Originally Posted by
Jayviator
So its not the pilots control?
:-(
It is a Tornado Pilot flying control sticktop. If it is from a rear cockpit, it would be from a Trainer version that had control stick and throttles in both cockpit positions, the normal Strike version had only a Nav hand controller for Nav/Attack system inputs in the rear position, roughly where the "stick" was in a trainer version.
The blank at the top left, to left of the rectangular trim button, was, if I recall correctly, where the the Autopilot engage/disengage button was originally, the same type as the small silver coloured ones further down on the LHS. However, that little silver button on the top left could get caught in the anti-G trousers during a full left deflection of the control stick. I believe this may have been responsible for fatal accidents. The switch was relocated and the blank fitted to prevent snagging.
OAP