ScottishMartialArts
Self-Ejected
Despite not being a full WWII simulation, the beta P-51D module for DCS is quite a bit of fun. Although it won't fulfill your B-17 escort fantasies, DCS Mustang is by far the most detailed simulation of a P-51 ever produced. Every switch and gauge is fully modeled, supported by a great flight model and a detailed model of the aircraft's innerworkings, i.e. electrical systems, the engine, etc. In my never ending quest to get you fags interested in flight simulation, I decided to LP the included challenge campaign, which is essentially a series of game-like challenges that test your proficiency in and mastery of the P-51. Towards that end, lets run through the first mission, a simple start-up and taxi exercise.
Here is the inside of the P-51D cockpit:
The left side of the cockpit:
The right side:
Now to get this thing started. First, I turn on the battery disconnect and the generator disconnect switches. The former will allow the aircraft to draw power from the battery, and the latter will allow the aircraft to draw power from the generator once the engine is running.
Now that I have battery power I can turn on the VHF radio (the thing with the 5 red push buttons) and radio the control tower for startup clearance:
Now that I have start-up clearance, it's time to make a sweep of the cockpit, from left to right, turning on the appropriate systems and configuring the aircraft for startup. First, I place the flaps in the up position (yellow handle), although the flaps won't retract up until the hydraulic system has pressure from the engine, and then open the carburetor ram air port (the two other handles):
Up next, I set the radiator and oil radiator flaps to automatic, so that they will open and close according to the temperature of the engine:
Up next, I set the prop pitch to fine (black handle with a P label), the throttle (big grey handle) to half-inch open, and confirm that the mixture control lever (red handle with M label) is at off/extra lean:
Now I turn the fuel boost pumps on:
I turn on both magnetos:
I open the fuel shutoff valve (red vertical handle):
Now, I set the parking brake for engine start:
Tail and wingtip lights on:
Rear Warning Receiver (a small rear facing radar that alerts me if there is something on my tail) on:
IFF Receiver/Transmitter on (not currently modeled in the sim but you can still turn it on so why not?):
Priming the engine with fuel for start-up:
Finally to start the engine, I hold the starter until the engine fires evenly. Then, I quickly set the mixture control level to Run/Automatic, so that the engine receives a proper fuel mixture:
And the engine is running:
Now that suction powered instruments are operating normally, I can uncage the artificial horizon:
Finally, I turn on the gunsight:
And I'm all set to taxi to runway. Taxiing in the P-51 is a bit of a pain in the ass for a couple of reasons. First, as a tail dragger, your forward visibility out of the aircraft is pretty much nil, so you have to yaw the aircraft back and forth to get any visibility. Furthermore, the power of the Packard V-1650-7 engine makes it really easy to lose control of the aircraft on the ground due to torque and excessive acceleration. Finally, the tailwheel has to be locked to maintain control of the aircrafts turns, which means that the ground turning radius is quite large. So as far as taxiing goes, the P-51 is by far the hardest DCS aircraft to taxi.
And I'm at the runway, waiting for take-off clearance. Actually getting in the air will have to wait for the next update, as this mission ends here.
Hope you enjoyed the start of this LP. More updates to come, probably with some video in addition to screenshots.
Here is the inside of the P-51D cockpit:
The left side of the cockpit:
The right side:
Now to get this thing started. First, I turn on the battery disconnect and the generator disconnect switches. The former will allow the aircraft to draw power from the battery, and the latter will allow the aircraft to draw power from the generator once the engine is running.
Now that I have battery power I can turn on the VHF radio (the thing with the 5 red push buttons) and radio the control tower for startup clearance:
Now that I have start-up clearance, it's time to make a sweep of the cockpit, from left to right, turning on the appropriate systems and configuring the aircraft for startup. First, I place the flaps in the up position (yellow handle), although the flaps won't retract up until the hydraulic system has pressure from the engine, and then open the carburetor ram air port (the two other handles):
Up next, I set the radiator and oil radiator flaps to automatic, so that they will open and close according to the temperature of the engine:
Up next, I set the prop pitch to fine (black handle with a P label), the throttle (big grey handle) to half-inch open, and confirm that the mixture control lever (red handle with M label) is at off/extra lean:
Now I turn the fuel boost pumps on:
I turn on both magnetos:
I open the fuel shutoff valve (red vertical handle):
Now, I set the parking brake for engine start:
Tail and wingtip lights on:
Rear Warning Receiver (a small rear facing radar that alerts me if there is something on my tail) on:
IFF Receiver/Transmitter on (not currently modeled in the sim but you can still turn it on so why not?):
Priming the engine with fuel for start-up:
Finally to start the engine, I hold the starter until the engine fires evenly. Then, I quickly set the mixture control level to Run/Automatic, so that the engine receives a proper fuel mixture:
And the engine is running:
Now that suction powered instruments are operating normally, I can uncage the artificial horizon:
Finally, I turn on the gunsight:
And I'm all set to taxi to runway. Taxiing in the P-51 is a bit of a pain in the ass for a couple of reasons. First, as a tail dragger, your forward visibility out of the aircraft is pretty much nil, so you have to yaw the aircraft back and forth to get any visibility. Furthermore, the power of the Packard V-1650-7 engine makes it really easy to lose control of the aircraft on the ground due to torque and excessive acceleration. Finally, the tailwheel has to be locked to maintain control of the aircrafts turns, which means that the ground turning radius is quite large. So as far as taxiing goes, the P-51 is by far the hardest DCS aircraft to taxi.
And I'm at the runway, waiting for take-off clearance. Actually getting in the air will have to wait for the next update, as this mission ends here.
Hope you enjoyed the start of this LP. More updates to come, probably with some video in addition to screenshots.
