Alpha P

Alpha FS9 P-51D Mustang Checklist/Procedures

Specifications

Manufacturer: North American
Model: P-51D Mustang
Engine: Packard-Merlin V-1650-7
Takeoff Power: 1,590 horsepower
Combat Power: 1,720 horsepower
Top speed @ 25,000 ft: 437 mph TAS (Full throttle)
Top speed @ sea level: 370 mph TAS (Full throttle)
Initial climb: 3,475 fpm with full throttle
Armament: (6) .50 caliber machine guns
Range: 1,300 miles on internal fuel at optimal cruise
Ramp weight: 7,760 lbs.
1 g stall, clean: 102 mph IAS (8,300 lbs.)
1 g stall, landing: 85 mph IAS (8,300 lbs.)
Takeoff weight: 9,650 lbs. (No payload, full fuel)
Maximum weight: 12,403 lbs.

Use the Fuel/Payload menu to adjust the fuel load and add
payload weight to simulate armament and external stores. The
normal ammunition weight for this airplane is 564 pounds
which can be added to the payload. The weight of bombs
and other ordnance can also be added to bring the plane up
to the maximum weight of 12,403 lbs. To use the external fuel
tanks, replace the "aircraft.cfg" file with the one named
"aircraft_ext_fuel.cfg". Then rename this file "aircraft.cfg".
You will now have two external tanks available in the fuel/payloads
menu. Adjust as desired.

This aircraft, like the real P-51D, is very maneuverable
and requires a skilled pilot. Due to the laminar flow airfoil
and other design factors, the onset of the stall is very sudden
compared to many other aircraft, and spin recovery is difficult.
Takeoffs and landings are also very challenging because of the
torque factor and sloppy low-speed handling characteristics of
this thoroughbred aircraft, which is only truly happy when
it is flown near its limits. Due to the adverse CG shift when
the fuselage tank is full, it is recommended this tank be
dumped or the fuel level set to 50% before engaging in combat
or acrobatic maneuvers. When runway length is sufficient it is
lso recommended to takeoff with just 46" of Hg to avoid serious
torque effects, another real-world practice.

This plane is NOT easy to fly, it takes a good deal of practice
and patience. The flight model is quite challenging, just
like the real aircraft. It has a very "tight" stick and very
narrow band of awareness from when the stall onset begins
to the full stall. It will tend to snap roll and spin shortly
after stalling. It's tricky in slow flight, as well. However,
it is very flyable once mastered.

__________________________________
BEFORE STARTING ENGINE

[ ] Brakes -- TEST and SET
[ ] Electrical Equipment -- OFF
[ ] Landing Gear Lever -- DOWN
[ ] Fuel Selector Valve -- BOTH
__________________________________
ENGINE START

Press E to initiate engine auto-start sequence, or:

[ ] Throttle -- OPEN 1/8
[ ] Propeller -- HIGH rpm
[ ] Mixture -- Automatic, set to full rich at all times
[ ] Propeller Area -- CLEAR
[ ] Master Battery Switch -- ON
[ ] Ignition -- BOTH
[ ] Engine Start Switch -- ON

Then:

[ ] Throttle -- 1,000 rpm
[ ] Oil Pressure -- CHECK
[ ] Throttle-- Idle or as desired
___________________________________
BEFORE TAKEOFF

[ ] Brakes -- SET
[ ] Flight Controls -- FREE and CORRECT
[ ] Flight Instruments -- CHECK and SET
[ ] Mixture -- Automatic, set to full rich at all times
[ ] Fuel Quantity -- CHECK
[ ] Fuel Selector Valve -- RECHECK BOTH
[ ] Elevator Trim -- Neutral (Adjust for aft tank fuel weight)
[ ] Aileron Trim -- Neutral to right wing down 1-3 degrees
[ ] Rudder Trim -- Neutral to nose right 1-3 degrees

[ ] Throttle -- 2,300 rpm
[ ] Magnetos -- CHECK
[ ] Propeller -- CYCLE high rpm/
low rpm/high rpm
[ ] Engine Instruments -- CHECK
[ ] Throttle -- 800-1,000 rpm
[ ] Flaps -- SET for takeoff (0-20 degrees)
___________________________________
TAKEOFF

NOTE: Advance throttle smoothly and counter torque with
right rudder and aileron. It is also recommended to
takeoff with just 46" of Hg to avoid serious torque
effects unless you are on a short field or the takeoff
weight is higher than normal (10,100 lbs.).

[ ] Flaps -- As desired up to 1/4
[ ] Throttle -- 45-61" Hg depending on runway and load
[ ] Mixture -- Automatic, set to full rich at all times
[ ] Propeller -- FULL FORWARD
[ ] Elevator Control -- LIFT TAIL WHEEL 80 mph
[ ] Rotation speed -- 110-120 mph
[ ] Climb Speed -- 165 mph

[ ] Brakes -- APPLY momentarily when airborne
[ ] Landing Gear -- UP
[ ] Flaps -- RETRACT

___________________________________
CLIMB

NORMAL CLIMB

[ ] Airspeed -- 165 mph
[ ] Throttle -- 46" Hg
[ ] Propeller -- 2,850 rpm
[ ] Fuel Selector Valve -- ALL
[ ] Mixture -- Automatic, set to full rich at all times
[ ] Time to 25,000 feet -- 15 min 03 sec
[ ] Fuel to 25,000 feet -- 22 gallons

MAXIMUM PERFORMANCE CLIMB

[ ] Airspeed -- 165 mph
[ ] Throttle -- 64" Hg
[ ] Propeller -- 3,000 rpm
[ ] Fuel Selector Valve -- ALL
[ ] Mixture -- Automatic, set to full rich at all times

___________________________________
ECONOMY CRUISE

[ ] Altitude: 25,000'
[ ] Manifold Pressure -- 30" Hg
[ ] RPM -- 2000
[ ] IAS -- 201 mph
[ ] TAS -- 294 mph
[ ] Fuel consumption -- 44 gph
[ ] Range -- 1300 miles (with 31 gallon reserve)

___________________________________
COMBAT

[ ] Weapons -- ARM
[ ] External fuel tanks -- DROP
___________________________________
DIVING

[ ] Vmax -- 505 mph IAS below 9,000 feet
[ ] Vmax -- 300 mph IAS above 9,000 feet
[ ] Canopy -- CLOSED
[ ] Landing Gear -- UP
[ ] Wing Flaps -- UP
[ ] Propeller -- 3300 rpm or less
[ ] Mixture -- Automatic, set to full rich at all times
[ ] Throttle -- SLIGHTLY OPEN

Engine speed must not exceed 3,300 rpm
___________________________________
DESCENT

[ ] Fuel Selector Valve -- ALL
[ ] Throttle -- AS DESIRED
[ ] Propeller -- AS DESIRED
[ ] Mixture -- Automatic, set to full rich at all times

Carburetor heat is automatically provided by
supercharger.

[ ] Flaps -- AS DESIRED
___________________________________
BEFORE LANDING

[ ] Airspeed -- 160 mph
[ ] Fuel Selector Valve -- BEST
[ ] Landing Gear -- DOWN
(below 170 mph)
[ ] Mixture -- Automatic control, set to full rich
[ ] Propeller -- 3000 rpm
___________________________________
LANDING
[ ] Pattern entry -- 160 mph IAS
[ ] Downwind -- 150 mph IAS, flaps 10-20 degrees
[ ] Base -- 130 mph IAS, flaps 30-40 degrees
[ ] Final -- 120 mph IAS, flaps 50-60 degrees
[ ] Flaps -- FULL DOWN when runway is made
[ ] Over the fence --100 mph
[ ] Flare to make contact at about 90 mph

___________________________________
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

PRIOR TO CONTACT WITH GROUND OR WATER

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

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

___________________________________
SECURING AIRPLANE

[ ] Brakes -- SET

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

[ ] Master Battery Switch -- OFF
[ ] Fuel Selector Valve -- OFF

NOTE: This aircraft's real-world checklists have been modified for use with Flight Simulator. To learn about printing and customizing checklists, see "Creating Your Own Checklists" in the Help menu.