P-51D MustangDCS WORLD Startup Checklist · 102 steps

P-51D Mustang

DCS WORLD - 0/102 STEPS

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EMERGENCY PROCEDURES

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P-51D Mustang
U.S. Air Force / Wikimedia CommonsPublic Domain
FighterWWII

AIRCRAFT BRIEF

The North American P-51D Mustang is arguably the finest piston-engine fighter of World War II. Originally designed to a British requirement in 1940, the Mustang was transformed into an exceptional long-range escort fighter when paired with the Rolls-Royce Merlin engine. The P-51D, with its distinctive bubble canopy and six .50 caliber machine guns, escorted USAAF bombers deep into Germany, fundamentally changing the air war over Europe in 1944-45. Over 15,000 were built.

Startup Walkthrough

SPECIFICATIONS

manufacturerNorth American Aviation
first Flight1940
roleLong-range escort fighter / fighter-bomber
crew1 pilot
engines1x Packard V-1650-7 Merlin (1,590 hp)
max Speed703 km/h (437 mph)
range3,347 km (2,080 miles) with drop tanks
ceiling41,900 ft
weight5,490 kg (MTOW)
PHS 1 — Pre-Flight Planning7 steps
01Mission BriefNOTE: Review mission, escort profile, target area, and rendezvous with bombers.REVIEWED
02Weather BriefingNOTE: Check en-route and target area weather. No de-ice - avoid icing conditions.REVIEWED
03NOTAMs / AirspaceREVIEWED
04Fuel PlanningNOTE: Internal fuel ~269 gallons. Drop tanks extend range for escort missions.SET
05WeaponsNOTE: Six .50 cal M2 Browning guns. Bombs or rockets for ground attack.VERIFIED
06Radio FrequenciesSET
07Divert BasesIDENTIFIED
PHS 2 — Cockpit Preparation4 steps
01Seat HarnessFASTENED TIGHT
02Oxygen SystemNOTE: Oxygen essential above 10,000 ft.ON - CHECK FLOW AND QUANTITY
03CanopyCLOSED AND LOCKED
04Primer StrokesNOTE: Prime the Merlin engine before start. Reduce priming for warm engine.6-8 STROKES (COLD ENGINE)
PHS 3 — Electrical Power3 steps
01Battery SwitchON
02Magneto SwitchBOTH (confirm both mags)
03InstrumentsCHECK - ALTIMETER, AIRSPEED, FUEL PRESSURE
PHS 4 — Engine Start12 steps
01ThrottleAPPROX 1 INCH OPEN
02Propeller ControlFULL FORWARD (fine pitch - max RPM)
03MixtureIDLE CUT-OFF
04Fuel PumpON (BOOST PUMP)
05Fuel SelectorMAIN TANK
06Engine Start ButtonENGAGE STARTER - PULL AND HOLD
07Engine CrankingBLADES TURNING - COUNT 12+ BLADES
08MixtureNOTE: Advance mixture when engine begins firing.ADVANCE TO RUN AS ENGINE FIRES
09Oil PressureWARNING: If oil pressure does not rise within 30 seconds - shut down immediately.RISING - MINIMUM 50 PSI WITHIN 30 SEC
10Engine Idle RPMNOTE: Allow Merlin V-1650 to warm up at idle.1,000-1,200 RPM
11Coolant TemperatureRISING - WARM UP BEFORE FULL POWER
12Engine Ground RunningWARM UP UNTIL OIL TEMP 40 C / COOLANT 60 C
PHS 5 — Post-Start / Avionics10 steps
01Oil Temperature40 C MINIMUM BEFORE TAXI
02Coolant Temperature60 C MINIMUM BEFORE TAKEOFF
03Fuel Pressure5-6 PSI
04Gyro InstrumentsCAGED THEN ERECTED
05Gunsight (K-14)ON - SET WINGSPAN AND RANGE
06Radio (SCR-522)ON - SET FREQUENCY
07IFFSET CODES
08AltimeterSET QNH
09TrimSET RUDDER RIGHT FOR P-FACTOR, ELEVATOR NEUTRAL
10MagnetosCHECK (single mag check - note RPM drop < 100 RPM)
PHS 6 — Guns / Weapons Check3 steps
01Master Armament SwitchSAFE
02Gun Charging HandlesCHARGED (ground crew)
03Drop Tank SelectorEXTERNAL (if drop tanks fitted)
PHS 7 — Before Taxi5 steps
01Oil Temperature40 C MINIMUM
02Coolant Temperature60 C MINIMUM
03Flight ControlsFULL TRAVEL - FREE AND CORRECT
04FlapsUP FOR TAKEOFF
05Parking BrakeSET
PHS 8 — Taxi5 steps
01Parking BrakeRELEASE
02ThrottleADVANCE TO BREAK FREE
03S-TURNSNOTE: Mustang has poor forward visibility over nose - s-turn while taxiing.USE TO CHECK AHEAD - NO FORWARD VISIBILITY
04BrakesCHECK - HEEL BRAKES
05Taxi Speed< 10 KTS
PHS 9 — Before Takeoff8 steps
01PropellerFULL FORWARD (2,700 RPM MAX)
02MixtureRUN (AUTO RICH FOR TAKEOFF)
03SuperchargerLOW BLOWER FOR TAKEOFF
04Oil Temperature60 C FOR TAKEOFF
05Coolant Temperature100 C MAX DURING TAKEOFF
06Magneto CheckBOTH MAGS - CHECK RPM DROP < 100 RPM
07Trim TabsSET - RUDDER RIGHT, ELEVATOR SLIGHTLY NOSE DOWN
08CanopyLOCKED CLOSED
PHS 10 — Takeoff6 steps
01ThrottleADVANCE SMOOTHLY TO 61 INCHES HG / 3,000 RPM
02Right RudderNOTE: Merlin torque pulls left strongly on takeoff - significant right rudder required.APPLY TO COUNTER TORQUE AND P-FACTOR
03Rotation Speed~120-130 MPH (105-115 KTS)
04RotateGRADUALLY - 10-12 DEG NOSE UP
05GearUP AFTER POSITIVE RATE OF CLIMB
06Power Reduction43-46 INCHES HG / 2,700 RPM CLIMB POWER
PHS 11 — After Takeoff / Climb7 steps
01GearUP AND LOCKED
02FlapsUP
03Climb Power46 INCHES / 2,700 RPM
04Climb Speed160-165 MPH IAS (140-145 KTS)
05SuperchargerAUTO / HIGH BLOWER ABOVE CRITICAL ALTITUDE
06Fuel SelectorEXTERNAL TANKS FIRST (if fitted)
07MixtureAUTO LEAN FOR CRUISE
PHS 12 — Cruise5 steps
01Cruise Power1,300 BHP (42-43 IN HG / 2,400 RPM)
02Cruise Speed360-380 MPH TAS AT ALTITUDE
03Fuel StateMONITOR - SWITCH TANKS AS REQUIRED
04MixtureAUTO LEAN FOR FUEL ECONOMY
05Oil and CoolantMONITOR TEMPERATURES
PHS 13 — Combat4 steps
01Drop TanksJETTISON BEFORE COMBAT
02PowerCAUTION: WEP limited to 5 minutes - can cause engine damage.WAR EMERGENCY POWER IF NEEDED - 75 IN HG / 3,000 RPM
03Guns ArmedON
04Speed Range300-350 MPH OPTIMAL FOR MANEUVERING
PHS 14 — Descent / Approach5 steps
01AltimeterSET QNH
02MixtureRICH BELOW 5,000 FT
03GunsSAFE
04Fuel SelectorFUSELAGE TANK (NOT EXTERNAL)
05SpeedREDUCE TO 150-160 MPH (130-140 KTS)
PHS 15 — Landing9 steps
01GearCAUTION: Gear limit 190 MPH.DOWN - INDICATOR GREEN
02FlapsDOWN BELOW 170 MPH
03PropellerFULL FORWARD
04MixtureRICH
05Approach Speed120-130 MPH (105-115 KTS)
06Threshold Speed110-115 MPH
07TouchdownTHREE-POINT ATTITUDE OR WHEEL LANDING
08Throttle at TouchdownIDLE
09BrakesCAUTION: Tail-wheel aircraft prone to ground loops. Use brakes gently and keep straight.APPLY CAREFULLY - GROUND LOOP RISK
PHS 16 — After Landing2 steps
01FlapsUP
02GunsSAFE CONFIRMED
PHS 17 — Shutdown7 steps
01Parking BrakeSET
02ThrottleIDLE - ALLOW COOLING
03MixtureIDLE CUT-OFF TO STOP ENGINE
04MagnetosOFF AFTER ENGINE STOPS
05Fuel PumpOFF
06BatteryOFF
07CanopyOPEN