DCS WORLD · Rotary
UH-1H Huey Startup Checklist
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FLIGHT2.0Checklist
UH-1H HueyDCS WORLD · Startup Checklist · 123 steps · 16 phases
PHS 1 — Pre-Flight Planning8 steps
| 01 | Mission BriefREVIEWEDNOTE: Review mission type, LZ locations, ingress/egress routes, and threat environment. | |
| 02 | Weather BriefingREVIEWEDNOTE: Check departure, enroute, and LZ weather. Wind direction critical for approach planning. | |
| 03 | NOTAMs / AirspaceREVIEWEDNOTE: Check restricted areas, active ranges, and airspace restrictions. | |
| 04 | Fuel PlanningCALCULATEDNOTE: Plan fuel for mission duration plus 20-minute reserve. Factor in hover time at LZ. | |
| 05 | Weight & Balance / PayloadWITHIN LIMITSCAUTION: Max gross weight 9,500 lbs. Account for passengers, cargo, and fuel. CG critical for hover. | |
| 06 | Performance PlanningCHECKEDNOTE: Check density altitude - determines hover ceiling and max payload. High/hot degrades performance significantly. | |
| 07 | Route / LZ SurveyREVIEWEDNOTE: Review landing zone size, obstacles, approach/departure paths, and alternate LZs. | |
| 08 | Radio Frequencies / IFFSETNOTE: Set UHF/VHF/FM presets. Note JTAC and flight frequencies. Confirm IFF codes. |
PHS 2 — Electrical / Pre-Start8 steps
| 01 | Circuit BreakersCHECK - All in | |
| 02 | Battery SwitchON | |
| 03 | Main Generator SwitchON | |
| 04 | Non-Essential BusON | |
| 05 | Inverter SwitchOFFNOTE: AC power off until after engine start. | |
| 06 | Caution Panel - Low RPM WarningPRESS to resetCAUTION: Silence the low RPM warning before starting to prevent audio damage. | |
| 07 | Pitot HeatOFF | |
| 08 | De-Ice SwitchOFF |
PHS 3 — Engine Setup7 steps
| 01 | Governor SwitchAUTO (Forward)NOTE: AUTO allows governor to maintain 6,600 RPM. | |
| 02 | Main Fuel SwitchON (Forward) | |
| 03 | Chip Detector SwitchBOTH (Forward) | |
| 04 | Force Trim SwitchON (Forward) | |
| 05 | Hydraulic Control SwitchON (Forward) | |
| 06 | CollectiveFULL DOWN | |
| 07 | ThrottleCLOSE - Rotate to idle stop positionNOTE: Press idle release button to move past idle stop. |
PHS 4 — Engine Start8 steps
| 01 | Starter ButtonPRESS & HOLDNOTE: Hold starter until N1 reaches 40%. | |
| 02 | N1 RPMMONITOR - Rotors start turning at ~15% N1 | |
| 03 | Starter ButtonRELEASE at 40% N1 | |
| 04 | EGTMONITORWARNING: EGT must not exceed 400°C during start. Exceeding 610°C causes engine damage. | |
| 05 | ThrottleSLOWLY advance to full open at 70% N1CAUTION: Advance throttle gradually - sudden movement risks overtorque. | |
| 06 | N2 / Rotor RPMSTABILIZE at 6,600 RPM (324 rotor)NOTE: Governor auto-maintains RPM. N1 and N2 needles should be married. | |
| 07 | Oil PressureCHECK - 40–70 PSI | |
| 08 | EGT (Stabilized)CHECK - below 400°C at idle |
PHS 5 — Post-Start / Systems11 steps
| 01 | Inverter SwitchMAIN ONNOTE: Enables AC power for instruments. | |
| 02 | Starter / Generator SwitchSTBY GEN | |
| 03 | Radar AltimeterON | |
| 04 | Gyro / Attitude IndicatorCHECK - Erect and stable | |
| 05 | CompassSET heading | |
| 06 | AltimeterSET - Field elevation / QNH | |
| 07 | Radios (UHF / VHF / FM)SET frequencies | |
| 08 | ICS / IntercomCHECK with crew | |
| 09 | ADF / NavigationSET as required | |
| 10 | Caution PanelCHECK - No warnings | |
| 11 | Engine InstrumentsCHECK - All in green |
PHS 6 — Before Taxi7 steps
| 01 | Flight ControlsCHECK - Free and correctNOTE: Cyclic, collective, and pedals full travel. | |
| 02 | TrimCHECK - Center | |
| 03 | DoorsCLOSED or as required | |
| 04 | Crew / PassengersBRIEFED and secure | |
| 05 | Landing LightAS REQUIRED | |
| 06 | Anti-Collision LightON | |
| 07 | Position LightsAS REQUIRED |
PHS 7 — Hover / Taxi7 steps
| 01 | Area ClearCHECK - Clear all sides | |
| 02 | CollectiveSLOWLY RAISECAUTION: Increase collective gradually - torque increases rapidly. | |
| 03 | Left PedalADD to counter torqueNOTE: Huey torques right - add left pedal as collective increases. | |
| 04 | Hover Height3–5 ft AGLNOTE: In ground effect - collective should be stable. | |
| 05 | Engine InstrumentsCHECK - Torque, EGT, RPM in limits | |
| 06 | Hover TaxiFORWARD CYCLIC gentlyNOTE: Walking pace - below translational lift speed. | |
| 07 | Ground TaxiALTERNATIVE - Low collective, skids on groundNOTE: Only on smooth surfaces. Keep RPM at 6,600. |
PHS 8 — Before Takeoff6 steps
| 01 | Engine InstrumentsCHECK - All greenNOTE: Torque, EGT, N1, N2, oil press/temp. | |
| 02 | Fuel QuantityCHECK - Adequate for mission | |
| 03 | Caution PanelCLEAR - No warnings | |
| 04 | TransponderSET and ON | |
| 05 | WeaponsSAFENOTE: Master Arm OFF for takeoff. | |
| 06 | RadiosSET - Contact tower/ATC |
PHS 9 — Takeoff7 steps
| 01 | Wind CheckNOTE - Takeoff into wind preferred | |
| 02 | CollectiveINCREASE smoothlyCAUTION: Monitor torque - do not exceed 48 PSI. | |
| 03 | PedalsMAINTAIN heading | |
| 04 | CyclicFORWARD - Accelerate through ETLNOTE: Expect slight vibration and left yaw at ETL (~15 kts). | |
| 05 | Translational LiftFEEL - Aircraft climbs at ~16–24 ktsNOTE: Helicopter becomes more efficient - reduce collective slightly. | |
| 06 | Climb Speed60–70 ktsNOTE: Best climb speed for the Huey. | |
| 07 | Climb Rate500–1,000 ft/minNOTE: Adjust collective and cyclic for desired climb. |
PHS 10 — Climb5 steps
| 01 | Airspeed60–70 kts (Vy)NOTE: Best rate of climb speed. | |
| 02 | Engine InstrumentsMONITOR - All in limits | |
| 03 | TorqueMONITOR - Max continuous 40 PSI | |
| 04 | AltimeterCHECK - Set QNH or STD | |
| 05 | Landing LightOFF (above 500 ft AGL) |
PHS 11 — Cruise7 steps
| 01 | AltitudeAT assigned level | |
| 02 | Airspeed80–100 kts (normal cruise)NOTE: Max speed 120 kts. Adjust for mission. | |
| 03 | TorqueSET - Cruise powerNOTE: Typically 30–35 PSI. | |
| 04 | Fuel StateMONITOR - Check quantity | |
| 05 | NavigationCHECK - Heading, ADF, position | |
| 06 | Engine InstrumentsSCAN - Regular instrument check | |
| 07 | TrimADJUST as needed |
PHS 12 — Descent5 steps
| 01 | Airspeed80–90 kts descent speed | |
| 02 | CollectiveREDUCE for descentCAUTION: Avoid rapid collective reduction - may cause rotor droop. | |
| 03 | Rate of Descent300–500 ft/min normal | |
| 04 | AltimeterSET - Local QNH | |
| 05 | Landing ZoneIDENTIFY - Wind direction, obstacles |
PHS 13 — Approach6 steps
| 01 | Landing LightON | |
| 02 | AirspeedREDUCE - Decelerate to 40–60 kts | |
| 03 | CollectiveMANAGE - Control rate of descent | |
| 04 | Approach AngleMAINTAIN - Steady approachNOTE: Aim for a constant angle to the landing point. | |
| 05 | PedalsMAINTAIN heading alignment | |
| 06 | DecelerateAFT CYCLIC - Reduce to hover speedCAUTION: Do not lose translational lift too quickly at high altitude. |
PHS 14 — Landing7 steps
| 01 | HoverESTABLISH at 3–5 ft AGLNOTE: Stabilize in ground effect before landing. | |
| 02 | Wind CheckFINAL - Note drift | |
| 03 | CollectiveSLOWLY LOWERNOTE: Gentle descent - let skids touch evenly. | |
| 04 | TouchdownSKIDS on ground - Level attitude | |
| 05 | CollectiveFULL DOWN after touchdown | |
| 06 | CyclicNEUTRAL | |
| 07 | PedalsNEUTRAL |
PHS 15 — After Landing5 steps
| 01 | WeaponsSAFE | |
| 02 | TransponderSTBY | |
| 03 | Landing LightOFF | |
| 04 | Anti-Collision LightON | |
| 05 | Engine InstrumentsCHECK - All normal |
PHS 16 — Shutdown19 steps
| 01 | CollectiveFULL DOWN | |
| 02 | ThrottleCLOSE to idleNOTE: Let engine cool for 2 minutes at idle. | |
| 03 | Weapons SystemsOFF | |
| 04 | Radar AltimeterOFF | |
| 05 | RadiosOFF | |
| 06 | Navigation EquipmentOFF | |
| 07 | InverterOFF | |
| 08 | ThrottleCLOSE - Rotate to OFFCAUTION: Wait for N1 RPM below 40% before securing. | |
| 09 | Main Fuel SwitchOFF | |
| 10 | N1 / N2 RPMMONITOR - Wait for full spool-down | |
| 11 | Force TrimOFF | |
| 12 | Hydraulic ControlOFF | |
| 13 | Governor SwitchOFF (Center) | |
| 14 | Non-Essential BusOFF | |
| 15 | Main GeneratorOFF | |
| 16 | Battery SwitchOFF | |
| 17 | Anti-Collision LightOFF | |
| 18 | All LightsOFF | |
| 19 | Rotor BrakeAPPLY when RPM below 30%WARNING: Never apply rotor brake above 30% RPM - causes damage. |