This only happens in the pilot episode of "Buck Rogers in the 25th Century" entitled "Awakening".
Look at the joysticks of the Earth Directorate Starfighters occasionally the subject of closeup shots throughout the episode- they're EXACTLY the same as the joysticks on the Colonial Vipers on the original "Battlestar Galactica".
Looks like some recycling went on in those days- I believe Glenn A Larson produced both series. Either this was caused by a "Oh my gosh, we forgot the joystick props and we got to shoot now!!!" slipup or some cost cutting was taking place.
By the second episode of "Buck Rogers" entitled "Planet of the Slave Girl" the Starfighter's joystick had been amended to something else.
EDITOR'S NOTE: THIS IS NOT A SLIP-UP. IT IS WHAT WE CALL AN "EASTER EGG". FOR MORE INFORMATION VISIT OUR SISTER SITE, " www.eeggs.com ".