Well done,
mustpost!
It is, indeed, the American Eagle E-340. You have control!
I, too, would like to know what that "handle" is as well as the history of N284N, the American Eagle registered to a gentleman named Clyde Wagner in Ohio, USA.
Glenn
One thought about the "handle." The A-340 was the prototype (with a different engine) and it is listed as having folding wings. I assume the re-engined and re-named E-340 also had folding wings.
Offhand, I cannot visualize the locking mechanism, but I suppose it is possible that "handle" both locked the wing front spars into place and showed the pilot obvious proof of such locking. But that's only a guess.