Ka-50 Black Shark IIIDCS WORLD Startup Checklist · 132 steps
Ka-50 Black Shark III
DCS WORLD - 0/132 STEPS
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AIRCRAFT BRIEF
The Kamov Ka-50 'Black Shark' is a Russian single-seat attack helicopter featuring a unique coaxial rotor system that eliminates the need for a tail rotor. First flying in 1982, it was the world's first operational helicopter equipped with a pilot ejection system. The coaxial design provides exceptional maneuverability and the ability to perform aerobatic maneuvers impossible for conventional helicopters.
RANGE VISUALIZER
SPECIFICATIONS
manufacturerKamov Design Bureau
first Flight1982
roleAttack helicopter
crew1 pilot
engines2x Klimov TV3-117VMA (2,200 shp each)
max Speed390 km/h (211 kts)
range1,180 km (637 nmi)
ceiling18,000 ft
weight10,800 kg (MTOW)
PHS 1 — Pre-Flight Planning8 steps
| 01 | Mission BriefNOTE: Review mission type, target area, engagement parameters, and threat environment. | REVIEWED | |
| 02 | Weather BriefingNOTE: Check departure, operating area, and recovery weather. | REVIEWED | |
| 03 | NOTAMs / AirspaceNOTE: Check restricted areas and airspace restrictions. | REVIEWED | |
| 04 | Fuel PlanningNOTE: Plan fuel for mission duration plus reserve. Single-seat - no crew to share workload on fuel monitoring. | CALCULATED | |
| 05 | Weight & Balance / StoresCAUTION: Account for Vikhr ATGMs, rockets, gun ammo, and fuel. Coaxial rotor tolerant but check limits. | WITHIN LIMITS | |
| 06 | Performance PlanningNOTE: Check density altitude for hover and combat performance. | CHECKED | |
| 07 | Route / Target CoordinatesNOTE: Prepare waypoints and target coordinates for PVI-800 navigation system. | PROGRAMMED | |
| 08 | Radio Frequencies / DatalinkNOTE: Set R-828 and R-800 radio presets. Configure datalink for Shkval target sharing. | SET |
PHS 2 — Electrical / Pre-Start11 steps
| 01 | Collective | FULL DOWN | |
| 02 | Rotor Brake | ON | |
| 03 | Battery 1 | ON | |
| 04 | Battery 2 | ON | |
| 05 | DC Ground Power | ON (if available) | |
| 06 | AC Ground Power | ON (if available) | |
| 07 | Fuel Shutoff Valve (Left) | ON | |
| 08 | Fuel Shutoff Valve (Right) | ON | |
| 09 | Fuel Pump - Forward | ON | |
| 10 | Fuel Pump - Aft | ON | |
| 11 | Fuel Meter Switch | ON |
PHS 3 — APU Start8 steps
| 01 | APU Start ModeNOTE: Rotate to start position. | START | |
| 02 | APUCAUTION: Wait for APU fully online before proceeding (~30 seconds). | MONITOR - Wait for stable RPM | |
| 03 | APU Generator | ON | |
| 04 | Rectifier 1 | ON | |
| 05 | Rectifier 2 | ON | |
| 06 | Rectifier 3 | ON | |
| 07 | AC Inverter (115V) | ON | |
| 08 | AC Inverter (36V) | ON |
PHS 4 — Engine Start13 steps
| 01 | Rotor Brake | OFF | |
| 02 | Engine Selector | LEFT ENGINE | |
| 03 | Engine Start ButtonNOTE: Hold until engine lights off. | PRESS | |
| 04 | Left EngineWARNING: EGT must not exceed 600°C during start. | MONITOR - EGT and RPM | |
| 05 | Left Throttle | IDLE (when N1 >55%) | |
| 06 | Left Engine Stabilize | CHECK - Idle RPM, EGT in limits | |
| 07 | Engine Selector | RIGHT ENGINE | |
| 08 | Engine Start Button | PRESS | |
| 09 | Right Engine | MONITOR - EGT and RPM | |
| 10 | Right Throttle | IDLE (when N1 >55%) | |
| 11 | Right Engine Stabilize | CHECK - Idle RPM, EGT in limits | |
| 12 | Rotor RPMNOTE: Coaxial rotors engage automatically. | MONITOR - Rotors spool up | |
| 13 | APU | OFF (after both engines stable) |
PHS 5 — Post-Start / Systems10 steps
| 01 | Left Generator | ON | |
| 02 | Right Generator | ON | |
| 03 | Throttles (Both) | ADVANCE to flight mode | |
| 04 | Rotor RPM | CHECK - Nominal (95–100%) | |
| 05 | Hydraulic System 1 | CHECK - Pressure normal | |
| 06 | Hydraulic System 2 | CHECK - Pressure normal | |
| 07 | Flight Controls | CHECK - Cyclic, collective, pedals free | |
| 08 | Trim | CHECK - Force trim reset | |
| 09 | Autopilot Channels | ON - Pitch, Roll, Heading, Altitude | |
| 10 | Engine Instruments | CHECK - All in green |
PHS 6 — Navigation / Avionics9 steps
| 01 | ABRIS (GPS/Nav System)NOTE: Moving-map display for navigation. | ON | |
| 02 | PVI-800 Nav Panel | SET waypoints | |
| 03 | Datalink | ON | |
| 04 | IFF / Transponder | SET | |
| 05 | Radio (R-800 VHF) | SET frequency | |
| 06 | Radio (R-828 FM) | SET frequency | |
| 07 | Altimeter | SET - Field elevation / QFE | |
| 08 | Radar Altimeter | ON | |
| 09 | HUD / Shkval | ON |
PHS 7 — Weapons Setup6 steps
| 01 | Shkval (TV targeting system)NOTE: Electro-optical targeting system. | ON - Warm up | |
| 02 | Laser Rangefinder | ON | |
| 03 | Weapon System Power | ON | |
| 04 | Weapon Stations | CHECK - Verify loadout | |
| 05 | Master ArmNOTE: Keep safe until weapons employment. | SAFE | |
| 06 | Cannon (2A42 30mm) | LOADED - Check round count |
PHS 8 — Before Taxi5 steps
| 01 | Ejection SeatWARNING: Ka-50 has K-37-800 ejection system - blades are jettisoned first. | ARM | |
| 02 | Anti-Collision Light | ON | |
| 03 | Navigation Lights | AS REQUIRED | |
| 04 | Parking Brake | RELEASE | |
| 05 | NWS (Nosewheel Steering) | ON |
PHS 9 — Hover / Taxi6 steps
| 01 | Area Clear | CHECK - Clear all sides | |
| 02 | Collective | RAISE slowly | |
| 03 | PedalsNOTE: Coaxial rotors = minimal torque effect. | MAINTAIN heading | |
| 04 | Hover Height | 3–5 m AGL | |
| 05 | Engine Instruments | CHECK - Both engines in limits | |
| 06 | Hover Taxi | FORWARD CYCLIC gently |
PHS 10 — Before Takeoff5 steps
| 01 | Engine Instruments | CHECK - All green | |
| 02 | Fuel Quantity | CHECK - Adequate for mission | |
| 03 | Autopilot | CHECK - Channels engaged | |
| 04 | Weapons | SAFE | |
| 05 | Radios | SET - Contact ATC |
PHS 11 — Takeoff5 steps
| 01 | Collective | INCREASE to climb power | |
| 02 | Cyclic | FORWARD - Accelerate through ETL | |
| 03 | PedalsNOTE: Coaxial design needs minimal pedal input. | COORDINATE | |
| 04 | Climb Speed | 80–100 km/h | |
| 05 | Climb Rate | 5–10 m/s |
PHS 12 — Climb4 steps
| 01 | Airspeed | 150–200 km/h | |
| 02 | Engine Instruments | MONITOR - EGT, N1, oil | |
| 03 | Altimeter | CHECK | |
| 04 | Autopilot | ENGAGE as required |
PHS 13 — Cruise / Transit7 steps
| 01 | Altitude | AT assigned level | |
| 02 | AirspeedNOTE: Max speed 315 km/h. | 200–250 km/h cruise | |
| 03 | Fuel State | MONITOR | |
| 04 | Navigation (ABRIS) | CHECK - Waypoints, route | |
| 05 | Engine Instruments | SCAN - Regular check | |
| 06 | Autopilot | AS REQUIRED | |
| 07 | Shkval / Weapons | AS REQUIRED for mission |
PHS 14 — Descent / Approach6 steps
| 01 | Airspeed | REDUCE - 150–200 km/h | |
| 02 | Collective | REDUCE for descent | |
| 03 | Altimeter | SET - Local QFE | |
| 04 | Radar Altimeter | MONITOR | |
| 05 | Landing Area | IDENTIFY - Wind, obstacles | |
| 06 | Decelerate | AFT CYCLIC - Reduce to hover speed |
PHS 15 — Landing5 steps
| 01 | Hover | ESTABLISH at 5–10 m AGL | |
| 02 | Collective | SLOWLY LOWER | |
| 03 | Touchdown | WHEELS on ground - Level attitude | |
| 04 | Collective | FULL DOWN after stable | |
| 05 | Parking Brake | SET |
PHS 16 — After Landing5 steps
| 01 | Master Arm | SAFE | |
| 02 | Weapons | SAFE all stations | |
| 03 | Shkval | OFF | |
| 04 | Transponder | STBY | |
| 05 | Landing Light | OFF |
PHS 17 — Shutdown19 steps
| 01 | Collective | FULL DOWN | |
| 02 | Throttles (Both)NOTE: Allow 2-minute cool-down. | IDLE | |
| 03 | Ejection SeatWARNING: Safe seat before ground crew approach. | SAFE | |
| 04 | Weapon System Power | OFF | |
| 05 | Shkval | OFF | |
| 06 | Radios | OFF | |
| 07 | Navigation / ABRIS | OFF | |
| 08 | Radar Altimeter | OFF | |
| 09 | Autopilot | OFF | |
| 10 | Left Throttle | OFF | |
| 11 | Right Throttle | OFF | |
| 12 | Rotor RPM | MONITOR - Wait for spool-down | |
| 13 | Rotor BrakeWARNING: Never apply rotor brake at high RPM. | APPLY when RPM below 30% | |
| 14 | Generators (Both) | OFF | |
| 15 | Inverters | OFF | |
| 16 | Rectifiers | OFF | |
| 17 | Fuel Pumps | OFF | |
| 18 | Batteries (Both) | OFF | |
| 19 | All Lights | OFF |