From battery ON to in air in 45 seconds

[DmitriKozlowsky]

With some practice, and skipping, almost everything except engine start, Harrier II , in DCS, can be air in about 45 seconds. 20 seconds slower then your average passenger car.

Either a crazy scramble, or plain old theft.

I do notice that chocks have to be removed or air craft cannot be stolen, even if empty with just 50% internal fuel. It does need some fwd.

HarrierII_40sec_inAirl.trk

[Wostg]

Are you telling me you don't do the five finger checks to the crew chief and programme in your take off speeds? Are you telling me I did this 75 minute tutorial for nothing???

[DmitriKozlowsky]

Nope, no fingering. Takes too long to get her into their air. However, in practice, as I throw switches and power up, I am going through finger checks, without opening pages.

What is not needed: No lights, no comms, no nav. Really not even HUD, but its nice to have. 

What is needed: POWER, flaps, nozzles.

Combat Power: ON

T/O-Land H20: As needed, when needed.

Flaps: VTOL

Master Mode: VTOL

VSTOL gate to 60, 65, 70,75. depending on weight, density altitude, and available runway distance.

WHeel Brakes: stepped ON

Bring power to full

As power comes to full and wheel brakes are over powered, release

As speed goes above 60 knots  nozzles to 60, 65, 70, 75 as needed. By the time the nozzles are in position the aircraft is near or above 90 and weill jump into air.

 

Think like a pirate or criminal. What does aircraft needs to fly and what it does not.

 

[Dangerzone]

"Attention all pilots, scramble, scramble, scramble! Report to your aircraft immediately. This is not a drill. Repeat, scramble, scramble, scramble! Report to your..... Hey - Wait! What are you doing? - I didn't get to finish my announcement!" 

[DmitriKozlowsky]

Well, with a little imagination yuo can imagine all sorts of hyper-no-rules-no-barrs scramble.

1, Incoming enemy cruise or ballistic missiles, or enemy strike at its IP going into their bomb run.

2. You are stealing a Harrier, becouse Pepsi promised you one, and did not deliver. So you joined USMC or RNFAA, went through program and qualled on Harrier, just to steal it. If an enlisted Marine E-5 sgt. can steal a A-4M in real life, you can steal a Harrier in DCS.

3. Spitfire like air-air scramble during day with decent weather, to intercept low alt bogeys that snuck in below radar. You dont need nav, you can turn on comms and HUD after you r are in air. You dont need MFD's ON. All you need is engine power, electric power, Master Arm ON, and be in SEAM mode.

4. You are taking into battle a HarrierII with No-Go avionics. A common condition in Red Flag , and equivalent Navy/Marine exercises. A scorer would declare that this airframe has non-op FLIR, no TPOD available, laser designator/spotter is NO-GO, enemy has 'jammed' GPS so no IFA, then directs crew chief to turn off INS, so pilot has to fly mission with whiskey compass and a paper map. A new in theater, combat ROE, is that to limit collateral, using modified inert 'blue' ammunition on target. Rounds have propellant, but are low density 'blue' resin projectiles. Inert rounds impacting a traveling civilian car can still rip apart that car and occupants. 

Again what does Harrier needs to take off and fly? Pilot, engine power, hydralic power, electric power. Once in air, throw a few switches, to get HUD ON, go into SEAM mode, Master Arm: ON, and visually aquire. You are ready to fight. When oppourtunity arrises, switch NAV from OFF to IFA, and let GPS guide you. You won't have INS NAV, as gyros are not spun up. Your altitude may be whacked , as altimeter was not set. But hey you are fighting and flying in visual. Just like Group Captain Johnny Blaize against Gerrry in 1939-1940 BOB.