Hi Visotka1,

I very much echo Runway06’s response.

Your input to this thread has been well appreciated and I for one have welcomed the information that you have been able to give me on ex-Soviet control handles however, do have a little patience; for not everyone can respond to each post the moment it has been listed!

I am sure that everyone who has contributed to this thread has learnt a great deal from the knowledge of others, I know that I have and I look forward to more content in the future so, I do hope that you will continue to post your really impressive restorations!

However, if I was to offer any criticism and it is only my opinion, ‘if it ain’t broke don’t fix it’.

Your last post showed a lovely ‘used’ as removed grip with no obvious signs of damage or need to repair. I personally, would have left it like that however, every collector has their own agenda and you are perfectly within your rights to do as you wish and, the finished product is to a very high standard so, congratulations, well done. How or where do you get your paint matches from?

This is a hobby with relatively few participants but, there seems to be a wider interested audience so, please keep the topic going and share the knowledge!

GYD

Hi Brightspark 180,

Indeed, they do present the ‘elements’ of the last incarnation of the B(I)8 yoke, i.e, the single left hand yoke main body and the Dunlop AC 14292 right hand grip handle but, the ‘waxy’ dry covering evident on the of the yoke body and lack of a fitted cover/top onto the left hand ‘horn’ would suggest it is one of very many surplus yokes, (I too have one exactly the same!!!) being fitted with the later right hand grip and sold as such.

But, yes, it was fitted to that marque and certainly you can call it a B(I)8/12/58 wheel. However, the earlier original ‘RAF’ yoke bodies were plastic coated like many of the early Canberra family but, no doubt these may well have been replaced with the ‘un-coated’ style yoke that you/we both have, during modification or, attrition replacement.

The right hand handle, can be encountered at many different angles of orientation. This is due to the fact the holes to fix the handle are drilled by the Technicians and what they interpreted to be ‘comfortable’ may well have differed from the aircrew’s perception of comfort and functionality, regardless to what the modification instructions stated!

GYD

Hi Brightspark 180,

Yes, it is indeed a Hunter grip. It was the third in a line of at least 19 successive Dunlop handles to be fitted to the Hunter, replacing the AC12590. It too was then later replaced by the AC61044 in most applications.

The AC14728 handle was used on the F4, F5, F6, T7, T8, FGA9, FR10, F50, F51, T53, F56, F57, F58, F59, T62, T60, T66B, T66C, T67 & T69.

The important numbers on any Dunlop handle will be on the little data plate. Most Dunlop handles will be of a ‘generic’ cast body and each modification/upgrade indicated by this data plate rather than the casting number on the handle itself, hence the similarities between the handles.

There are however, a couple of Dunlop handles that were only fitted to one particular mark of Hunter. The AC14264, AC61316, AC61860 and the AC63308 were only used on the F58. The AC63494 & AC63682 were only ever used on the FGA9 although, other handles were also fitted across the fleet of the time, including the FGA9 and F58.

GYD

Ian,

Certainly, trawling through many google pix of said aircraft, the articulated column seems to be predominately used on Hawker twin seaters but, the ‘Synchronising Gear Control Handle No. 2 type A’ to give it it’s official title, is much like a 1930’s variation of the US ‘B-8’ and used on just about everything at that time!
[ATTACH=JSON]{“data-align”:”none”,”data-size”:”full”,”title”:”WP_20181005_007.jpg”,”data-attachmentid”:3856760}[/ATTACH]My example is from a Westland Wallace and also being a twin seat aircraft although, it had the less complex ‘pole’ style control column, akin to the Hawker single seaters. Regardless, it is probably the most elegant of Dunlop ‘Ring Handles’ although others may disagree!

GYD

Brightspark180,

Indeed, your latest addition is from a Sea Vixen, nice acquisition!

GYD

Hi TempestV,

The AC 1400 was indeed fitted to the F8 Meteor and the FB1 & FB4 Venom. It was also fitted to a few other early (mostly) jet aircraft, including the Supermarine Attacker, Firebrand, Wyvern, the early T11 Vampire (and most export Vampire trainers) and the NF10 Vampire, possibly more?

However, the handle has two guises. One with plain buttons and one with the letters C & M on them. The plain ones are fitted to the single seat aircraft and the ‘C & M’ buttoned ones fitted to multi-crew aircraft. It was probably the first ‘universal’ straight handle that Dunlop produced to be fitted to aircraft using ejection seats. However, some of the aircraft previously mentioned subsequently changed to the AC 10300 handle.

Indecently, AP 4343X states that the AC 1400 handle is exactly the same as the AC 10800 except, for the words ‘RP & Bombs’ etched on the top cover of the AC 10800 and the cover of the AC 1400 is plain.

GYD

Looking at the original pictures of the column, it strikes me that the brake lever seems to be more suited to a ‘left hand’ use. That in itself is unusual, n’est pas?

GYD