F-86F SabreDCS WORLD Startup Checklist · 86 steps
F-86F Sabre
DCS WORLD - 0/86 STEPS
U.S. Air Force / Wikimedia CommonsPublic Domain
FighterKorean War
AIRCRAFT BRIEF
The North American F-86 Sabre was the first swept-wing jet fighter to achieve widespread service in the Western world, earning its reputation in the Korean War skies over 'MiG Alley.' The F-86F variant featured an extended leading edge and an improved J47-GE-27 engine. During the Korean War, Sabre pilots achieved a 10:1 kill ratio over MiG-15s, cementing the aircraft's legendary status as the finest Western fighter of its era.
RANGE VISUALIZER
SPECIFICATIONS
manufacturerNorth American Aviation
first Flight1947
roleAir superiority fighter / fighter-bomber
crew1 pilot
engines1x GE J47-GE-27 (5,970 lbf)
max Speed1,106 km/h (Mach 0.90)
range2,454 km (1,325 nmi) with tip tanks
ceiling49,600 ft
weight9,530 kg (MTOW)
PHS 1 — Pre-Flight Planning7 steps
| 01 | Mission BriefNOTE: Review mission objectives, ROE, threat environment (MiG Alley era). | REVIEWED | |
| 02 | Weather BriefingNOTE: Check ceiling, winds, icing. F-86 has no all-weather systems. | REVIEWED | |
| 03 | NOTAMs / Airspace | REVIEWED | |
| 04 | Fuel PlanningNOTE: Internal fuel ~1,815 liters. Limited range - tip tanks available. | SET | |
| 05 | WeaponsNOTE: Six M3 .50 cal guns. Rockets or bombs for ground attack. | VERIFIED | |
| 06 | Radio Frequencies | SET | |
| 07 | Divert Bases | IDENTIFIED |
PHS 2 — Cockpit Preparation3 steps
| 01 | Seat Harness | FASTENED TIGHT | |
| 02 | Oxygen System | ON - CHECK FLOW AND QUANTITY | |
| 03 | Canopy | CLOSED AND LOCKED |
PHS 3 — Electrical Power3 steps
| 01 | Battery Switch | ON | |
| 02 | Inverter Switch | MAIN (for AC instruments) | |
| 03 | Instruments | POWER ON - CHECK ADI, ALTIMETER, AIRSPEED |
PHS 4 — Engine Start10 steps
| 01 | ThrottleNOTE: Confirm throttle in cutoff before energizing starter. | CUTOFF | |
| 02 | Engine Primer | AS REQUIRED FOR COLD START | |
| 03 | Engine Start ButtonNOTE: Hold until engine lights off. GE J47 turbojet engine. | PRESS AND HOLD | |
| 04 | N1 RPM | RISING | |
| 05 | ThrottleNOTE: Advance throttle to idle when RPM is rising to introduce fuel. | IDLE AT 10-15% N1 | |
| 06 | EGT During StartWARNING: Hot start if EGT exceeds limit - throttle to cutoff immediately. | WATCH - DO NOT EXCEED 1,050 F (565 C) | |
| 07 | Engine RPM at Idle | 26-30% N1 | |
| 08 | EGT at Idle | < 650 C | |
| 09 | Oil Pressure | 40-60 PSI | |
| 10 | Generator | ONLINE |
PHS 5 — Post-Start / Avionics8 steps
| 01 | Hydraulic Pressure | NORMAL (1,500-1,800 PSI) | |
| 02 | Flight Instruments | CHECK ALL - NO FLAGS | |
| 03 | Gunsight (A-4 Radar Ranging) | ON - CHECK RETICLE | |
| 04 | Radio (AN/ARC-27 UHF) | ON - SET FREQUENCY | |
| 05 | IFF (AN/APX-6) | SET CODES | |
| 06 | TACAN | SET HOME BASE | |
| 07 | Altimeter | SET QNH | |
| 08 | Fuel Selector | MAIN (internal) |
PHS 6 — Guns / Weapons Check3 steps
| 01 | Guns Armed Switch | SAFE UNTIL ARMING AREA | |
| 02 | Gun Camera | ON FOR COMBAT | |
| 03 | Bomb/Rocket Release | SAFE - AS LOADED |
PHS 7 — Before Taxi6 steps
| 01 | Flight Controls | FULL TRAVEL - FREE AND CORRECT | |
| 02 | Flaps | UP FOR TAKEOFF | |
| 03 | Trim | SET FOR TAKEOFF (slightly aft) | |
| 04 | Engine Instruments | ALL IN LIMITS | |
| 05 | Fuel Quantity | CONFIRMED | |
| 06 | Parking Brake | SET |
PHS 8 — Taxi4 steps
| 01 | Parking Brake | RELEASE | |
| 02 | Throttle | ADVANCE TO INITIATE ROLL | |
| 03 | Brakes | CHECK - DIFFERENTIAL FOR STEERING | |
| 04 | Taxi Speed | < 20 KTS |
PHS 9 — Before Takeoff5 steps
| 01 | Engine Run-up | RUN UP TO ~90% N1 - CHECK INSTRUMENTS | |
| 02 | Flight Controls | FREE AND CORRECT | |
| 03 | Flaps | AS REQUIRED (UP STANDARD) | |
| 04 | Trim | SET | |
| 05 | IFF | ON - CONFIRM CODES |
PHS 10 — Takeoff5 steps
| 01 | Throttle | FULL MILITARY POWER | |
| 02 | N1 / EGT | CHECK MAX POWER IN LIMITS | |
| 03 | Rotation Speed | ~130-140 KIAS (weight dep.) | |
| 04 | Rotate | 6-8 DEG NOSE UP | |
| 05 | Positive Rate of Climb | GEAR UP |
PHS 11 — After Takeoff / Climb3 steps
| 01 | Gear | UP AND LOCKED | |
| 02 | Climb Speed | 300-350 KIAS | |
| 03 | Tip Tank FuelNOTE: Tip tank fuel burns first by design. | BURNING FIRST (if fitted) |
PHS 12 — Cruise4 steps
| 01 | Cruise Speed | 400-450 KIAS / MACH 0.82 MAX | |
| 02 | Cruise Altitude | 30,000-40,000 FT FOR BEST RANGE | |
| 03 | Fuel State | MONITOR - TIP TANKS TO INTERNALS | |
| 04 | Fuel Selector | SWITCH TO INTERNALS WHEN TIP TANKS EMPTY |
PHS 13 — Combat / Dogfight4 steps
| 01 | Guns Armed | ON | |
| 02 | Gunsight | ON - GYRO LEAD COMPUTING | |
| 03 | Speed Range | 300-400 KIAS OPTIMAL FOR MANEUVERING | |
| 04 | High G Flight | UP TO +7G LIMIT |
PHS 14 — Descent / Approach4 steps
| 01 | TACAN | SET HOME BASE | |
| 02 | Altimeter | SET QNH | |
| 03 | Guns | SAFE | |
| 04 | Speed | REDUCE TO 250-300 KIAS |
PHS 15 — Landing8 steps
| 01 | GearCAUTION: Gear limit 250 KIAS. | DOWN - 3 GREEN | |
| 02 | Flaps | LAND POSITION | |
| 03 | Approach Speed | ~140 KIAS | |
| 04 | Final Speed | ~130 KIAS OVER THRESHOLD | |
| 05 | Touchdown | MAIN GEAR FIRST | |
| 06 | Throttle at Touchdown | IDLE | |
| 07 | Brakes | APPLY STEADILY | |
| 08 | Drag Chute (if fitted) | DEPLOY AFTER TOUCHDOWN |
PHS 16 — After Landing2 steps
| 01 | Flaps | UP | |
| 02 | Guns | SAFE - CONFIRMED |
PHS 17 — Shutdown7 steps
| 01 | Parking Brake | SET | |
| 02 | Throttle | IDLE - 2 MIN COOLDOWN | |
| 03 | Avionics / Radio | OFF | |
| 04 | Throttle | CUTOFF | |
| 05 | Inverter Switch | OFF | |
| 06 | Battery | OFF | |
| 07 | Canopy | OPEN |