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
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