DCS: CH-47F Taxi and Takeoff

Video Description

Pre=Purchase at save 30% from: https://www.digitalcombatsimulator.com/en/shop/modules/ch-47f/ NOTE 1: Note that some of the performance characteristic like aircraft attitude will change once we refine the LCT, DAFCS, and add feathering. For example, less nose-down attitude in forward flight and auto-coordinated turns. NOTE 2. This is a simple taxi and takeoff video that is simply based on the early access release version. Items will change and be added. So, a full, by-the-book video will come later once all the pieces are in place. NOTE 3: Please find the DCS: CH-47F Guide here: https://www.digitalcombatsimulator.com/en/downloads/documentation/dcs-ch47f_early_access_guide_en/ As you probably already noticed, I’m dealing with a summer cold, so please excuse the voice. Picking up from the simplified start video based of what is required to start the Hook in DCS at its initial release, we’ll now discuss taxi, and two types of takeoff. Like the startup, we’ll just focus on what is required in the game at initial launch. You can find the complete, real procedures in the CH-47F Guide. Also, I’m sorry that that this video took so long following the simple, stat up video. Before I could record this video, we wanted to tune the unique takeoff performance and characteristics to more closely match the real aircraft. Although there is further work to do on this front, I think you’ll find the Hook a very easy aircraft hover and takeoff. First, on the overhead panel, we’ll enable the remaining fuel pumps, and we can turn off the fuel crossfeed switch. Note that you do have a Flight Engineer position by pressing the 3 key, but this crew member’s duties are all outside the cockpit. To taxi, the Hook’s aft, right wheel is hydraulically powered when in steering mode, and the other aft wheel follow suit. This allows the helicopter to maneuver in rather small spaces. The hydraulically powered wheel can be steered with the control knob on the center console in the cabin. These also allow much lower power settings and thus reducing rotor wash when taxiing. Before taxiing, make sure that the chocks are pulled and that the parking brake is all the way in. If we wanted to set the parking brake, we’d need to first depress the brake pedals and then pull out the parking brake handle. Make sure that the SWIVEL switch is set to STEER and slowly raise the thrust lever, not called a collective in the Hook, to start forward movement. Raise and lower the thrust lever to control taxi speed and you can use the wheel brakes. In the game, you could also adjust Cyclic pitch to adjust speed. Just be careful to not to overdo it as the aft wheels could come off the ground with too much back Cyclic. Note that this is not something you’d generally do in the real Hook. To steer, rotate the STEER knob to steer the aircraft. You may wish to bind this control to a set of key presses or an axis. You can also lock the steering or have the wheels freely swivel. When you complete your taxi, set the switch to LOCK. For this lesson, we’ll be relying on the Instrument Page. I’ve brought it up on my right display. In the center is the Vertical Situation Display, or VSD, and the Horizontal Situation Display, or HSD. Below is our Skid/Slip indicator, the radar altimeter is in the bottom right corner, the barometric altimeter is right above it along the right side of the display, airspeed is along the left side of the display. When taxing on all four wheels, make sure the Longitudinal Cyclic Trim (LCT) switch is set to AUTO and the Digital Advanced Flight Control System (DAFCS) to OFF. Set the DAFCS to BOTH shortly before takeoff. For a VMC takeoff on an improved surface, like we are, we’ll release brakes and keep the cyclic and pedals centered as we slowly pull power. We’ll start to roll forward and lift off all four wheels at the same time. Push the Cyclic forward and establish a negative five-degree pitch and release the force trim switch and center the cyclic to command this cyclic. Note you’ll need to keep on the pedals to control your heading. Using Cyclic pitch changes, you can adjust your airspeed and climb rate at around 500 feet per minute and adjust the thrust level to command altitude. Use the pedals to maintain heading. Once over 50 feet, trim the aircraft with a centered trim ball on the Skid/Slip indicator. Takeoff from a hover is quite similar. First though, ensure that the LCT Trim switch is set to AUTO and AFCS is BOTH. Set the cyclic an inch and a half aft and the center the pedals. Slowly pull power and feed in forward cyclic before sliding aft. Continue climbing in a hover. Once we add full LCT support, this will be even easier. Once ready, pitch forward with the cyclic five degrees to get forward airspeed but add a little power to compensate. When at the desired speed and attitude, set trim. That’s it. In the next video, we’ll look at landing the Hook.