This just showed up on Ebay-US — A very nice B-47 control wheel. Item # 172410168966. Based on my experience bidding on the last B47 wheel on ebay about three years ago (reserve not met), I’m guessing this one will go quite high. Here’s your chance at obtaining one of the key (and rare) control wheels in this hobby.

Hi all:

Late yesterday a wheel column (obviously DeHaviland) showed up on Ebay a fairly low BIN price. Did some quick online research and I came away thinking it’s out of Dove or Heron. It no longer has the correct (rotary) R/T switch. Looking for verification on which DeHaviland aircraft this wheel most likely came from. Thanks for your help…..as always.

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Yes, I did buy it.

As promised! To to complement my Canberra yoke collection, an ex-RAF Hercules co-pilot yoke. According to the details supplied from XV302 an aircraft I have actually flown on! …….. And following a random foray on e-bay.de found this Noratlas yoke. too good to miss.
Martyn

A fine pair of acquisitions Martyn. That’s an interesting trim switch setup on the Herc yoke. Not standard for US aircraft, but perhaps for the British. The Noratlas is definitely on my “want” list.

Nick
“Swifter”

Hi all:

It has been awhile since any activity on this thread.

I’m going back to post #1119 in which WyvernFan asked: “So would I be right in thinking that the B-50 yoke was basically the same as the B-29 yoke but with different engraving?” And I responded with the following:

I think it’s (probably) accurate to say the B-50 yoke was the same as the late production B-29 yoke and C/KC97 yoke, but with different engraving. All B50 yokes would have at least one of the two back-side pads drilled/reamed for a switch. The photo you chose illustrates that well Wyvernfan.
Swifter

I’m able to more accurately respond to the question since, by good fortune, I’ve recently acquired a very nice Boeing B-50 yoke. The surprise was that the B-50 yoke does not have the switch “pads” in back, that the C/KC-97 yokes had. Given that circumstance, it’s indeed more like the early B-29 yoke….except for the engraving for the switches.

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I already had the correct cap and C-1 switch. A quick mod to another C-1 switch allowed me to produce the refuel disconnect. The machined caps on the MIC and INTERphone switches are incorrect. I think the originals were made of rubber.

Anyway….I learned something new about old Boeing yokes. Cool !!

The T8P-1 was a low volume production (11 airframes) and I can’t help but feel that this wheel comes straight out of a A.H.R. catalogue in the 1930’s and may have been selected for use in other types. But which ones?[/I]

Air Ministry: I’ve wondered about that droopy (highly technical term there) yoke design too. I call it “droopy” due to the 6 o’clock spoke being longer than the 10 and 2 spokes. My research also led me to the Barkley aircraft…which I had not heard of previously. That droopy wheel was not the usual factory installation in the DC3; nor in the Lockheed 10, 12, 14 or 18; nor in the Beech 18; nor in the Grummans of the period. None of the Boeings used it. Nor did the pre-war Fairchilds. What’s left? Damned if I know. It’s entirely plausible though, that this yoke/wheel design may have found its way into the cockpit of various aircraft over their operational lives.

Like you, I would be interested in hearing from others who may have knowledge on whether this yoke originally associated with a specific aircraft.

Swifter

Is there anyway of telling the difference between a B17 yoke and a b29 yoke? I’ve been advised a stamped V on the casting points towards a B17 but otherwise they could be from either type.

RedHillWings; a stamped V on the hub of the yoke indicates it mounted to a B17 manufactured under licence by Lockheed’s Vega division. B17s were also made under license by Douglas Aircraft. But no unique stamping on them allowing their identification separate from B17s made in Seattle. B-29s were produced under license by Martin aircraft in Omaha Nebraska and by Bell Aircraft in Atlanta, Georgia. I’m unaware of any unique stampings in the hub of those yokes that would make them stand out from B29s made in Seattle. B17s and B29s made under license were often (if not always) delivered with plastic caps that identified the manufacturer though. For example: The Lockheed B-17 cap:

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But there’s no way to prove caps and yokes stayed together though.

Swifter

I guess this could also possibly be a B17 yoke with a b29 cap? As far as I know they were the same yoke….

Your supposition could certainly be right RedHillWings. But, I have found it’s likely that some late production B29s may have been delivered with the same yoke that later was used on the C/KC97. Attached photos are of a yoke that sold on Ebay a couple of years ago. The seller personally removed it from the B29 hulk in the photo. It’s the only one I’ve ever encountered that had the C/KC97 type mounting pads on the backside, undrilled (for switches), and with no autopilot switch mounted in either stalk. Since no autopilot switch (with wiring routed through the yoke) was mounted, it also doesn’t have AUTOPILOT engraved on the front of the yoke, horizontally on the crossbar, on the right or left side, as the C/KC97s did. This yoke style, with the switch mounting pads on the top backside of the stalks, when used on C/KC-97s, would have had an autopilot switch installed on one of the pads in back.

The MICROPHONE engraving in the vertical is also common to the C/KC-97 yoke, not the B17. All F and G model B17s and the large majority of B29s were delivered with the yokes that had MICROPHONE engraved on the front of the yoke, horizontally on the crossbar, on the right or left side.
Bottom line: It’s probable that Boeing delivered some late production B29s with yokes that were not the same as used on B17s.

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Swifter