Su-33 Flanker-DDCS WORLD Startup Checklist · 84 steps
Su-33 Flanker-D
DCS WORLD - 0/84 STEPS

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Fighter4th Gen
AIRCRAFT BRIEF
The Sukhoi Su-33 Flanker-D is the carrier-based variant of the Su-27, developed for operations aboard the Russian carrier Admiral Kuznetsov. It features folding wings and tailplanes, a strengthened undercarriage, and an arresting hook for deck landings. Instead of catapult launches, the Su-33 uses a ski-jump ramp in a STOBAR (Short Take-Off But Arrested Recovery) configuration. It entered service in 1995 and remains Russia's primary carrier fighter.
RANGE VISUALIZER
SPECIFICATIONS
manufacturerSukhoi Design Bureau
first Flight1985
roleCarrier-based air superiority fighter
crew1 pilot
engines2x Saturn AL-31F3 (28,218 lbf each with AB)
max Speed2,300 km/h (Mach 2.17)
range3,000 km (1,620 nmi)
ceiling57,400 ft
weight33,000 kg (MTOW)
PHS 1 — Pre-Flight Planning7 steps
| 01 | Mission BriefNOTE: Review mission, carrier ops, threat environment, and bingo airfield. | REVIEWED | |
| 02 | Weather BriefingNOTE: Check carrier area weather, ceiling, sea state, and recovery conditions. | REVIEWED | |
| 03 | NOTAMs / Carrier NOTAM | REVIEWED | |
| 04 | Fuel Planning - Joker / BingoNOTE: Su-33 internal fuel ~9,500 kg. Plan bingo to divert base if carrier unavailable. | SET | |
| 05 | Weapons / LoadoutNOTE: Confirm R-73, R-27, gun load per mission. | VERIFIED | |
| 06 | Carrier Frequency / TACANNOTE: Note carrier TACAN channel for recovery. | SET | |
| 07 | Divert BasesNOTE: Know nearest land divert in case of carrier unavailability. | IDENTIFIED |
PHS 2 — Cockpit Preparation3 steps
| 01 | Seat Harness | FASTENED TIGHT | |
| 02 | Oxygen System | ON - CHECK FLOW | |
| 03 | CanopyCAUTION: Verify canopy latch secure before start. | CLOSED AND LOCKED |
PHS 3 — Electrical Power3 steps
| 01 | Battery Switch | ON | |
| 02 | Emergency Power Panel | CHECKED | |
| 03 | Hydraulic Panel | CHECK INDICATORS |
PHS 4 — Engine Start9 steps
| 01 | Left Engine StartNOTE: Start left engine first. Watch N2 rpm rise. | INITIATE | |
| 02 | Left Engine EGT During StartWARNING: Hot start if EGT exceeds limit - cut off fuel immediately. | < 890 C | |
| 03 | Left Engine Idle | 65-67% | |
| 04 | Left Hydraulics | PRESSURE NORMAL | |
| 05 | Right Engine Start | INITIATE | |
| 06 | Right Engine EGT During StartWARNING: Hot start if EGT exceeds limit - cut off fuel immediately. | < 890 C | |
| 07 | Right Engine Idle | 65-67% | |
| 08 | Right Hydraulics | PRESSURE NORMAL | |
| 09 | Generators | BOTH ONLINE |
PHS 5 — Avionics / Navigation9 steps
| 01 | HUD | ON | |
| 02 | MFDs | ON - BIT COMPLETE | |
| 03 | INS AlignmentNOTE: Allow ~8 min for full inertial alignment. Can use stored heading for quicker align. | ALIGNING | |
| 04 | Radar (N001K)NOTE: 3 min warm-up before operational use. | WARM UP | |
| 05 | IFF System | SET CODES | |
| 06 | TACAN / RSBNNOTE: Enter carrier TACAN for recovery. | SET CARRIER CHANNEL | |
| 07 | Altimeter | SET QNH / CARRIER ELEVATION | |
| 08 | Radio Frequencies | SET | |
| 09 | Arresting Hook Control | UP - CONFIRMED |
PHS 6 — Weapons Check3 steps
| 01 | Master ArmCAUTION: Keep safe until departure from carrier. | SAFE | |
| 02 | Weapon Stations | VERIFIED | |
| 03 | Chaff / Flare System | LOADED |
PHS 7 — Before Taxi / Deck Operations6 steps
| 01 | INS Alignment | COMPLETE | |
| 02 | Flight Controls | FULL TRAVEL - FREE AND CORRECT | |
| 03 | Folded WingsCAUTION: Ensure wings are fully deployed and locked before takeoff. | VERIFY UNFOLDED AND LOCKED | |
| 04 | Engine Parameters | BOTH IN LIMITS | |
| 05 | Fuel Quantity | CHECKED | |
| 06 | Parking Brake | RELEASED FOR DECK MOVEMENT |
PHS 8 — Ski-Jump Takeoff8 steps
| 01 | Align with Ski-Jump | CENTERED ON CENTERLINE | |
| 02 | Parking Brake | HOLD - BRAKES ON | |
| 03 | ThrottlesNOTE: Full AB required for ski-jump STOBAR departure. | ADVANCE TO AFTERBURNER | |
| 04 | Engine Parameters | FULL AB - BOTH ENGINES SYMMETRIC | |
| 05 | Release Brakes | RELEASE - BEGIN ROLL | |
| 06 | Track Centerline | MAINTAIN THROUGH SKI JUMP | |
| 07 | Rotate Over Ski-Jump | POSITIVE CLIMB ATTITUDE ESTABLISHED | |
| 08 | Landing GearCAUTION: Do not retract gear while still in ground effect near sea level. | UP AS SOON AS POSITIVE CLIMB CONFIRMED |
PHS 9 — After Takeoff / Climb5 steps
| 01 | Landing Gear | UP AND LOCKED | |
| 02 | Afterburner | REDUCE WHEN SAFE ALTITUDE ESTABLISHED | |
| 03 | Climb Speed | 600 KM/H BELOW 5,000 M | |
| 04 | Radar | ACTIVE - SEARCH | |
| 05 | Weapons | ARM AS BRIEFED |
PHS 10 — Cruise5 steps
| 01 | Throttle Setting | 70-80% MIL FOR CRUISE EFFICIENCY | |
| 02 | Altitude | AS BRIEFED | |
| 03 | Fuel State | MONITOR - BINGO AWARENESS | |
| 04 | Radar | SCANNING | |
| 05 | RWR / SPO | MONITOR FOR THREATS |
PHS 11 — Descent / Carrier Approach6 steps
| 01 | Carrier TACAN | RECEIVING - BEARING TO SHIP | |
| 02 | Altimeter | SET QNH | |
| 03 | Radar | STANDBY | |
| 04 | Weapons | MASTER ARM SAFE | |
| 05 | Speed | REDUCE TO 450 KM/H FOR APPROACH | |
| 06 | Arresting HookNOTE: Deploy hook well before final approach. | DOWN |
PHS 12 — Carrier Landing (CASE I/II/III)7 steps
| 01 | Landing GearCAUTION: Select gear below 450 km/h. | DOWN - 3 GREEN | |
| 02 | Approach Speed | ~280-300 KM/H ON-SPEED | |
| 03 | MEATBALL / GLIDE SLOPE | CENTER - OPTICAL LANDING SYSTEM | |
| 04 | Line Up | CENTERLINE | |
| 05 | Touchdown | FIRM LANDING - MAINS FIRST | |
| 06 | Throttles at TouchdownNOTE: Apply full AB at touchdown in case of bolter. Retard only when hook catches wire. | FULL AB (Bolter Plan) | |
| 07 | Arrested Landing | THROTTLE TO IDLE AFTER HOOK CATCHES WIRE |
PHS 13 — After Landing / Deck5 steps
| 01 | Arresting Hook | UP AFTER CLEARING WIRE | |
| 02 | Follow Deck Director | TAXI TO ASSIGNED SPOT | |
| 03 | Wings | FOLD FOR PARKING (if on crowded deck) | |
| 04 | Radar | STANDBY | |
| 05 | IFF | STANDBY |
PHS 14 — Shutdown8 steps
| 01 | Parking Brake | SET | |
| 02 | Throttles | IDLE - COOLDOWN 2 MIN | |
| 03 | Avionics | OFF | |
| 04 | Left Engine | CUT OFF | |
| 05 | Right Engine | CUT OFF | |
| 06 | Electrical Systems | OFF | |
| 07 | Battery | OFF | |
| 08 | Canopy | OPEN |