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

Nice one flatter99, good to see you back!

Any history with your latest post?

GYD

Hi AM,

Nice to see you back!  

On looking at the small picture of the wheel, I instantly thought of Walrus/Sea Otter; as it bears an uncanny resemblance (from memory) of the ‘cut away’ Walrus in the museum at Yeovilton.  Then I opened each picture in full to see the brochure picture mention sea planes, spooky!

GYD

Hi Nicko, the seat in your picture looks like a mk4, the Mk4P is fitted to the Jet Provost which would match the fact it has ‘port seat’ labelled on the head box.  However, looking at my copy of AP129 the following aircraft were fitted with the Mk. 2 seat:

Wyvern Mk. 2B 

Sea Hawk Mk. 2D

Meteor Mk. 2E

Venom Mk. 2F

Swift Mk. 2G

Hunter Mk. 2H

Javelin (aircraft mks 1-6) Mk. 2J.

The Swift, Hunter and Javelins were also later fitted with variations of the Mk. 3 seat too.

Regards,

Martyn

GYD

Nae worries : )

GYD

Hi MJ627,

Looking at the F731’s I have for these two handles the AC66826 fitted to ZA596 has the two upper most buttons fitted and the mid handle switch blanked off.  It was removed for modifications 1795 and 883 to be embodied in April 1998.

The ACA1638 from ZD746 has the upper button blanked off and the mid handle switch in place.  This was removed in July 2002 but it is issued with a ‘Serviceable’ F731 with no reason for removal, perhaps during a ‘spares recovery’ pending modification to GR4?  

I also had an AC1640 handle from ZA357 GR1(T), which had the top and mid handle buttons blanked off so, I presumed that this would be the ‘rear’ instructors column handle but, I sold it and a column at Newark last year!

Hope that helps??

GYD