No,

That’s on the throttle handles, I think it may be something to do with the auto pilot or, feel cut off, my pilot’s notes are buried in the garage somewhere!

GYD

Hi JDH,

Yes, the safe/fire switch should move back and forth, just spray a little WD-40 (or any other reputable water dispersent anti seize product widely available on the open market!) and leave it for a few hours. You can also spray the whole grip with said product then wipe off, this will clean and bring it to life. Avoid any abrasive cleaning if you can.

I will dig out my pilot’s notes to remind me what the buttons are for but, the trigger is obviously stores release, the top centre button is ‘Auto throttle clutch switch’ and I can’t remember what the front paddle switch is for?

Martyn

GYD

Indeed, AC14362 Section Ref 27J 453 – Sea Vixen

You should see the size of the whole column assembly!

[ATTACH=CONFIG]259522[/ATTACH]

GYD

Howard,

I presume that the entry tickets sent out for the 3rd March will be utilised as legitimate entry for the re-arranged date then?

Martyn

GYD

My latest Soviet control column arrived today, ex-East German NVA Mig 21 Bis.

[ATTACH=CONFIG]258758[/ATTACH] [ATTACH=CONFIG]258759[/ATTACH]

GYD

Hi visotka1,

How very interesting, I look forward to hearing from you later!

GYD

As there seems to be an obvious Soviet theme to recent posts, here are my latest acquisitions, long sought after one must say!

[ATTACH=CONFIG]258482[/ATTACH]
[ATTACH=CONFIG]258483[/ATTACH]
[ATTACH=CONFIG]258484[/ATTACH]
[ATTACH=CONFIG]258485[/ATTACH]

First pair, Mig 23 and Mig 27 gosh! So many levers and hidden triggers and so different given the basic design of the aircraft! The singleton was offered as a Mig 19 but, looking at numerous web pictures it is more likely to be a Mig 21 F-13 – still quite rare I suppose?

GYD

Hi Grip1,

Welcome to the forum and complements of the season to you too!

As Anon previously mentioned, this is indeed a ‘B-8/B-8A’ or, MC-2 Aircraft, handle control. It is a development of the B-5, B-6 and B-7 handles used throughout the changing needs of US Air Force aircraft since the mid 1930’s. Your grip is an early example identified by the ‘domed’ style switches and the early (green) type trim switch. This style of trim switch is also encountered on some B-7 grips too. As for the green colour? I have no idea, does it appear as a ‘Factory’ finish or something perhaps painted by someone to smarten it up? Generally speaking, they usually appear either black or grey. I have not encountered a green one! This type of switch soon gave way to the ‘coolie-hat’ style more associated with this grip.

There are quite a few manufacturers of this style of grip, the most prolific being the ‘Guardian Electric Company’ (these are identified by a small shield stamped on the top of the grip with a capital ‘G’ inset), Mason and Bendix are the other main ones. Unfortunately, it is not possible to place a particular grip with a specific aircraft, unless of course you know where and who removed it! Even after directly speaking with Guardian and using serial numbers, there is no record of use after leaving the factory. These grips were used on an awful lot of aircraft (including non-indigenous US types), although, there are some minor changes to the grip’s development/use that were only used on certain aircraft. This can come in the form of the wrist support being removed or shortened, the Amphenol connector being of a certain design or specific use of different switch gear. Generally speaking, if it has the ‘Amphenol’ pin type connector (as in your example), it would be fitted to a ‘fixed wing’ aircraft and if it has no ‘pin’ connector and fits directly onto the column it is from a rotary wing aircraft but, like everything, this does not mean that is a hard and fast rule!!!
A lot of the B-8 grips fitted to helicopters can be found with the type identification as part of their part numbering, eg 209-001-059-1, the 209 depicting the Bell type 209 ‘Cobra’. It certainly would be great if that were the case for the fixed wing types!

However, my personal suggestion for your grips ‘likely’ use would be something like the P/F-80 or F-84 or similar vintage first generation jet.

Hope that is of some help?

Kind regards,

GYD