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F-16C Flight Checklists

By: Minky

Cockpit Positions:
LF – Left Fore CL – Center Left RF – Right Fore
LM – Left Middle C – Center RM – Right Middle
LA –Left Aft CR – Center Right RA – Right Aft

Table of Contents
Pre-Start ................................................ Page 2
Engine Start ............................................. Page 2
Post-Start ............................................ Pages 3-4
INS Alignment ............................................ Page 4
HMCS Alignment ........................................... Page 5
Optional Checks ....................................... Pages 6-8
Taxi ..................................................... Page 9
Takeoff ................................................. Page 10
Landing ............................................. Pages 11-12
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Pre-Start
Ejection Seat Lever (LF) ........................... Armed (Down)
MAIN PWR Switch (LM) .............................. BATT (Middle)
FLCS RLY Light (LM) ................................... Check Lit
FLCS PWR TEST Switch (LA) .......................... Hold to TEST
 Confirm four FLCS PWR lights (LA) illuminate “C A D B”.
 Confirm FLCS RLY light (LM) extinguishes.
 Confirm TO FLCS light (LM) is lit.
 Confirm FLCS PMG light (LM) is lit.
 Release FLCS PWR TEST switch (LA) from TEST.
MAIN PWR Switch (LM) ............................. MAIN PWR (FWD)
ENGINE & HYD/OIL PRESS Lights (CR) .................... Check Lit
ELEC SYS & SEC Lights (RF) ............................ Check Lit
FLCS RLY Light (LM) ................................... Check Lit
EPU GEN & EPU PMG Lights (LM) ......................... Check OFF
Parking Brake Switch (LF) ............................... ON (Up)
Canopy Switch (LF) ............... Canopy Closed & Switch Covered
Canopy Warning Light (CR) ............................. Check OFF

Engine Start
ENG FEED Knob (LM) ......................................... NORM
AIR SOURCE Knob (RM) ....................................... NORM
JFS Switch (LF) ................................... START 2 (AFT)
 Wait for RPM (CR) to reach ~20%-25%.
Throttle ................................... Idle (RShift + Home)
JFS Switch (LF) ........................... Check OFF by ~55% RPM
Warning Lights (CR, RF, & LF) ........................ Check None
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Post-Start
Avionics Power Switches (RA) ........................ All ON (Up)
 Leave MAP off.
INS Alignment ............................................. Begin
 See Page 4
LEFT HDPT Power Switch (RF) ......................... As Required
 ON (FWD) if HTS pod is equipped.
RIGHT HDPT Power Switch (RF) ........................ As Required
 ON (FWD) if TGP is equipped.
FCR Power Switch (RF) .................................. ON (FWD)
RDR ALT Power Switch (RF) .............................. ON (FWD)
COMM1 UHF & COMM2 VHF Volume (LM) .................... As Desired
COMM1 UHF & COMM2 VHF Squelch (LM) .......................... SQL
UHF Backup Radio Function Knob (LF) ........................ BOTH
HUD SYM Brightness Wheel (C) ......................... As Desired
C&I Knob (LM) ............................................... UFC
MIDS LVT Knob (RA) ........................................... ON
HSD Page XMT Button (CR) ........................ Press Until L16
DED DLNK Page (CR) ............................... Set As Desired
IFF Master Knob (LM) ....................................... NORM
DED IFF Page (CR) ................................ Set As Desired
Standby Attitude Indicator (CR) ......................... Uncaged
Barometric Altimeter (C) .................................... Set
STORES CONFIG Switch (LF) ........................... As Required
 CAT I: Air-to-Air loadout without wing tanks.
 CAT III: Air-to-Ground loadouts and/or with wing tanks.
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Post-Start Cont.
Oxygen Switches (RA) ............................. NORMAL/NORM/ON
TWA/RWR Power Button (LF) ............................ ON (Press)
CMDS RWR Switch (LF) .................................... ON (Up)
CMDS JMR Switch (LF) .................................... ON (Up)
CMDS CH Switch (LF) ..................................... ON (Up)
CMDS FL Switch (LF) ..................................... ON (Up)
CMDS MODE Knob (LF) .................................. As Desired
CMDS PRGM Knob (LF) .................................. As Desired
HMCS ................................. Perform Alignment (Page 5)
PROBE HEAT Switch (LA) .......................... PROBE HEAT (Up)
 Don’t leave on while on ground for more than 2 minutes.

INS Alignment
EGI Knob (RA) ........................................ As Desired
 NORM for normal alignment, takes ~8 minutes & more precise.
 STOR HDG for stored heading alignment, takes ~2 minutes.
DED Coordinates (CR) ............................ Confirm Correct
 Note: Not needed for STOR HDG alignment.
 Use DCS “dobber” up/down (C) to select LAT.
 Check coordinates match aircraft coordinates from F10 map.
 Press ENTR on ICP (C) to confirm coordinates if matching.
 Enter correct coordinates and press ENTR on ICP if wrong.
 Repeat the same steps for LNG.
DED Alignment Status (CR) ........................ Check Complete
 INS #/6 RDY for normal alignment.
 INS #/10 RDY flashing for stored heading alignment.
EGI Knob (RA) ............................................... NAV
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HMCS Alignment
HMCS Brightness Knob (LF) ........................ Set as Desired
DED (CR) ................................... Open HMCS ALIGN Page

 Press LIST on ICP (C).

 Press M-SEL/0 for MISC.
 Press RCL for R-HMCS.
 Move dobber switch to SEQ (Right) once.
HMCS Course Alignment .................................. Complete

 Select COURSE on DED with dobber switch and press M-SEL.

 Move head to align HMCS cross with HUD cross.
 Depress cursor slew switch until ALIGN OK.
 Press M-SEL to save alignment.
HMCS AZ/EL Alignment ................................... Complete

 Select AZ/EL on DED with dobber switch and press M-SEL.

 Align top smaller cross with large cross via slew switch.
 Press M-SEL to save alignment.
HMCS ROLL Alignment .................................... Complete

 Select ROLL on DED with dobber switch and press M-SEL.

 Align roll of both cross sets via slew switch.
 Press M-SEL to save alignment.
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Optional Checks
Note: Entire section is optional, including bolded items.
Pitot Probe Heater System ...................... Verify Operation

 Set PROBE HEAT switch (LA) to PROBE HEAT (Up).

 Verify PROBE HEAT caution light (RF) is OFF.
 Set PROBE HEAT switch (LA) to TEST (Down).
 Verify PROBE HEAT caution light (RF) flashes 3-5 times/sec.
 Return PROBE HEAT switch (LA) to OFF (set ON before T/O).
Fire & Overheat Detection System ............... Verify Operation

 Press and hold FIRE & OHEAT DETECT button (LA).

 Verify ENG FIRE warning (CR) & OVERHEAT warning (RF) light.
 Release FIRE & OHEAT DETECT button (LA).
Malfunction & Indicator Lights ................. Verify Operation

 Press and hold MAL & IND LTS button (LA).

 Verify all cockpit warning, caution, & indicator lights on.
 Verify VMS audio alerts are audible.
 Release MAL & IND LTS button (LA).
SEC System ..................................... Verify Operation

 Note initial RPM and NOZ POS (CR).

 Set ENG CONT switch (LM) to SEC (AFT).
 Check SEC caution light (RF) illuminates.
 Check engine RPM is stabilized (CR), may drop ~10%.
 Hold wheel brakes.
 Advance throttle towards MIL until engine RPM ~85%.
 Snap throttle back to IDLE.
 Check for normal and smooth indications.
 NOZ POS (CR) should be 5% or less.
 Set ENG CONT switch (LM) back to PRI (FWD & Guard Closed).
 Check SEC caution light (RF) extinguishes.
 Check NOZ POS (CR) returns to greater than 94%.
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Optional Checks Cont.
FLCS ........................................... Verify Operation

 Cycle all flight controls with stick and pedal input.

 Set FLT CONTROL BIT Switch (LA) to BIT (Up).
 Built In Test (BIT) is running while RUN light (LA) is lit.
 After ~45 seconds RUN light (LA) should extinguish.
 Upon successful BIT: BIT switch should return to OFF
automatically and FAIL light (LA) and FLCS warning light
(CR) should remain off.
Fuel Quantity Indication System ................ Verify Operation

 Set FUEL QTY knob (C) to TEST.

 Verify FR & AL pointer (CR) indicate 2000(+/- 100)lbs.
 Verify fuel TOTAL (CR) indicates 6000(+/- 100)lbs.
 Verify FWD & AFT FUEL LOW caution lights (RF) are lit.
 Cycle FUEL QTY knob (C) to other positions and verify that
readouts (CR) match aircrafts actual fuel load.
 Set FUEL QTY knob (C) back to NORM.
DBU System ..................................... Verify Operation

 Set DIGITAL BACKUP switch (LA) to BACKUP (Up).

 Verify DBU ON warning light (CR) illuminates.
 Operate flight controls with stick and rudder and verify
that all control surfaces respond normally.
 Set DIGITAL BACKUP switch (LA) to OFF (Down).
 Verify DBU ON warning light (CR) extinguishes.
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Optional Checks Cont.
Trim System .................................... Verify Operation

 Set TRIM/AP DISC switch (LA) to DISC (Down).

 Use trim hat on stick to trim both pitch and roll.
 Verify no control surface motion and no movement on TRIM
wheel or indicators (LA).
 Set TRIM/AP DISC switch (LA) to NORM (Up).
 Use trim hat on stick to trim both pitch and roll.
 Verify that there is control surface motion and movement on
TRIM wheel and indicators (LA).
 Center pitch & roll trim, then use YAW TRM knob (LA) to
check center trim for yaw.
MPO System ..................................... Verify Operation

 Push stick full forward and hold.

 Verify horizontal stabilators deflect down.
 Set and hold MANUAL PITCH switch (LF) to OVRD (Left).
 Verify horizontal stabilators deflect further down.
 Release stick and MANUAL PITCH switch (LF).
 Confirm horizontal stabilators return to original position.
EPU System ..................................... Verify Operation

 Check EPU FUEL (RF) reads ~95%-102%.

 Set OXYGEN switch (RA) to 100%.
 Hold wheel brakes.
 Increase engine RPM (CR) to 10% above normal IDLE power.
 Set and hold EPU/GEN TEST switch (LA) to EPU/GEN (Up).
 Verify EPU AIR light (LM) is lit.
 Verify EPU RUN light (LM) illuminates for ≥5 seconds.
 Verify EPU GEN & EPU PMG lights (LM) remain extinguished.
 Verify FLCS PWR lights (LA) illuminate.
 Release EPU/GEN TEST switch (LA) to OFF (Down).
 Return throttle to IDLE.
 Set OXYGEN switch (RA) back to NORM.
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Taxi
Parking Brake Switch (LF) ......... Disengaged/ANTI-SKID (Middle)
Taxi Light Switch (LF) .............................. TAXI (Down)
NWS A/R DISC & MSL STEP Button (HOTAS) .................... Press

 NWS light (CR) will illuminate.

Other Lights (LA) ................................... As Required
Throttle .................................... Slightly Above Idle
Taxi Speed ............................................... <25kts

 Turn Speed <10kts

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Takeoff
Taxi Light Switch (LF) ............................. OFF (Middle)
PROBE HEAT Switch (LA) .......................... PROBE HEAT (Up)
Other Lights (LA) ................................... As Required
Speed Brake Indicator (FL) ....................... Confirm Closed
STORES CONFIG Switch (LF) ................. Confirm Set Correctly
RDR ALT Power Switch (RF) .............................. ON (FWD)
Wheel Brakes ............................................... Hold
Throttle ................................................ 90% RPM

 Confirm engine within parameters & no warning lights.

Throttle ............................ MIL or MAX AB (As Required)
Wheel Brakes ............................................ Release
NWS .......................................... Disengage at 70kts
Speed ........................ Wait for Takeoff Speed (See Table)
Stick ....................... Pull to Establish T/O Pitch (8-12º)
Gear (LF) ..................... Retract After Positive Climb Rate

 Ensure gear retracted before 300kts.

Takeoff Speed Table

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Landing
- Initial Approach

 RDR ALT Power Switch (RF) ON (FWD).

 Align with runway at 1500ft AGL and 300kts.
- Overhead Break

 Break left or right over desired touchdown point.

 Throttle to 80% RPM.
 Deploy speedbrakes.
 Fly break at ~70º bank and ~3-4G.
 Align FPM with horizon line to maintain level turn.
- Downwind Leg

 Roll out into downwind leg opposite of landing heading.

 Retract speedbrakes as required.
 Extend landing gear.
 Turn on (up) landing lights switch (LF).
 Reduce speed to prevent excessive airspeed in base turn.
 Use throttle to adjust to on speed AoA (~11º), don’t use
pitch trim as FBW system will take care of AoA based on
throttle.
- Base Turn

 Initiate base turn once abeam rollout point, about once

wingtip is at the end of the runway.
 Lower nose to 8-10º of pitch and fly turn at 11º AoA.
- Final Turn

 Use throttle for airspeed & stick to maintain 8-10º pitch

nose low and ~11º AoA throughout turn.
 Roll out on final and raise nose to maintain glide path
(300ft AGL at 1nm from the touchdown point).
 Align FPM & 2.5º pitch low ladder line wiuth runway
threshold to help maintain glidepath and AoA.
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Landing Cont.
- Short Final

 Once over the overrun shift FPM ~300-500ft down the runway.
 Gently pull stick to flare & reduce the rate of descent
(DON’T LEVEL OFF).
 Throttle to IDLE and touchdown with on speed AoA (Max 13º).
- Roll-Out

 Maintain 13º nose-up attitude to aerobrake until ~100kts.

 Reduce backstick pressure & lower nosewheel to runway.
 Open speedbrakes fully & maintain full aft stick.
 Apply wheelbrakes as required.
 Engage NWS once below 30kts and taxi off of runway.