diff --git a/content/CONTROLS.MAP b/content/CONTROLS.MAP
index 1f8dd4e..31c847a 100644
--- a/content/CONTROLS.MAP
+++ b/content/CONTROLS.MAP
@@ -46,7 +46,8 @@
 # ---- WASD CLASSIC (the shipped default) ----------------------------------
 
 # Driving: W/S sweep the throttle lever (sticks, detent at zero); A/D are
-# the turn pedals (spring back); Q/E twist the torso; X = all stop.
+# the turn pedals (spring back); Q/E twist the torso; R/F aim the torso
+# up/down (elevation); X = all stop (recenters twist AND pitch).
 key W     axis Throttle rate 0.7
 key S     axis Throttle rate -0.7
 key Up    axis Throttle rate 0.7
@@ -57,6 +58,8 @@ key Left  axis LeftPedal deflect 1
 key Right axis RightPedal deflect 1
 key Q     axis JoystickX deflect -1
 key E     axis JoystickX deflect 1
+key R     axis JoystickY deflect 1
+key F     axis JoystickY deflect -1
 key X     action AllStop
 
 # Fire: the pod joystick's four buttons.
@@ -83,6 +86,7 @@ key F9    action Reconnect
 # Left stick steers (the pedals), right stick twists the torso and pushes
 # the throttle lever; triggers fire.
 padaxis LeftStickX   axis Pedals deadzone 0.24
+padaxis LeftStickY   axis JoystickY deadzone 0.24
 padaxis RightStickX  axis JoystickX deadzone 0.24
 padaxis RightStickY  axis Throttle rate 0.75 deadzone 0.24
 pad RightTrigger  button 0x40  # Main
diff --git a/content/CONTROLS_NUMPAD.MAP b/content/CONTROLS_NUMPAD.MAP
index d57f513..852336a 100644
--- a/content/CONTROLS_NUMPAD.MAP
+++ b/content/CONTROLS_NUMPAD.MAP
@@ -21,6 +21,8 @@ key NumPad4 axis LeftPedal deflect 1     # turn left
 key NumPad6 axis RightPedal deflect 1    # turn right
 key NumPad7 axis JoystickX deflect -1    # torso twist left
 key NumPad9 axis JoystickX deflect 1     # torso twist right
+key Home    axis JoystickY deflect 1     # torso aim up
+key End     axis JoystickY deflect -1    # torso aim down
 key NumPad5 action AllStop
 key Shift   axis Throttle rate 0.75      # throttle up (alt)
 key Ctrl    axis Throttle rate -0.75     # throttle down (alt)
@@ -82,6 +84,7 @@ key OemCloseBrackets button 0x30   # hotbox
 
 # ---- Xbox controller (same as the default profile) ----------------------
 padaxis LeftStickX   axis Pedals deadzone 0.24
+padaxis LeftStickY   axis JoystickY deadzone 0.24
 padaxis RightStickX  axis JoystickX deadzone 0.24
 padaxis RightStickY  axis Throttle rate 0.75 deadzone 0.24
 pad RightTrigger  button 0x40
diff --git a/context/pod-hardware.md b/context/pod-hardware.md
index a6ce28c..03c9dab 100644
--- a/context/pod-hardware.md
+++ b/context/pod-hardware.md
@@ -44,7 +44,10 @@ press = `buttonGroup[a].Update(a+1, modeMask)` (mask saved), release = `Update(-
 button <addr>|axis <axis> deflect|rate <n>|keypad pilot|external <0-15>|pckey <char>|action
 <name>`; `pad <button>` same targets; `padaxis <src> axis ... [invert] [deadzone d] [rate n]`.
 Axes: Throttle (lever, rate-walks + sticks), LeftPedal/RightPedal/Pedals (turn, springs),
-JoystickX (torso twist). Emissions mirror the RIO conventions above exactly; the four fire
+JoystickX (torso twist), **JoystickY (torso ELEVATION — pitch aim; every 1995 control mode
+routes it to Torso::SetAnalogElevationAxis; keys R/F + pad LeftStickY in the default map;
+verified to the authentic VerticalLimitTop clamp, 20° on the Blackhawk; aims the GUNS — reads
+on the HUD elevation tape, the eyepoint stays level)**. Emissions mirror the RIO conventions above exactly; the four fire
 buttons (0x40/45/46/47) publish as levels to the bring-up fire channels instead of buttonGroup
 (avoids double-fire once the streamed ChooseButton mappings are exercised). XInput loads
 dynamically (xinput1_4 → 9_1_0; disconnected-pad probing rate-limited to 1 Hz). **Keys claimed by
diff --git a/game/reconstructed/btinput.cpp b/game/reconstructed/btinput.cpp
index f14ca3a..0d502ac 100644
--- a/game/reconstructed/btinput.cpp
+++ b/game/reconstructed/btinput.cpp
@@ -47,7 +47,7 @@ enum BTAxisID
 	BTAxisRightPedal,
 	BTAxisPedals,			// signed convenience alias: + = right pedal
 	BTAxisJoystickX,		// the pod stick X = torso twist (Standard mode)
-	BTAxisJoystickY,		// parsed + tracked; no consumer yet
+	BTAxisJoystickY,		// the pod stick Y = torso ELEVATION (pitch aim)
 	BTAxisCount
 };
 
@@ -240,6 +240,8 @@ static const char *sDefaultProfile =
 	"key Right axis RightPedal deflect 1\n"
 	"key Q     axis JoystickX deflect -1\n"
 	"key E     axis JoystickX deflect 1\n"
+	"key R     axis JoystickY deflect 1\n"
+	"key F     axis JoystickY deflect -1\n"
 	"key X     action AllStop\n"
 	"key D1    button 0x40\n"
 	"key Space button 0x40\n"
@@ -258,6 +260,7 @@ static const char *sDefaultProfile =
 	"key F8    action Generator4\n"
 	"key F9    action Reconnect\n"
 	"padaxis LeftStickX   axis Pedals deadzone 0.24\n"
+	"padaxis LeftStickY   axis JoystickY deadzone 0.24\n"
 	"padaxis RightStickX  axis JoystickX deadzone 0.24\n"
 	"padaxis RightStickY  axis Throttle rate 0.75 deadzone 0.24\n"
 	"pad RightTrigger  button 0x40\n"
@@ -953,6 +956,14 @@ void
 	next.twistTarget = twist;
 	next.twistActive = axisActive[BTAxisJoystickX];
 	next.twistAbsolute = axisAbsolute[BTAxisJoystickX];
+	// stick Y = torso ELEVATION (pitch aim) -- every 1995 control mode routes
+	// it to Torso::SetAnalogElevationAxis (mechmppr InterpretControls)
+	float elev = axisDeflect[BTAxisJoystickY];
+	if (elev > 1.0f) elev = 1.0f;
+	if (elev < -1.0f) elev = -1.0f;
+	next.elevTarget = elev;
+	next.elevActive = axisActive[BTAxisJoystickY];
+	next.elevAbsolute = axisAbsolute[BTAxisJoystickY];
 	next.leverRate = axisRate[BTAxisThrottle];
 
 	gBTInput = next;
diff --git a/game/reconstructed/btinput.hpp b/game/reconstructed/btinput.hpp
index 818ec97..9698e6c 100644
--- a/game/reconstructed/btinput.hpp
+++ b/game/reconstructed/btinput.hpp
@@ -34,8 +34,11 @@ struct BTInputState
 	int		turnActive;			// any turn input held (else spring-center)
 	float	twistTarget;		// torso-twist deflection target [-1,1]
 	int		twistActive;
+	float	elevTarget;			// torso-elevation (pitch) target [-1,1]
+	int		elevActive;
 	int		turnAbsolute;		// pad stick overrides the integrator outright
 	int		twistAbsolute;
+	int		elevAbsolute;
 
 	// the four pod joystick fire buttons (levels)
 	int		fireTrigger;		// 0x40 Main
diff --git a/game/reconstructed/mech4.cpp b/game/reconstructed/mech4.cpp
index 7d1178f..dd89d36 100644
--- a/game/reconstructed/mech4.cpp
+++ b/game/reconstructed/mech4.cpp
@@ -654,6 +654,8 @@ static int          gBTPinkyKey       = 0;	// key '4' = the pod's 4th fire butto
 int                 gBTModeCycle      = 0;	// 'M' edge: cycle the control mode (mapper consumes)
 int                 gBTLookBehind     = 0;	// 'V' held: the pod's rear-view button (task #68)
 float               gBTTwistAxis      = 0.0f;	// Q/E torso-twist deflection (assisted-mode stick X)
+float               gBTElevAxis       = 0.0f;	// R/F torso-elevation (pitch aim, stick Y)
+int                 gBTElevRecenter   = 0;		// X edge: zero the pitch axis
 int                 gBTTorsoRecenter  = 0;	// 'X' edge: pulse the authentic torso recenter (mapper consumes)
 static int          gBTConfigKey      = 0;	// task #6: HOLD 'G' = the weapon-configure button
 static int          gBTGenSelKey      = 0;	// task #12: F5..F8 = SelectGeneratorA..D, F9 = mode toggle
@@ -2625,9 +2627,57 @@ void
 						{
 							sTwist = 0.0f;
 							gBTTorsoRecenter = 1;	// mapper consumes -> CommandRecenter()
+							{
+								extern int gBTElevRecenter;
+								gBTElevRecenter = 1;	// pitch axis zeroes below
+							}
 						}
 						sPrevXT = xtNow;
 						gBTTwistAxis = sTwist;
+
+						// TORSO ELEVATION (pitch aim -- the pod stick's Y
+						// axis; every 1995 control mode routes it to
+						// Torso::SetAnalogElevationAxis).  Same integrator
+						// model as the twist: keys walk the axis, release
+						// springs the RATE to 0 (position holds, the sim's
+						// vertical limits clamp); a pad stick is absolute.
+						{
+							extern float gBTElevAxis;
+							static float sElev = 0.0f;
+							if (gBTInput.elevAbsolute)
+							{
+								sElev = gBTInput.elevTarget;
+							}
+							else if (gBTInput.elevActive)
+							{
+								sElev += gBTInput.elevTarget * kStickRate * dt;
+								if (sElev >  1.0f) sElev =  1.0f;
+								if (sElev < -1.0f) sElev = -1.0f;
+							}
+							else if (sElev != 0.0f)
+							{
+								const float estep = kStickCenterRate * dt;
+								if      (sElev >  estep) sElev -= estep;
+								else if (sElev < -estep) sElev += estep;
+								else                     sElev  = 0.0f;
+							}
+							extern int gBTElevRecenter;	// set by the X edge above
+							if (gBTElevRecenter)
+							{
+								gBTElevRecenter = 0;
+								sElev = 0.0f;		// X recenters pitch too
+							}
+							gBTElevAxis = sElev;
+							if (getenv("BT_INPUT_LOG"))
+							{
+								static float s_eacc = 0.0f; s_eacc += dt;
+								if (s_eacc >= 1.0f) { s_eacc = 0.0f;
+									DEBUG_STREAM << "[input] elev tgt="
+										<< gBTInput.elevTarget << " act="
+										<< gBTInput.elevActive << " axis="
+										<< sElev << "\n" << std::flush; }
+							}
+						}
 					}
 					// gBTDrive.fire = "any weapon trigger down" (feeds the bring-up
 					// damage dispatcher + the beam-visual keepalive)
@@ -3158,6 +3208,7 @@ void
 					<< " pre=" << preThrottle
 					<< " rev=" << mppr->reverseThrust
 					<< " stickX=" << mppr->stickPosition.x
+					<< " stickY=" << mppr->stickPosition.y
 					<< " -> speedDemand=" << mppr->speedDemand
 					<< " turnDemand=" << mppr->turnDemand
 					<< " mode=" << mppr->controlMode
diff --git a/game/reconstructed/mechmppr.cpp b/game/reconstructed/mechmppr.cpp
index 959958a..b44d72f 100644
--- a/game/reconstructed/mechmppr.cpp
+++ b/game/reconstructed/mechmppr.cpp
@@ -719,6 +719,14 @@ void
 					gBTModeCycle = 0;
 					CycleControlModeNow();
 				}
+				// TORSO ELEVATION (pitch): the pod stick's Y axis -- every
+				// control mode routes stickPosition.y into
+				// Torso::SetAnalogElevationAxis below, so the bridge feeds
+				// it in BOTH branches (keys R/F or a pad stick via btinput).
+				{
+					extern float gBTElevAxis;
+					stickPosition.y = gBTElevAxis;
+				}
 				if (controlMode == BasicMode)
 				{
 					stickPosition.x = key_turn;
@@ -751,7 +759,8 @@ void
 					}
 				}
 			}
-			stickPosition.y  = 0.0f;
+			// (stickPosition.y no longer zeroed here -- the bridge above
+			// feeds the elevation axis every bridged frame, 2026-07-18)
 		}
 	}
 
@@ -822,6 +831,15 @@ void
 		{
 			torso->SetAnalogElevationAxis(stick_y);	// raw torso+0x1f4 (500)
 			torso->SetAnalogTwistAxis(0.0f);		// raw torso+0x1f0
+			if (getenv("BT_INPUT_LOG"))
+			{
+				static float s_eacc2 = 0.0f; s_eacc2 += time_slice;
+				if (s_eacc2 >= 1.0f) { s_eacc2 = 0.0f;
+					DEBUG_STREAM << "[input] mppr elev in=" << stick_y
+						<< " torsoElev=" << torso->CurrentElevation()
+						<< " vel=" << torso->ElevationVelocity()
+						<< "\n" << std::flush; }
+			}
 		}
 		if (cockpit)
 		{
diff --git a/game/reconstructed/torso.hpp b/game/reconstructed/torso.hpp
index 89a8da8..e989dba 100644
--- a/game/reconstructed/torso.hpp
+++ b/game/reconstructed/torso.hpp
@@ -171,6 +171,10 @@ class Joint;			// engine skeleton node (JOINT.h); the twist target
 		// Address of the twist scalar (task #56: the binary bt_mech stream tail
 		// re-points gyro+0x258 to torso+0x1D8; the gyro damage-response reads it).
 		Scalar*								CurrentTwistAddr()			{ return &currentTwist; }
+		// Current vertical (pitch) torso aim in radians (binary torso+0x1e4) --
+		// elevation-axis bring-up diagnostics (2026-07-18).
+		Scalar								CurrentElevation() const	{ return currentElevation; }
+		Scalar								ElevationVelocity() const	{ return elevationVelocity; }
 	protected:
 		// Resolve a named skeleton node to its live Joint* via the owning Mech
 		// (the ctor @004b6b0c inlines Mech::ResolveJoint == FUN_00424b60).  Defined