AV-8B Harrier IIDCS WORLD Startup Checklist · 123 steps

AV-8B Harrier II

DCS WORLD — 0/123 STEPS

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AV-8B Harrier II
U.S. Marine Corps / Wikimedia CommonsPublic Domain
AttackCold War

AIRCRAFT BRIEF

The McDonnell Douglas AV-8B Harrier II is a single-engine, V/STOL (Vertical/Short Takeoff and Landing) ground-attack aircraft operated by the U.S. Marine Corps. Entering service in 1985, it can operate from amphibious assault ships, austere forward bases, and even road strips. Its Rolls-Royce Pegasus engine with four rotating nozzles allows it to transition between hovering like a helicopter and flying like a conventional jet.

Startup Walkthrough

SPECIFICATIONS

manufacturerMcDonnell Douglas / BAe (now Boeing)
first Flight1981
roleV/STOL attack aircraft
crew1 pilot
engines1x Rolls-Royce F402-RR-408 Pegasus (23,500 lbf)
max Speed1,065 km/h (575 kts)
range2,200 km (1,200 nmi)
ceiling50,000 ft
weight14,061 kg (MTOW — STO)
PHS 1 — Electrical / Pre-Start7 steps
01ThrottleOFF
02Parking BrakeSET
03Nozzle LeverNOTE: Nozzles pointing aft for conventional flight.FULL AFT (0°)
04Battery SwitchON
05External PowerCONNECT (if available)
06GeneratorON
07Fuel ShutoffON
PHS 2 — Engine Start7 steps
01H2O Mode SwitchOFF
02Engine Start ButtonNOTE: Pegasus engine starts — monitor JPT.PRESS
03JPT (Jet Pipe Temp)WARNING: JPT must not exceed 675°C during start. Abort if exceeded.MONITOR
04RPMMONITOR — Rising
05ThrottleCAUTION: Advance to IDLE only after RPM indication.IDLE (when RPM >15%)
06Engine StabilizeCHECK — ~55% RPM at idle, JPT below 500°C
07External PowerDISCONNECT
PHS 3 — Post-Start / Systems10 steps
01GeneratorVERIFY ON
02Hydraulic PressureCHECK — Normal
03Flight ControlsNOTE: Nozzles at 0° for control check.CYCLE — Stick and rudder
04Reaction Control SystemNOTE: RCS provides control authority in hover/VSTOL.CHECK — Verify puffers
05Nozzle LeverCAUTION: Verify nozzles move smoothly through full range.CYCLE — Check nozzle rotation
06FlapsCHECK — Cycle and return
07Speed BrakeCHECK — Extend and retract
08TrimSET — Takeoff
09NWSON
10Anti-SkidON
PHS 4 — INS / Avionics14 steps
01INS KnobNOTE: Full alignment ~8 minutes. Carrier align available.GND ALIGN
02INS StatusMONITOR — Wait for NAV ready
03INS KnobNAV (when aligned)
04HUDON — Brightness as required
05MPCD / MFDON
06ODU (Option Display Unit)CHECK
07Radar (APG-65)NOTE: Allow warm-up time.STBY
08RWR (ALR-67)ON
09CMDS (ALE-39)ON — Set program
10IFF / TransponderSET
11Radios (UHF / VHF)SET frequencies
12TACANSET channel
13AltimeterSET — Field elevation
14DMT (Dual Mode Tracker)ON (if targeting pod equipped)
PHS 5 — Before Taxi8 steps
01CanopyCLOSE & LOCK
02Ejection SeatWARNING: Verify canopy locked.ARM
03VSTOL Master ModeNOTE: Select STO or VSTOL mode as required.SET (for vertical/short takeoff)
04FlapsNOTE: Set for short takeoff — STOL flap setting.STO position
05TrimSET — 0° rudder, 0° aileron, 4° nose down
06Taxi LightON
07Anti-Collision LightON
08Parking BrakeRELEASE
PHS 6 — Taxi5 steps
01NWSCHECK responsive
02Taxi SpeedSAFE — max 10 kts
03Nozzle LeverCHECK — Full aft (0°)
04InstrumentsCHECK during taxi
05BrakesCHECK
PHS 7 — Before Takeoff (STO)7 steps
01Nozzle AngleNOTE: STO nozzle setting for rolling takeoff.SET — ~50° (short takeoff)
02Water InjectionNOTE: H2O provides additional thrust for takeoff.SET — TO mode (if required)
03FlapsSTO
04TrimVERIFY — 4° nose down stabilator
05Fuel QuantityCHECK — Adequate
06Master ArmSAFE
07Strobe LightsON
PHS 8 — Takeoff (Short Takeoff)10 steps
01Lineup on RunwayCENTERLINE
02BrakesHOLD
03ThrottleNOTE: Nozzles at ~50° provide both lift and thrust.FULL POWER
04BrakesRELEASE
05At 80–100 ktsROTATE — Slight aft stick
06Positive ClimbCONFIRMED
07Landing GearUP
08Nozzle LeverCAUTION: Transition smoothly — do not slam nozzles aft.SLOWLY rotate AFT (0°)
09FlapsRETRACT (above 180 kts)
10Water InjectionOFF
PHS 9 — After Takeoff / Climb6 steps
01Landing GearCONFIRM UP
02NozzlesCONFIRM 0° (full aft)
03AirspeedACCELERATE to 300 kts
04AltimeterCHECK
05Taxi / Landing LightsOFF
06Climb AltitudeAS ASSIGNED
PHS 10 — Cruise / Transit7 steps
01AltitudeAT assigned level
02AirspeedNOTE: Max speed ~575 kts. Cruise ~400 kts.AS REQUIRED
03AutopilotENGAGE (if desired)
04Fuel StateNOTE: Harrier has limited range — watch fuel closely.MONITOR
05NavigationCHECK waypoints
06RadarAS REQUIRED
07RWR / CMDSMONITOR
PHS 11 — Descent / Approach9 steps
01ATIS / WeatherOBTAINED
02AltimeterSET local QNH
03AirspeedREDUCE below 300 kts
04Landing ModeSELECT — VSTOL or conventional
05Nozzle LeverNOTE: Slowly rotate nozzles forward for deceleration.SET for approach (if VSTOL)
06Landing GearDOWN (below 210 kts)
07FlapsDOWN
08Landing LightON
09Master ArmSAFE
PHS 12 — Landing (Conventional)5 steps
01Approach SpeedNOTE: Conventional approach speed.~130 kts
02ThrottleIDLE at touchdown
03NosewheelLOWER gently
04BrakingAPPLY
05NWSENGAGE
PHS 13 — Landing (Vertical)8 steps
01Nozzle LeverNOTE: Decelerate to hover.~80° (braking stop)
02AirspeedREDUCE to hover — below 40 kts
03Nozzle LeverNOTE: Nozzles straight down for hover.90° (full down — hover)
04ThrottleMANAGE — Control descent rate
05RCSCAUTION: Avoid rapid or large control inputs in hover.ACTIVE — Puffers control attitude
06DescentSLOW — 2–3 ft/sec max
07TouchdownGEAR on deck — Level attitude
08ThrottleIDLE after stable on deck
PHS 14 — After Landing5 steps
01Nozzle LeverFULL AFT (0°)
02FlapsRETRACT
03RadarSTBY
04TransponderSTBY
05Landing LightOFF
PHS 15 — Shutdown15 steps
01Parking BrakeSET
02RadarOFF
03RWROFF
04CMDSOFF
05RadiosOFF
06TACANOFF
07IFFOFF
08Ejection SeatWARNING: Safe seat before ground crew approach.SAFE
09ThrottleOFF
10Fuel ShutoffOFF
11GeneratorOFF
12HUD / DisplaysOFF
13All LightsOFF
14BatteryOFF
15CanopyOPEN