F-18 Wing Fold Lever Action - Is the lever supposed to lock/stow in the 'folded' position?

[obious]

Hi All,

Pretty simple question regarding the wing fold lever and mechanism. When folding the wings, the lever must be unlocked (from the spread position) by pulling it towards the pilot, rotating ~90 degress counter-clockwise and pushing/stowing the lever to lock the wings in the folded position.

Well, I've been trying to get the lever to lock in the folded position but for the life of me, the lever in-game won't go 'down'/into the stow position, is this correct as per real-world behaviour or does the lever not lock when the wings are folded?

Thanks 

[norman99]

The simple answer is no, there is no push to ‘lock’ the wings in the folded position.

For everything you could ever want to know about the wing fold handle here’s the relevant NATOPS manual page.

Edited January 15, 2022 by norman99

[obious]

Perfect, thanks! 

[F18mech]

If you push on the handle it will apply pressure to the cable that will wedge the wingfold barrel in the groove while the sungears on the wingfold transmission rotate. (Real time).  I've unstuck a few on the boat and on shore.....

[BuzzU]

All these years i've always waited until the wings were unfolded before locking them. I'd see guys lock them way before the wings were down and I thought that was wrong.

I see from that page for the NATOPS manual I was right. Do it right or damage the wings!