Hornet Start-up question

[cbclark16]

I am ground crew and a turn qual on F18s. I can tell you, you do not need to contact ATC in order to start up. The only time you have to contact them for start up is on an aircraft carrier and then yes, ground crew contacts flight deck control for that.

[Archer_111]

Hi guys, where is the formation key on cockpit, i cant find it. Can anyone take a photo pls. :)

 

If you taking about the knob for formation lights/stripes, it's on the left and a bit forward of the left throttle.

The knob for navigation lights is right behind it. And the anti-collision / strobing light is hiding right next to the left throttle, which is a little hard to reach for. Fortunately it's set to BRT (bright) by default.

In real life a button on the left throttle is mapped for "exterior lights", with which the pilot can toggle to signal his ground crew during startup procedures. Does it mean the navigation lights :clap: ?

Edited June 5, 2018 by Archer_111

[sharkfin61]

I am ground crew and a turn qual on F18s. I can tell you, you do not need to contact ATC in order to start up. The only time you have to contact them for start up is on an aircraft carrier and then yes, ground crew contacts flight deck control for that.

 

 

Depends on country, airfield and (probably) aircraft.

German Air Force wants to call you for start-up.

[Hippo]

I am ground crew and a turn qual on F18s. I can tell you, you do not need to contact ATC in order to start up. The only time you have to contact them for start up is on an aircraft carrier and then yes, ground crew contacts flight deck control for that.

 

 

I wonder if you could spare a moment to answer a couple of questions, please don't feel that you have to hold back on detail.

 

"turn qual" - what is that?

 

If, it is not possible (or is it?) to have the radios on before the engines are started, how does the pilot communicate with the ground crew or tower before engine start?

 

I've only ever flown (civil) light aircraft, and am used to being able to use the radios before starting the engines (i.e. on battery), e.g. to get an ATIS. Is there a similar thing to ATIS in military flying?

 

I'm very interested as to how procedures differ between military and civil aviation generally. Does anyone have any good links to this?

Edited June 5, 2018 by Hippo

[Archer_111]

I am not sure if the the radars are removed. The weigh would have to be added to balance the aircraft. I know for the Thunderbirds the use the gun bay to store the oil used for the smoke, maybe is the same for the Blue Angels. Also, I do not think they do any of the checks on the demo line, they probably do the checks at the end of runway (EOR) like many other demo teams do. That would explain why they keep the spare aircraft at the end of runway.

 

You're right. Thanks for your input.

A little off topic, but it will be wonderful to put altogether our DCS Blue Angels, DCS Thunderbirds, DCS Russian Knights and DCS Swife, into one big airshow , and to see them doing startups and iFCS-BITs at EOR :thumbup: .

[Archer_111]

I wonder if you could spare a moment to answer a couple of questions, please don't feel that you have to hold back on detail.

 

"turn qual" - what is that?

 

If, it is not possible (or is it?) to have the radios on before the engines are started, how does the pilot communicate with the ground crew or tower before engine start?

 

I've only ever flown (civil) light aircraft, and am used to being able to use the radios before starting the engines (i.e. on battery), e.g. to get an ATIS. Is there a similar thing to ATIS in military flying?

 

I'm very interested as to how procedures differ between military and civil aviation generally. Does anyone have any good links to this?

 

I just want to ask the very same questions. Thanks !

[cbclark16]

I wonder if you could spare a moment to answer a couple of questions, please don't feel that you have to hold back on detail.

 

"turn qual" - what is that?

 

If, it is not possible (or is it?) to have the radios on before the engines are started, how does the pilot communicate with the ground crew or tower before engine start?

 

I've only ever flown (civil) light aircraft, and am used to being able to use the radios before starting the engines (i.e. on battery), e.g. to get an ATIS. Is there a similar thing to ATIS in military flying?

 

I'm very interested as to how procedures differ between military and civil aviation generally. Does anyone have any good links to this?

 

-Turn Qual just means that I can start the APU/Engines to be able to run BITs or test systems that can't be tested on ground power.

 

-It's possible only if you have ground power connected. You can't have them on with just battery power.

 

-For ATIS, I'm not a pilot, but I'd assume they'd get that during their briefings and also after startup when radios are online for an updated ATIS.

 

-I can't speak on the last question because I have never really dealt with civil aviation.

 

I hope I was able to answer some questions!

[uunilenkki]

I wonder if you could spare a moment to answer a couple of questions, please don't feel that you have to hold back on detail.

 

"turn qual" - what is that?

 

If, it is not possible (or is it?) to have the radios on before the engines are started, how does the pilot communicate with the ground crew or tower before engine start?

 

I've only ever flown (civil) light aircraft, and am used to being able to use the radios before starting the engines (i.e. on battery), e.g. to get an ATIS. Is there a similar thing to ATIS in military flying?

 

I'm very interested as to how procedures differ between military and civil aviation generally. Does anyone have any good links to this?

 

Communicating with the ground crew is done by hand signals and/or by connecting headphones to intercommunication system outside the A/C. Hand signals are always used. If needed the external power can be used to communicate by radios or ground line connected to A/C.

[cbclark16]

Communicating with the ground crew is done by hand signals and/or by connecting headphones to intercommunication system outside the A/C. Hand signals are always used. If needed the external power can be used to communicate by radios or ground line connected to A/C.

 

Ahh completely missed the second half of that question:doh:

Edited June 6, 2018 by cbclark16

[Rainmaker]

Calling for clearance to start is an Air Force thing, because they are neurotic control freaks.

 

It's partly a holdover from WWII when 100 B-17's would startup in synchronized fashion for fuel calculation purposes, since they were stretching every drop of gas.

 

I think the only purpose left is for the ground controllers to maintain SA to keep vehicles from inadvertently driving behind a jet engine too close. It's a noisy environment, so they gas truck guy might not know until it's too late and potentially get flipped over. Not a thing you want to have happen.

 

 

If we are talking USAF, none of that really applies at all. Towers have enough going on and could really care less. They also don’t grant start clearances. Radios don’t even work in many aicraft until they already have atleast one engine running anyway.

 

It’s also the responsibility of the guys driving on the ramp to have SA on what they are doing. No one has radio contact with the tower anyway most of the time unless you are in a CMA.

[iKyrThraad993i]

Have a question about start up too (Don't mean to hijack thread)

 

Does the F/A-18C ever need to use ground power to start up in and circumstances?

[Papa Spardy]

Have a question about start up too (Don't mean to hijack thread)

 

Does the F/A-18C ever need to use ground power to start up in and circumstances?

 

Not for normal flights. I have had pilots walk while charging the battery and kept ground power during start once. And some flights where pilots start the jet different ways for an inspection need ground power

[did]

Not for normal flights. I have had pilots walk while charging the battery and kept ground power during start once. And some flights where pilots start the jet different ways for an inspection need ground power

 

Test flight after phase inspection. Ground power is used in QRA to get all system under power, ins and radar in particular since they take some time to get fully on and ready to flight.

[did]

The radio ( com 1) to should work with batterie because it is part of the essential DC bus, like 2 FCC channel, i don't remember witch 2. That is a good test to do on DCS. Start both engine and close both gen, should be sufficient to fly the A/C.

[chuck_555]

Cheers, this has been annoying me for a while,now i know, I'm seahawk ground crew and the pilots must ask for engine start up every time, including rotor engagement whilst at sea.