Hi Ian,
Canberra yokes are quite fun! Referring back to the link you posted and AM’s original queries in that post, the ‘plain – straight/upright’ horned yokes were indeed the most common style fitted to most mark of Canberra with minor switch variations. The style with the inward inclined horns, were used on the T4’s – there are slight variations with them too and they are about an inch or so narrower than the bomber yoke. T4 Aircraft assigned to the Interdictor squadrons had a ‘Field modification’ to remove part of the right hand handle (left hand on the instructors yoke) and fit a switch assembly atop similar to the AC14292 grip top.
However, the changes to the original ‘Bomber’ yoke came about from the Canberra’s low level Interdictor role; hence the ‘AC14292’ general purpose interdictor grip with more switch functions being fitted to what appears to be three quarters of a T4 yoke! These yokes came with both a plastic covering and a plain non-covered/painted style and used with the B(I)8, B(I)12 and B(I)58 respectively. (I think the plain plastic covering was used in earlier examples/fitment, my pilots notes for the B(I)8 show a plain example, certainly not covered with the ‘Dunlop’ crinkle finish but, I may be wrong and open to ridicule and humiliation where appropriate).
The other two pictures AM shows, are for the last/late style ‘new improved ergonomically crafted’ Bomber/Interdictor/Strike yoke as fitted originally on the B15 and B16, these being the last bomber variants (RAF) and therefore demonstrate a leap forward in pilot comfort and design. With the demise of the Canberra Strike Force a number of B15’s were converted to E15 and therefore the original yoke utilised. The difference in switches on the column in AM’s pictures again may be down to the re-role of B15 to E15 (?).
This style of yoke was also used on the B(I)6 which, was the interim interdictor version before the full introduction of the B(I)8 into RAF service. Not sure why it wasn’t used for the ‘8’ though! Then came the PR9 yoke and exports varients which used variations of the above!
Fellow forumite FMk6John has some cracking photos of the yoke/column of B(I)8 (mod) WV787 at Newark and there are a couple of grainy shots of WT346’s column, (sadly for us at this end of the globe, is now in New Zealand), on the late Les Bywaters ‘Canberra’ website, both illustrate the plastic covering to the 8’s yoke.
Martyn,
GYD
Your Neptune yoke looks lovely, Swifter, although we’re not supposed to advertise on the forum! Fly.Buy, I have the same problem as you but never looked hard enough to solve it. I think the loose yokes we got are wrong for a B(1)8, looking at the images here, and a couple at jumbles, the yoke should have the Dunlop crinkle finish rather than the strange un removable preservative on ours. This gives a better idea: http://forum.keypublishing.com/showthread.php?79892-Questions-for-the-Canberra-experts
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