Stick and Throttle

This section covers basic controls of the stick and throttle, for more in depth controls visit the respective system's section.

Stick

The flight stick is mechanically connected to the aircraft's hydraulic systems for the aileron and horizontal stabilizer hydraulic actuators.

replace image

  1. Damper Emergency Disconnect Switch Lever
  2. Nose Wheel Steering Button
  3. Trigger
  4. Radar Reject Button
  5. Pickle Button
  6. Trim Hat

Note

Hide the flight stick by clicking the base.

Trim Hat

Actuates the lateral and longitudinal trim servos.

Nose Wheel Steering

The nose wheel steering button is located near your pinky finger on the flight stick. Pressing the button engages the nose wheel steering drops the mechanical link into the nose wheel assembly. Pressing it again disengages the system.

Caution

If the nose wheel is not currently aligned with the mechanical linkage, move the linkage to the current nose wheel rotation by applying the rudder pedals in the desired direction until the system connects.

Trigger and Bomb Button

The trigger and bomb buttons are used to release weapons. Specifically, the triggers used for air-to-air missiles and guns and the bomb button is used to release air-to-ground ordnance.

Note

The trigger two stages. The first stage activates the Gun Camera. The second stage fires armed guns.

Throttle

Mechanically controls fuel flow to the engine. The engine fuel control system then delivers and regulates fuel.

replace image

  1. Throttle Friction Lever
  2. Speed Brake Switch
  3. Sight Electrical Caging Button and LABS Vertical Gyro Caging Button
  4. Microphone Button

Throttle Friction Lever

Adjusts how much friction the throttle has. Moving the lever forward increases the friction on the throttle.

Speed Brake Switch

Actuates the speed brake. It has 3 positions:

Selection Description
OUT Deploys the speed brake.
OFF Stops all movement of the speed brake.
IN Retracts the speed brake.

Sight Electrical Caging Button and LABS Vertical Gyro Caging Button

Press to stabilize the sight gyro reticle on the A-4 Gunsight image by caging the sight gyros. This button also serves as the LABS vertical gyro caging button.

Microphone Button

The microphone button is a push-to-talk actuation that broadcasts input from the headset microphone using the aircraft's radio transmitter.