P-38F OPERATING PROCEDURES

BEFORE STARTING ENGINE

[ ] Brakes -- TEST and SET
[ ] Electrical Equipment -- OFF
[ ] Landing Gear Lever -- DOWN
[ ] Close Canopy -- Shift + E
[ ] Check/Set fuel level as desired
[ ] Set AC realism to auto-mixture (Until cruise)
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ENGINE START

Press Ctrl+E to initiate engine auto-start, or:

LEFT ENGINE
[ ] Propeller -- HIGH rpm
[ ] Mixture -- RICH
[ ] Propeller Area -- CLEAR
[ ] Master Battery Switch -- ON
[ ] Ignition -- BOTH
[ ] Hold Engine Start Switch -- ON until it catches

Then:

[ ] Throttle -- 1,000 rpm
[ ] Oil Pressure -- CHECK

RIGHT ENGINE
[ ] Propeller -- HIGH rpm
[ ] Mixture -- RICH
[ ] Propeller Area -- CLEAR
[ ] Master Battery Switch -- ON
[ ] Ignition -- BOTH
[ ] Hold Engine Start Switch -- ON until it catches

Then:

[ ] Throttle -- 1,000 rpm
[ ] Oil Pressure -- CHECK
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BEFORE TAKEOFF

[ ] Brakes -- SET
[ ] Flight Controls -- FREE and CORRECT
[ ] Flight Instruments -- CHECK and SET including clock and alt.
[ ] Mixture -- AUTO MIXTURE (Set levers rich, idle cutoff is active)
[ ] Fuel Quantity -- CHECK
[ ] Elevator Trim -- SET for takeoff at 1/2 up
[ ] Rudder Trim -- SET for takeoff at neutral

LEFT ENGINE
[ ] Throttle -- 2,300 rpm
[ ] Magnetos -- CHECK
[ ] Propeller -- CYCLE high rpm/
low rpm/high rpm
[ ] Engine Instruments -- CHECK
[ ] Throttle -- 800-1,000 rpm

RIGHT ENGINE
[ ] Throttle -- 2,300 rpm
[ ] Magnetos -- CHECK
[ ] Propeller -- CYCLE high rpm/
low rpm/high rpm
[ ] Engine Instruments -- CHECK
[ ] Throttle -- 800-1,000 rpm
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TAXIING

The airplane taxis easily and forward visibility is good. Use differential throttle to save the brakes. There is no danger of nose over or ground loop should it become necessary to turn sharply or to apply full brakes.
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TAKEOFF

Once lined up on the runway, taxi a few feet straight so that the nose wheel will be in line when take-off power is applied. Maximum performance take-offs require holding the airplane with brakes at the end of the runway until engine power reaches desired setting. Because of the tricycle landing gear, there is no tendency for the airplane to take-off by itself, and no feeling of lightness as take-off speed is reached. Start to ease the control column back at about 70 mph, then at 90 or 100 lift the airplane into the air.

[ ] Flaps -- As desired up to 1/3 for short take-off distance
[ ] Throttles -- 46 in. Hg.
[ ] Mixtures -- RICH (may be leaned above 3000' if automixture turned off)
[ ] Propellers -- FULL FORWARD
[ ] Brakes -- RELEASE
[ ] Elevator Control -- LIFT NOSE WHEEL at 70-80 mph
[ ] Climb Speed -- 160 mph
[ ] Brakes -- APPLY momentarily when airborne to stop wheels from turning
[ ] Landing Gear -- UP
[ ] Flaps -- RETRACT
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CLIMB

NORMAL CLIMB

[ ] Airspeed -- 160 mph
[ ] Throttle -- 40 in. Hg.
[ ] Propeller -- 2,600 rpm
[ ] Fuel Selector Valve -- BOTH (do not touch)
[ ] Mixture -- AUTO-MIXTURE (may be leaned above 3,000' if auto mixture off)

MAXIMUM PERFORMANCE CLIMB

[ ] Airspeed -- 200 mph
[ ] Throttle -- FULL (47 in. Hg.)
[ ] Propeller -- 2,900 rpm
[ ] Mixture -- AUTO-MIXTURE
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MAXIMUM CRUISE

[ ] Throttles -- 43 in. Hg.
[ ] Propellers -- 2,600 rpm
[ ] Mixtures -- MAY Remain in Auto-Mixture
[ ] Elevator Trim -- ADJUST
[ ] Rudder Trim -- ADJUST

Max. normal engine speed 2,600 rpm
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LONG RANGE CRUISE

[ ] Throttles -- 22 in. Hg.
[ ] Propellers -- 2,000 rpm
[ ] Elevator Trim -- ADJUST
[ ] Rudder Trim -- ADJUST
[ ] Mixtures -- LEAN as required: turn off auto-mixture and press CTRL+SHIFT+F2 several times until engine loses power, then press CTRL+SHIFT+F3 once for full power.

See Reference Tab for more cruise settings
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DIVING

[ ] Canopy -- CLOSED
[ ] Landing Gear -- UP
[ ] Wing Flaps -- UP
[ ] Propellers -- 2400 rpm or less
[ ] Mixtures -- AUTO MIXTURE
[ ] Throttles -- SLIGHTLY OPEN
[ ] Airspeed -- Max. mph
      410 @ 10,000 ft
      360 @ 20,000 ft
      290 @ 30,000 FT

Manifold pressure must be kept above 20 in. Hg. during dive

Engine speed must not exceed 3,120 rpm
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SINGLE ENGINE OPERATIONS

[ ] Throttle -- 45 in. Hg.
[ ] Propeller -- 3,000 rpm
[ ] Airspeed -- 165 mph
[ ] Mixture -- AUTO MIXTURE
Do not use full power on the live engine below 120 mph
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DESCENT

[ ] Throttle -- AS DESIRED
[ ] Propeller -- AS DESIRED
[ ] Mixture -- SET TO AUTO-MIXTURE

Carburetor heat is automatically provided by
superchargers

[ ] Flaps -- AS DESIRED WITHIN PLACARD LIMITS -- (See Below)
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BEFORE LANDING

[ ] Airspeed -- 120 mph
[ ] Landing Gear -- DOWN
(below 175 mph)
[ ] Flaps -- Up to 1/3 down (below 175 mph)
[ ] Mixtures -- AUTO-MIXTURE, OR RICH
[ ] Propellers -- 2800 rpm
[ ] Carburetor Heat -- in extremely cold conditions Lower flaps to 1/3 and increase power boldly.
[ ] Trim -- ADJUST TO NEUTRAL
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LANDING

[ ] Landing Lights -- As needed (slash key plus toggle on panel)
[ ] Flaps -- 2/3 or FULL DOWN (below 150 mph)
[ ] Airspeed -- 105-110 mph (flaps DOWN)
[ ] Flare to make contact at about 70-80 mph
[ ] Touchdown -- MAIN WHEELS FIRST
[ ] Landing Roll -- LOWER NOSE WHEEL GENTLY
[ ] Braking -- MINIMUM REQUIRED
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AFTER LANDING

[ ] Flaps -- UP
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BELLY LANDINGS and
WATER LANDINGS (DITCHING)

[ ] Landing Gear -- UP
[ ] Landing Flaps -- DOWN
[ ] Shoulder Harness -- LOCKED
[ ] Canopy -- OPEN (shift + E)

PRIOR TO CONTACT WITH GROUND OR WATER

[ ] Switches -- OFF
[ ] Fuel Selector OFF
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BAILING OUT

[ ] Airspeed -- REDUCE as much as possible
[ ] Canopy -- OPEN
[ ] Abandon airplane

CAUTION: Before bailing out at altitude,
inhale as much oxygen as possible.
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SECURING AIRPLANE

[ ] Brakes -- SET

Right Engine
[ ] Throttle -- IDLE
[ ] Propeller -- HIGH rpm
[ ] Mixture -- IDLE CUT-OFF
[ ] Ignition Switch -- OFF

Left Engine
[ ] Throttle -- IDLE
[ ] Propeller -- HIGH rpm
[ ] Mixture -- IDLE CUTOFF
[ ] Ignition Switch -- OFF

[ ] Master Battery Switch -- OFF

Snap rolls and intentional spins are prohibited with this airplane; such maneuvers as Immelmans, loops, and rolls are permitted with the exercise of extreme care. Continuous inverted flight is prohibited.