Pre Flight before starting FSC

[Lane]

Dutch,

What are the things you should Pre-Flight before starting FSC
Like I like to use a weather program called FSMetro Loads real
weather as you fly.
Say I was going to fly the DC-3C with some cargo from KIND to KMEM
and I was going to use fs9 flight planer for my flight route?
Mose of time I lke to fly Vor to Vor. flight planner gives approx how mutch fuel you will use.
Thanks for some help and info.
Lane

[Dutch Owen]

Hi Lane,

You can use any flight planner, FSC doesn't care how you plan your flight. The important thing is accurate calculation of ETE and fuel.
Actually, I usually just take the estimate from dispatch and figure in winds using the FCOM, then pad a little if I expect some delays such as traffic at the airports. That usually works out pretty well. I monitor the time vs the ETE on the Progress page (F3) and if I need to speed up or slow down I do that.

Here's the checklist I use for the DC-3...


Before Taxi
Battery Master ................... ON
Radios ........................... ON
NAV Lights ....................... ON
ACME Flight ...................... SELECT
Cargo Load ....................... START
Flight Plan ...................... LOAD
Cowl Flaps ....................... OPEN
Passenger Signs .................. ON
IFR Clearance .................... OBTAIN
Heading Bugs ..................... SET
Radio Frequencies ................ SET
Cargo Load ....................... COMPLETE
Payload & Fuel ................... Verified

Pushback
Beacon ........................... ON
Parking Brake .................... RELEASE
Pushback ......................... START

Engine Start
Mixtures ......................... RICH
Tank Selectors ................... MAIN
Generators ....................... ON
Fuel Pumps ....................... ON
Throttles ........................ CLOSED
Magnetos ......................... BOTH
Engine #2 ........................ START
Engine #1 ........................ START
Fuel Pumps ....................... OFF
Inverter ......................... ON
Cowl Flaps ....................... TRAIL
Pushback ......................... COMPLETE
Taxi Clearance ................... OBTAINED
Lights ........................... As Needed
(Taxi to Active)

Before Takeoff
Gyros/Barometer .................. SET
Warning Lights ................... CHECKED
Flight Controls .................. CHECKED
Lights/Strobes ................... ON
Flaps ............................ UP
Pitot Heat ....................... ON
Trim Tabs ........................ NEUTRAL
Autopilot ........................ OFF
Propellers ....................... FULL FORWARD

Takeoff
Throttles ........................ FULL
Rotation ......................... 80 K

Climb
Gear ............................. UP @ Pos Rate
Flaps ............................ UP @ 1000 AGL
Engine Power ..................... 2350 / 36 upto 2400 / 39”
Normal Climb rate ................ 500 FPM / 120 K
> 10,000 feet .................... LDG/STRB OFF

Cruise
Passenger Signs .................. As Needed
Cowl Flaps ....................... CLOSED
Mixtures ......................... Adjust for Alt
Tank Selectors ................... AUX
Engine Power ..................... 2000/31 upto 2100/35

Descent
Tank Selectors ................... MAIN
Cowl Flaps ....................... TRAIL
Passenger Signs .................. ON
Engine Power ..................... 2050 / 25
< 10,000 feet .................... LDG/STRB ON
Radio Frequencies ................ SET TO ILS

Before Landing
Altimeter ........................ SET
Flaps ............................ See Chart
Gear ............................. See Chart
Landing Speed .................... 80 K

After Landing
Lights ........................... As needed
Flaps ............................ UP

Parking
Lights ........................... All but NAV off
Passenger Signs .................. OFF
Parking Brake .................... SET
Doors ............................ OPEN