,
Thanks for the tip !
My AC61050 also has AC14323 ( Iss 7 ) stamped in the casting. So I guess AC14323 is just that, the casting number ?
Did you keep any details of the eBay auction ? I’d like to look at it if possible.
By: ian_ - 18th July 2012 at 18:55
Very nice grip Steve, I hope you got a good deal! There was a Mk4 (?) grip on t’ebay a while back, supported by a scan from the pilot’s notes to prove it wasn’t Hunter which was my first thought. It had nice yellow hazard stipes on one of the covers went for quite a bit. My much more battered grip has AC14323 on the casting and AC14284 on the label, it’s supposed to be from scrapped gate guardian XA801 and looks like it spent a good few years under a leaky hood. you found a lovely cockpit pic there.
By: Rocketeer - 18th July 2012 at 15:02
think its gone sadly (still have 980s!)
By: Arabella-Cox - 18th July 2012 at 12:39
AC12588, replaced by AC13642 in 1958. 😉
By: stevew62 - 18th July 2012 at 12:30
…. I had one of these grips where the brakelever mount had been removed and a stainless spacer plate fitted in its place. It always confused me! Now I know where it would have fitted. ….
Hi Tony, thanks for the reply.
“had” as in sold / swapped ?
Did you keep a record of the AC number ( or any photos ) ? If not, can you remember where it went to ?
By: Rocketeer - 18th July 2012 at 11:56
Very interesting Steve. Not seen that type of grip on a Javelin before (it looks like the early type of Hunter grip that was revised (following A&AEE trials) due to trim switch ergonomics. I had one of these grips where the brakelever mount had been removed and a stainless spacer plate fitted in its place. It always confused me! Now I know where it would have fitted. I have thew complete column fro XH980 and the grip is like yours!