B-8 stick grip buttons

[B2431]

What are the middle and lower buttons on the B-8 stick grip used for?
I used to know, but senility seems to have set in.

Dan, U. S. Air Force, retired

[Paul Hirose]

B2431 wrote:
>
> What are the middle and lower buttons on the B-8 stick grip used for?

Stick grip button functions depend on the plane. The B-2 bomber has
B-8 stick grips but doesn't use the angled button on the left side.
The "pinkie switch" at the bottom front of the grip, when held in,
activates high gain nosewheel steering for making sharp turns at low
speed.

In flight it does something else. A momentary press interrupts the
autopilot roll axis. The autopilot remains coupled in roll, but only
in stick-steering mode. (I.e., left/right movement of the stick
controls bank angle. When you center the stick the autopilot maintains
that bank angle.) Pressing the button again restores roll guidance,
e.g., the autopilot tracks an ILS localizer beam or TACAN radial.


The F-5E used the side button on the stick as a "dogfight switch". The
pinkie switch activated nosewheel steering on the ground. In the air,
it was a microphone switch to supplement the one on the throttle.

I think the F-86D controlled its nosewheel steering the same way, but
the side button keyed the radio.


I once looked into getting a B-8 grip to mount on a plaque for a
maintenance troop who was retiring. Occasionally the grips do fail and
have to be replaced. But unfortunately, they aren't throwaway items,
at least the ones on the B-2 bomber. When you get a new one from
Supply, you have to give them the bad one, or there will be hell to
pay. More specifically, about $4400.

--

Paul Hirose >
To reply by email delete INVALID from address.

[B2431]

>From: Paul Hirose

>B2431 wrote:
>>
>> What are the middle and lower buttons on the B-8 stick grip used for?
>
>Stick grip button functions depend on the plane. The B-2 bomber has
>B-8 stick grips but doesn't use the angled button on the left side.
>The "pinkie switch" at the bottom front of the grip, when held in,
>activates high gain nosewheel steering for making sharp turns at low
>speed.
>
>In flight it does something else. A momentary press interrupts the
>autopilot roll axis. The autopilot remains coupled in roll, but only
>in stick-steering mode. (I.e., left/right movement of the stick
>controls bank angle. When you center the stick the autopilot maintains
>that bank angle.) Pressing the button again restores roll guidance,
>e.g., the autopilot tracks an ILS localizer beam or TACAN radial.
>
>
>The F-5E used the side button on the stick as a "dogfight switch". The
>pinkie switch activated nosewheel steering on the ground. In the air,
>it was a microphone switch to supplement the one on the throttle.
>
>I think the F-86D controlled its nosewheel steering the same way, but
>the side button keyed the radio.
>
>
>I once looked into getting a B-8 grip to mount on a plaque for a
>maintenance troop who was retiring. Occasionally the grips do fail and
>have to be replaced. But unfortunately, they aren't throwaway items,
>at least the ones on the B-2 bomber. When you get a new one from
>Supply, you have to give them the bad one, or there will be hell to
>pay. More specifically, about $4400.
>
>--
>
>Paul Hirose
>

They are available for a couple hundred dollars on e-bay. The reason for having
to turn them in was they were high pilferage items like the 8 day clocks (also
available on e-bay).

On the F-4E I think the pinkie switch was for nose wheel steering IIRC.

I have seen stick grips with the switch labels engraved. For the life of me I
can't recall which ones though. I'm tempted to say the F-80 was one.

Dan, U.S. Air Force, retired

[Dweezil Dwarftosser]

B2431 wrote:
>

> On the F-4E I think the pinkie switch was for nose wheel steering IIRC.

Yes. (Heat Mx)Cool Start/IFR door halfway down on the left.

[B2431]

>From: Dweezil Dwarftosser
>Date: 12/16/2003 3:35 AM Central Standard Time
>Message-id: >
>
>B2431 wrote:
>>
>
>> On the F-4E I think the pinkie switch was for nose wheel steering IIRC.
>
>Yes. (Heat Mx)Cool Start/IFR door halfway down on the left.
>
Terrific, thanks.

Dan, U. S. Air Force, retired