Bf 109 K-4DCS WORLD Startup Checklist · 97 steps
Bf 109 K-4
DCS WORLD - 0/97 STEPS
Wikimedia CommonsPublic Domain
FighterWWII
AIRCRAFT BRIEF
The Messerschmitt Bf 109 is the most-produced fighter aircraft in history, with over 33,000 built, and the Bf 109 K-4 'Kurfurst' represents the ultimate development of the design. Entering service in late 1944, the K-4 combined the DB 605 DC engine with the MW 50 water-methanol injection system to produce up to 2,000 PS at emergency power, making it one of the fastest piston fighters of the war. Despite its narrow undercarriage causing many accidents, skilled pilots found it an exceptional fighting machine.
SPECIFICATIONS
manufacturerMesserschmitt AG
first Flight1944 (K-4 variant)
roleAir superiority fighter / interceptor
crew1 pilot
engines1x Daimler-Benz DB 605 DC (1,800 hp / 2,000 hp with MW 50)
max Speed727 km/h (452 mph) at altitude
range570 km (354 miles)
ceiling41,000 ft
weight3,900 kg (MTOW)
PHS 1 — Pre-Flight Planning7 steps
| 01 | Mission BriefNOTE: Review mission, intercept profile, Bf 109 K-4 performance characteristics, and emergency procedures. | REVIEWED | |
| 02 | Weather BriefingNOTE: Check visibility, cloud, icing conditions. No de-ice equipment. | REVIEWED | |
| 03 | NOTAMs / Airspace | REVIEWED | |
| 04 | Fuel PlanningNOTE: Internal fuel ~400 liters. Drop tank extends range. K-4 burns fuel heavily at high power. | SET | |
| 05 | WeaponsNOTE: 1x MK 108 30mm cannon (through propeller), 2x MG 131 13mm cowl guns. | VERIFIED | |
| 06 | Radio Frequencies | SET | |
| 07 | Divert Bases | IDENTIFIED |
PHS 2 — Cockpit Preparation4 steps
| 01 | Seat Harness | FASTENED TIGHT | |
| 02 | Oxygen System | ON - CHECK FLOW AND QUANTITY | |
| 03 | Canopy | CLOSED AND LOCKED | |
| 04 | Primitive Check | COCKPIT INSTRUMENTS VISIBLE AND READABLE |
PHS 3 — Electrical Power3 steps
| 01 | Main Switch (Hauptschalter) | ON | |
| 02 | Generator / Battery | ON | |
| 03 | Instruments | POWER ON - CHECK |
PHS 4 — Engine Start11 steps
| 01 | Fuel Cock | OPEN | |
| 02 | Throttle | IDLE POSITION (cracked open) | |
| 03 | Propeller Pitch | FULL FINE (VS control) | |
| 04 | Mixture | AUTOMATIC RICH | |
| 05 | Primer | PUMP AS REQUIRED (cold start) | |
| 06 | Engine Start ButtonNOTE: Daimler-Benz DB 605 DC inverted V-12 engine. Inertia starter. | ENGAGE - INERTIA STARTER | |
| 07 | Engine Fires | CONFIRM - REDUCE PRIMER | |
| 08 | Oil PressureWARNING: No oil pressure within 30 sec - shutdown to prevent engine damage. | RISING WITHIN 30 SECONDS | |
| 09 | Engine Idle RPM | 700-800 RPM | |
| 10 | Coolant Temperature | RISING - DO NOT RUSH WARM UP | |
| 11 | Idle Warm Up | UNTIL OIL TEMP 40 C / COOLANT 40 C |
PHS 5 — Post-Start / Avionics9 steps
| 01 | Oil Temperature | 40 C MINIMUM | |
| 02 | Coolant Temperature | 40 C MINIMUM BEFORE TAXI | |
| 03 | Fuel Pressure | NORMAL | |
| 04 | Gyro Compass | SET MAGNETIC HEADING | |
| 05 | Gunsight (Revi 16B) | ON - RETICLE CHECKED | |
| 06 | Radio (FuG 16ZY) | ON - SET FREQUENCY | |
| 07 | IFF (FuG 25a) | SET CODES | |
| 08 | Altimeter | SET QNH | |
| 09 | Magneto Check | BOTH MAGS - RPM DROP < 100 RPM |
PHS 6 — Guns / Weapons Check3 steps
| 01 | Weapons Safety | SAFE | |
| 02 | MK 108 Ammo | CONFIRMED (65 ROUNDS) | |
| 03 | MG 131 Ammo | CONFIRMED (300 ROUNDS EACH) |
PHS 7 — Before Taxi5 steps
| 01 | Oil Temperature | 40 C MINIMUM | |
| 02 | Coolant Temperature | 40 C MINIMUM | |
| 03 | Flight Controls | FREE AND CORRECT | |
| 04 | Flaps | 20-30 DEG FOR TAKEOFF / UP NORMAL | |
| 05 | Trim | SET |
PHS 8 — Taxi5 steps
| 01 | Parking Brake | RELEASE | |
| 02 | Throttle | ADVANCE TO ROLL | |
| 03 | S-TURNSNOTE: Bf 109 nose blocks forward view during taxi. S-turns essential. | WEAVE TO CHECK AHEAD | |
| 04 | Brakes | CHECK - DIFFERENTIAL | |
| 05 | Speed | < 10 KTS |
PHS 9 — Before Takeoff6 steps
| 01 | Oil Temperature | 40-70 C | |
| 02 | Coolant Temperature | 60-90 C | |
| 03 | Supercharger | FIRST STAGE (automatic) | |
| 04 | Propeller | FULL FINE PITCH (2,800 RPM) | |
| 05 | Trim | RUDDER RIGHT FOR TORQUE - ELEVATOR NEUTRAL | |
| 06 | Magnetos | BOTH |
PHS 10 — Takeoff7 steps
| 01 | Flaps | 20 DEG FOR SHORT FIELD / UP FOR STANDARD | |
| 02 | Throttle | ADVANCE SMOOTHLY TO 1.8 ATA / 2,800 RPM | |
| 03 | Right RudderNOTE: DB 605 torque swings nose left on takeoff. Significant right rudder needed. | APPLY TO COUNTER SWING | |
| 04 | Rotation Speed | ~175-195 KM/H (weight dep.) | |
| 05 | Rotate | EASE STICK BACK GENTLY - 8-10 DEG | |
| 06 | Gear | UP AFTER POSITIVE CLIMB | |
| 07 | Climb Power | 1.45 ATA / 2,600 RPM |
PHS 11 — After Takeoff / Climb5 steps
| 01 | Gear | UP AND LOCKED | |
| 02 | Flaps | UP | |
| 03 | Climb Speed | 280-300 KM/H IAS | |
| 04 | Supercharger | CHANGES AUTOMATICALLY AT CRITICAL ALTITUDE | |
| 05 | MW 50 SystemNOTE: MW 50 water-methanol boost increases power to 2,000 PS but limited to 10 min use. | AVAILABLE ABOVE 1 KM - USE SPARINGLY |
PHS 12 — Cruise4 steps
| 01 | Cruise Power | 1.15-1.30 ATA / 2,400 RPM | |
| 02 | Cruise Speed | 600-650 KM/H AT ALTITUDE | |
| 03 | Fuel State | MONITOR | |
| 04 | Oil/Coolant Temperature | WITHIN LIMITS |
PHS 13 — Combat5 steps
| 01 | PowerCAUTION: MW 50 emergency boost limited to 3 minutes. Monitor temperature closely. | 1.98 ATA / 2,800 RPM (WITH MW 50 - 3 MIN MAX) | |
| 02 | MW 50 Switch | ON (if high power needed) | |
| 03 | Weapons Safety | OFF - FIRE | |
| 04 | Speed Range | 550-650 KM/H OPTIMAL FOR MANEUVERING | |
| 05 | Speed Limit | DO NOT EXCEED 850 KM/H - STRUCTURAL LIMIT |
PHS 14 — Descent / Approach4 steps
| 01 | MW 50 | OFF | |
| 02 | Altimeter | SET QNH | |
| 03 | Weapons | SAFE | |
| 04 | Speed | REDUCE TO 250-300 KM/H |
PHS 15 — Landing8 steps
| 01 | GearCAUTION: Gear limit 300 km/h. | DOWN - INDICATOR GREEN | |
| 02 | Propeller | FULL FINE | |
| 03 | Flaps | LAND POSITION BELOW 250 KM/H | |
| 04 | Approach Speed | 195-210 KM/H | |
| 05 | Threshold Speed | 175-185 KM/H | |
| 06 | TouchdownCAUTION: Bf 109 has narrow undercarriage - ground loop risk. Keep wings level and hold direction. | MAIN GEAR FIRST | |
| 07 | Throttle at Touchdown | IDLE | |
| 08 | BrakesWARNING: Aggressive braking with narrow undercarriage can cause ground loop or tip over. Apply gently. | APPLY CAREFULLY - NARROW GEAR |
PHS 16 — After Landing3 steps
| 01 | Flaps | UP | |
| 02 | Weapons | SAFE | |
| 03 | MW 50 | OFF / SYSTEM PURGED IF USED |
PHS 17 — Shutdown8 steps
| 01 | Parking Brake | SET | |
| 02 | Throttle | IDLE - COOLING PERIOD | |
| 03 | Mixture | CUTOFF TO STOP ENGINE | |
| 04 | Magnetos | OFF | |
| 05 | Fuel Cock | CLOSE | |
| 06 | Electrical | OFF | |
| 07 | Main Switch | OFF | |
| 08 | Canopy | OPEN |