I found such a handle in the cockpit of an Antonov An-12 aircraft, but I don't know what it is used for.
1 Answer
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It is the ручка управления автопилотом also known as a autopilot control stick. The pilot uses it like a joystick to give inputs to adjust position that the autopilot is holding. It is kind of like the CWS mode (Control Wheel Steering) in Boeing planes.
The Antonov An-12 was equipped (depending on variant and production batch) with an electro-hydraulic autopilot АП-28Д1 (AP-28D1).
It's quite basic.
Using the control stick, the pilot could adjust the desired roll and pitch with a single lever, plus he could engage/disengage the autopilot by clicking the button on the top of the lever.
In this technical description, on page no. 69, it's called the кнопкой автопилота (autopilot button)
In this 360 degree video, the captain engages the autopilot using this button at 23:37 and then continues to make small inputs to adjust the pitch of the aircraft as it climbs out. The slight yoke movement induced by the adjustments is also visible in the video. The attitude of the plane changing can also be seen in the artificial horizon.
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1$\begingroup$ Very unusual placement, nice find and documented. $\endgroup$mins– mins2025-10-31 17:12:36 +00:00Commented 22 hours ago
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$\begingroup$ @mins, unusual but it looks very convenient, probably feels just like flying an Airbus $\endgroup$Aadiraj Anil– Aadiraj Anil2025-10-31 17:23:47 +00:00Commented 22 hours ago
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$\begingroup$ I also read in the document linked that, contrary to e.g. the collective handle of a rotorcraft, the stick can be relocated to the right seat armrest when the PIC changes. $\endgroup$mins– mins2025-10-31 17:57:11 +00:00Commented 22 hours ago
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$\begingroup$ Haven't found a single picture where it is on the right seat armrest, so likely it isn't very straightforward to change the side $\endgroup$Aadiraj Anil– Aadiraj Anil2025-10-31 18:06:31 +00:00Commented 21 hours ago
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$\begingroup$ @mins It looks to me like either is on an arm-rest and folds down as required $\endgroup$Peter M– Peter M2025-10-31 18:45:24 +00:00Commented 21 hours ago