Question About The Buccaneer Grip Switches And Engravings

Buccaneer grip question

Now I´ve got a second one.
More complete than my old one but I wonder, if it was restored by an collector or by Dunlop.
The painting looks like new but the switches are scratched as usual.
The rubber cover looks very shiny, maybe buffed?
What do you think?
The plate says AC63312
ISS. 2
NO.845
Any info available regarding these numbers?

Thanks and kind regards,
Herbert

[ATTACH=CONFIG]233377[/ATTACH]
[ATTACH=CONFIG]233375[/ATTACH]
[ATTACH=CONFIG]233376[/ATTACH]

Great, that makes it clear! Now I´m ready to fly the Bucc…

Yes they are two different functions. Instinctive cut-out turns off the auto-pilot and the auto-stabilisers whereas the auto-pilot disengage turns off the auto-pilot but not the auto-stabilisers.

Plazz

Thanks again!
Do I understand right, they do different things? The below weapon trigger is AP OFF and the instinctive one will prevent structual damage cutting out the AP in a specific manner?
Won´t make sense to have two switches doing the same, since the one below the weapon trigger is in easier reach than the thumb operated one.
Herbert

Disengage just manually turns the auto-pilot off. Instinctive cut-out is to prevent auto-pilot runaway which is why the switch is in easy reach. This is purely a safety feature to prevent structural damage to the airframe. There are also limit switches on the flying controls which do the same function.

Cheers, Plazz

Thanks a lot for these great infos.
So actually it says ACM 22579.
Hmm, what might be the difference between AP disengage and instinctive cut-out?
Kind regards,
Herbert

Lower switch is auto-pilot disengage. The round one above is auto-pilot instinctive cut-out.

Plazz

Possibly Press to Transmit ?

Hi Herbert,

I am not sure what the trigger below the weapons release is either, I’m sure it won’t be long before someone will enlighten us! However, the numbers you are referring to are on the underside of the grip I take it? They should read something like: ACM 22579, an issue number (ISS 3 for example), then the serial number of the grip itself then a drawing number (mine is 568). I am not sure when these numbers are/were applied in the grips life but, there should be a small elongated plate between those two screw holes at the base in your picture. These are different numbers but are added by the manufacturer of the grip and the most commonly used identification plate for collectors. (Buccaneer Mk 2 AC61540 and Buccaneer Mk1 AC62916, 27J 740). However, it is not uncommon for these numbers to vary between issues throughout service life and upgrading modification states. The Mk1 grip is totally different to the Mk2 being similar in style to your Javelin grip.

The two 27J numbers are ‘old and new’ NATO stock numbers for the grip. and are often painted onto the grip or indeed engraved by hand. 27J however is the NATO stores reference classification for ‘Handle, Aircraft Control’ All aircraft control grips certainly mid 60’s onward would be classified with that prefix in the stores system.
Just for info, if you see grips with a similar identification plate bearing the letters FV and five numbers, this refers to Fighting Vehicle and would be fitted to such, e.g. tank firing handles etc. I have seen grips marked as such advertised as ‘unknown aircraft control grip’ so take care!

B8 grips pop up all the time and range in price from £50 – £150 beware the ‘geniune F86’ ads though, they rarely are!!!

Regards,

Martyn

GYD