DCS WORLD · Fighter

F4U-1D Corsair Startup Checklist

F4U-1D Corsair Startup Notes

The Corsair start is a classic big radial prime-and-crank. Ignition OFF, mixture IDLE CUT-OFF, fuel selector RESERVE, cowl flaps full open, supercharger NEUTRAL, throttle at the red quadrant mark about an inch open. Battery on, then the electric auxiliary fuel pump on - it supplies the pressure for priming - then hold the electric primer switch for 5 to 15 seconds depending on temperature. Ignition BOTH, hold the starter switch until the engine runs smoothly, and ease the mixture slowly to AUTO RICH as it fires. Too fast and the engine dies. Keep tapping the primer until it settles, then aux pump off. Oil pressure must rise within 30 seconds or shut it down.

Two habits save engines here. Never pump or snap the throttle during the start - the R-2800 backfires into the intake duct and this airplane has no built-in fire extinguisher. If it fails to start, wait a few minutes so fuel can drain from the intake ducts, and read the exhausts: no smoke means under-primed, heavy black smoke means over-primed. The starter is limited to about 30 seconds continuous with a cooling pause between attempts. After start, idle at 800-900 rpm until oil pressure rises, then 1,000 rpm, and wait for 40 C oil and 120 C cylinder head temperature before running the engine up.

Common mistakes

Advancing the mixture to AUTO RICH too quickly and killing the start
Pumping the throttle while cranking and causing an intake fire
Forgetting the auxiliary fuel pump, so there is no priming pressure

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U.S. Navy / Wikimedia CommonsPublic Domain

FighterWWII

AIRCRAFT BRIEF

The Vought F4U Corsair was the first American fighter to exceed 400 mph, pairing the huge Pratt and Whitney R-2800 Double Wasp with a distinctive inverted gull wing that kept the landing gear short despite the largest propeller fitted to a fighter. The F4U-1D, introduced in 1944, added water injection for war emergency power, underwing pylons for bombs and rockets, and provision for drop tanks, turning the bent-wing bird into the Navy's premier fighter-bomber of the late Pacific war. Flown by the US Navy, Marines and the Royal Navy, Corsairs claimed an 11:1 kill ratio and remained in production until 1952, later fighting in Korea and with the French Aeronavale.

Startup Walkthrough

SPECIFICATIONS

manufacturer: Chance Vought
first Flight: 1940 (XF4U-1; F4U-1D in 1944)
role: Carrier-based fighter / fighter-bomber
crew: 1 pilot
engines: 1x Pratt & Whitney R-2800-8W Double Wasp (2,250 hp)
max Speed: 684 km/h (425 mph)
range: 1,617 km (1,005 miles)
ceiling: 44,100 ft
weight: 5,470 kg (12,063 lb gross, internal fuel and guns)

Sources: Vought F4U Corsair - Wikipedia, Chuck's Guide - DCS F4U-1D Corsair, F4U Corsair - National Naval Aviation Museum

FLIGHT2.17.0Checklist

F4U-1D CorsairDCS WORLD · Startup Checklist · 127 steps · 17 phases

DATE PILOT TAIL

PHS 1 - Pre-Flight Planning7 steps

	01	Mission BriefREVIEWEDNOTE: Review mission, fighter sweep or strike profile, and carrier or land base recovery plan.
	02	Weather BriefingREVIEWEDNOTE: Check en-route weather and winds. No anti-ice equipment - avoid known icing.
	03	NOTAMs / AirspaceREVIEWED
	04	Fuel PlanningSETNOTE: Internal fuel 237 US gal in the fuselage main tank. Drop tanks extend range - use drop tank fuel first.
	05	WeaponsVERIFIEDNOTE: Six .50 cal M2 Brownings. Bombs, HVAR or Tiny Tim rockets, or the Bat glide bomb for strike missions.
	06	Radio FrequenciesSETNOTE: Set radio and navigation beacon frequencies. The carrier transmits a Morse ident for homing.
	07	Divert BasesIDENTIFIED

PHS 2 - Cockpit Preparation10 steps

	01	Seat HarnessFASTENED TIGHT
	02	Oxygen SystemON - CHECK FLOW AND QUANTITYNOTE: Oxygen essential above 10,000 ft.
	03	Parking BrakeSET
	04	Ignition SwitchOFF
	05	Mixture ControlIDLE CUT-OFF
	06	Fuel SelectorRESERVENOTE: Start, take off and land on RESERVE. Do not cruise on RESERVE.
	07	Cowl FlapsFULL OPEN
	08	Supercharger ControlNEUTRAL
	09	ThrottleRED QUADRANT MARK (APPROX 1 INCH OPEN)
	10	Propeller ControlMAX RPM (INCREASE)

PHS 3 - Electrical Power3 steps

	01	Battery SwitchON
	02	InstrumentsCHECK - ALTIMETER, AIRSPEED, FUEL QUANTITY
	03	Carburetor Air Temp Warning LightTEST - OFFNOTE: Red light warns of carburetor air temperature above 43 C (110 F) - detonation risk at high power.

PHS 4 - Engine Start9 steps

	01	Electric Auxiliary Fuel PumpONNOTE: The aux pump supplies the fuel pressure needed for priming.
	02	Electric Primer SwitchON 5-15 SEC BEFORE CRANKINGNOTE: Prime longer when cold, shorter when warm. Do not move the throttle to prime.
	03	Ignition SwitchBOTH
	04	Starter SwitchON - HOLD UNTIL ENGINE RUNS SMOOTHLYNOTE: The starter switch also operates the ignition booster. Max 30 seconds continuous; let it cool between attempts.
	05	Mixture ControlSLOWLY TO AUTO RICH AS ENGINE FIRESCAUTION: Move slowly - advancing the mixture too fast will kill the engine.
	06	Primer SwitchON INTERMITTENTLY UNTIL RUNNING SMOOTHLY
	07	Auxiliary Fuel PumpOFF AFTER MIXTURE IN AUTO RICH
	08	Oil PressureRISING WITHIN 30 SECONDSWARNING: If no oil pressure within 30 seconds - shut down immediately and investigate.
	09	Engine Idle RPM800-900 RPM, THEN 1,000 RPMCAUTION: Do not pump or snap the throttle until the engine runs smoothly - backfire risk.

PHS 5 - Post-Start / Warm-Up16 steps

	01	Oil Temperature40 C MINIMUM BEFORE GROUND TEST
	02	Cylinder Head Temperature120 C MINIMUM BEFORE GROUND TEST
	03	Intercooler FlapOPEN FOR GROUND RUN
	04	Engine Run-Up2,200 RPM / 30 IN HG BRIEFLYCAUTION: Open the throttle smoothly - abrupt movement from idle can cause backfiring.
	05	Oil Pressure at Run-Up85-90 PSI
	06	Fuel Pressure at Run-Up16-18 PSI
	07	Magneto CheckRPM DROP < 100 PER MAGNOTE: Let the engine stabilize after each single-mag check before testing the other.
	08	Propeller Governor Check2,000 RPM - CYCLE CONTROL, RPM DROPS TO ~1,200
	09	Supercharger CheckSHIFT LOW AND HIGH - NOTE MP AND OIL PRESSURE FLUCTUATIONNOTE: Check only with oil temperature above 60 C and oil pressure 50 PSI.
	10	Generator Output27.5-28.5 VOLTS ABOVE 1,300 RPM
	11	Hydraulic Pressure900-1,150 PSI
	12	Wing FlapsCYCLE - CHECK OPERATION
	13	Gyro InstrumentsUNCAGED AND ERECTED
	14	Gunsight (Mk 8)ON - DIMMER SET
	15	RadioON - SET FREQUENCY
	16	AltimeterSET QNH

PHS 6 - Guns / Weapons Check4 steps

	01	Master Armament SwitchOFF (SAFE)
	02	Gun SwitchesOFF
	03	Gun Charging KnobsSAFE (PUSHED IN)
	04	Rocket and Pylon SwitchesOFF

PHS 7 - Before Taxi5 steps

	01	Oil Temperature40 C MINIMUM
	02	Flight ControlsFULL TRAVEL - FREE AND CORRECT
	03	FlapsUP
	04	Rudder Tab6 DEG NOSE RIGHTNOTE: Set takeoff trim before taxi: rudder 6 deg right, aileron 6 deg right wing down, elevator 1 deg nose up.
	05	Tail WheelLOCKED

PHS 8 - Taxi4 steps

	01	Parking BrakeRELEASE
	02	S-TURNSWEAVE CONTINUOUSLY - NO FORWARD VISIBILITYNOTE: The long nose hides everything ahead. Let the airplane roll and steer with brakes.
	03	BrakesCHECK - USE GENTLYCAUTION: Overheated brakes lose effectiveness and can fuse the discs. Use low power, do not ride the brakes.
	04	Taxi Speed< 10 KTS

PHS 9 - Before Takeoff15 steps

	01	Shoulder HarnessLOCKED
	02	WingsSPREAD AND LOCKEDWARNING: Check wing fold control in SPREAD and hinge pin locking handle in LOCK. Taking off with unlocked wings is fatal.
	03	Arresting HookUP
	04	Fuel SelectorRESERVE
	05	Electric Auxiliary Fuel PumpON
	06	MixtureAUTO RICH
	07	Supercharger ControlNEUTRAL
	08	Propeller ControlMAX RPM (INCREASE)
	09	Cowl Flaps2/3 OPEN
	10	Intercooler FlapCLOSED
	11	Oil Cooler FlapsOPEN AS REQUIRED
	12	Wing Flaps20 DEG (0-50 DEG PER RUNWAY)
	13	Tail WheelLOCKED
	14	Cylinder Head and Oil TempsABOVE MINIMUMS, NOT NEAR LIMITS
	15	CanopyCLOSED AND LOCKED

PHS 10 - Takeoff6 steps

	01	ThrottleADVANCE SMOOTHLY - MAX 54 IN HG / 2,700 RPMCAUTION: Above 44 in HG with flaps down the tail will not stay down - feed power in as the airplane rolls.
	02	Right RudderAPPLY TO COUNTER TORQUE SWING LEFTNOTE: The R-2800 pulls hard left. Correct with rudder, not brakes.
	03	Liftoff Speed~70 KTS IASNOTE: Do not pull off early - the left wing drops from torque at low speed.
	04	GearUP AFTER POSITIVE CLIMB
	05	FlapsUP - NOT BELOW SAFE SPEEDCAUTION: Retracting flaps too soon at low speed makes the airplane settle.
	06	Power Reduction44 IN HG / 2,550 RPM

PHS 11 - After Takeoff / Climb6 steps

	01	Gear and FlapsUP AND LOCKED
	02	Climb Speed125 KTS IAS (BEST CLIMB)
	03	MixtureAUTO LEAN (AFTER TAKEOFF)
	04	Fuel SelectorAS DESIRED (NOT RESERVE FOR CRUISE)
	05	SuperchargerSHIFT TO LOW WHEN MP DROPS IN NEUTRALNOTE: Shift LOW around 5,500 ft, HIGH around 16,500 ft at rated power. Reduce MP 3-4 in HG to avoid surge when shifting.
	06	Cylinder Head TemperatureMONITOR - MAX 260 CCAUTION: Open cowl flaps, increase climb speed or reduce power if CHT climbs.

PHS 12 - Cruise5 steps

	01	Cruise PowerAPPROX 34 IN HG / 2,300 RPM
	02	Best Range Setting~150 KTS AT 1,300 RPM, NEUTRAL BLOWERNOTE: Near best range at about 42 gal per hour. Below 1,400 rpm, reduce electrical load to avoid battery discharge.
	03	MixtureAUTO LEANNOTE: Enrich if cylinder head temperature exceeds 232 C.
	04	Fuel StateMONITOR - DROP TANKS FIRST, THEN MAIN
	05	Cowl and Oil Cooler FlapsADJUST TO KEEP TEMPS IN RANGE

PHS 13 - Combat7 steps

	01	Drop Tanks and BombsJETTISON BEFORE DOGFIGHTING
	02	War Emergency PowerMIXTURE AUTO LEAN - PROP FULL - THROTTLE FULL FORWARDCAUTION: Throttle past the wire stop turns on water injection (about 60 in HG). 5 minute limit - treat it like ammunition.
	03	Carburetor Air Temp LightMONITOR - OPEN INTERCOOLER FLAP IF LITCAUTION: With the light on at high power, shift to a lower blower or open the intercooler flap to avoid detonation.
	04	Master Armament and Gun SwitchesON
	05	GunsightON - WINGSPAN SET
	06	Arresting Hook ControlPARKING (COMBAT)NOTE: PARKING isolates the hook hydraulics from gunfire damage.
	07	Maneuvering LimitsMAX 395 KTS IAS / 7.5 GWARNING: The Corsair exceeds limit speed easily in a dive. No intentional spins; inverted flight max 10 seconds.

PHS 14 - Descent / Approach8 steps

	01	AltimeterSET QNH
	02	MixtureAUTO RICH
	03	Fuel SelectorRESERVE
	04	Electric Auxiliary Fuel PumpON
	05	Supercharger ControlNEUTRAL
	06	Propeller Control2,300-2,400 RPM
	07	WeaponsSAFE - GUN SWITCHES OFF, CHARGING KNOBS IN
	08	SpeedREDUCE BELOW 200 KTS BEFORE GEARCAUTION: Extending the gear above 200 kts tears off the tail wheel doors.

PHS 15 - Landing7 steps

	01	Tail WheelLOCKED (FIELD) / FREE (CARRIER)
	02	Arresting HookUP (FIELD) / DOWN (CARRIER)
	03	Landing GearDOWN - INDICATORS CHECKED
	04	Wing Flaps30 DEG (FIELD) / FULL 50 DEG (CARRIER)
	05	Approach Speed90-95 KTS IASCAUTION: Avoid flat approaches. Keep the nose up and fly a curving carrier-style approach.
	06	TouchdownTHREE-POINT ATTITUDE
	07	BrakesCAUTIOUSLY UNTIL TAIL WHEEL ON GROUNDCAUTION: Heavy braking with the tail up will nose the airplane over.

PHS 16 - After Landing5 steps

	01	FlapsUP
	02	Cowl FlapsFULL OPEN
	03	Auxiliary Fuel PumpOFF
	04	SuperchargerSHIFT LOW AND HIGH DURING TAXI-IN (DESLUDGE)NOTE: Taxiing partly in each blower position cleans sludge from the supercharger clutches. Not required for carrier aircraft.
	05	WeaponsSAFE CONFIRMED

PHS 17 - Shutdown10 steps

	01	Parking BrakeSET
	02	Engine CoolingIDLE 800-900 RPM UNTIL CHT BELOW ~170 CNOTE: Cowl flaps, oil cooler flaps and intercooler flap OPEN while cooling.
	03	Propeller ControlMAX RPM (INCREASE)
	04	Electric Fuel PumpOFF
	05	MixtureIDLE CUT-OFF TO STOP ENGINENOTE: As the engine cuts out, ease the throttle forward to fill the carburetor for the next start.
	06	Ignition SwitchOFF AFTER ENGINE STOPS
	07	Battery SwitchOFF
	08	Fuel SelectorOFF
	09	Radio and LightsALL OFF
	10	CanopyOPEN