DCS AV-8B NA Harrier II NEW Cold Start Tutorial!

[@TheFri13]

The AV-8B N/A ex-ground crew member told while back that wheel chucks were in fact removed while engine was running. It was one of the last things to be done. Crawling under and remove those was noisy job, but not deadly. But then think about what people does otherwise, ask ground crew to climb in cockpit to install NVG goggles to pilot helmet while engine is running just next to their side when they are on the ladder. Remove wheel chucks = no need to turn engine off. Install helmet device = you must turn engine off.

[@jjsemperfi]

I don’t remember ever removing wheel chocks before starting. On ship we would perform engine washes by spraying water into the intake with a garden hose. At idle the engine won’t suck you in.

[@GeFlixes]

1:30 I can't remember how many times I didn't have Ground Crew remove the wheel chocks and then sat in a fully started up jet unable to taxi. -.-

[@Undercovrr_offical]

Do you now how to open the menü

[@GeFlixes]

@@Undercovrr_offical At that point in time (don't know if that changed), Ground Crew was 'unable' to remove the wheel chocks once you had the engine running. It's not a issue with finding the menu but with the Ground Crew AI flipping out.

[@noahmoore2684]

Love the Channel (also a Patreon subscriber). Little story to reinforce the point about the chocks - My dad was a combat photographer in the US Navy. In the late 70's, he was on the deck of an LHA distracted by trying to get a photo of something when he backed up into a Harrier's intake area. He told me his feet literally just left the ground when an alert deck crew member grabbed him by the waist. He saw his life flash before his eyes and never made that mistake again.

[@crispy1688]

Really one of the most fun and unique aircraft in DCS. Love reading the NATOPS for this aircraft, lots of interesting information in there for AV8B fans! Great vid hope you have more Av8b vids!!

[@jjsemperfi]

Great video. I was a plane captain with VMA-311. Fond memories

[@WorthlessDeadEnd]

I watched the entire video, without speeding it up, and I don't even own the Harrier DLC. Very well done!

[@Thiefwriter]

Absolutely adore the Harrier. Got to see a few takeoffs/landings while I was in the Corps and have been fascinated with them since. Hope they stay in service for a while longer before the f35 replaces them

[@asciiCAT]

Finally, ANYTHING that has been updated over the past year (Something that feels trustworthy and informative)

[@XCougar85X]

Thank you so much. Just bought the Harrier last weekend and this guide is honestly easer to follow then the in game tutorial.

[@arrow_1416]

FYI spud, starting nozzle angle is 10° not 30°. Also you move the throttle forward into idle as soon as you see RPM increase not at 9.2%, you also wanna bring your flaps up to Cruise while on the ground for shore operations (as per NFM-000) also max nozzle deflection while taxing is 60° and make sure you have trim set to 4° nose down while taxing to prevent the RCS valve from opening.

[@lilletrille8998]

Nice video Sir. I am going to be flying the AV-8B later today with some friends, and I have not flown it for months, so this was a nice refresher! I mapped the parking brake to my throttle as I have pressed the engine cut off button more than once.

[@pacetech56]

Thanks for the cold start update spud. I was inspired by your earlier videos and bought the Harrier in the Christmas sale. Been practicing hard on take off and landing so would be great if you could make more tutorials to help me on my way.

[@Spudknocker]

*** Please Note that if you intend to use the DMT/FLIR you must turn them on to the right of the INS Knob, When I use a LITENING Pod on my harrier I tend to leave the DMT off, due to its functions sometimes conflicting with the TPOD's functions and generally making it easier to engage targets with LGB's etc *** Hey guys! I hope this video helps you out if you decide to head back and fly the AV-8B Harrier II Again! We are also getting so close to 30,000 Subs which is super exciting!

[@TheFri13]

DMT is more accurate than TPOD for weapons delivery, it is more accurate than Radar ranging. The DMT is what makes Harrier the Harrier. In the competitions between militaries and branches, based to JTAC officers the Harrier with DMT was the most reliable CAS aircraft. The Marines Harrier pilots knew what Time On Target meant and were more capable to deliver on time and on spot the munitions than what F-35, A-10, F/A-18 pilots were able to. The N/A is the greatest variant that being retired forced lots of Harrier pilots to retire as they didn't want to transition to F-35 "unicorn" that is not capable for what Harrier was when it came to close air support capabilities. Hopefully we get in future the ED new FLIR modeling that should dramatically lower the FLIR definitions and resolutions. The Litening we had was 1st gen from 1996, now Razbam updated it to 4th gen from 2008 (latest is 5th gen from 2015) so it is safe to say that Harrier is the latest US fighter in the DCS (Hornet from 2005, using 3rd gen from 2004, Viper is from 2007, as well 3rd gen) and only JF-17 is newer at the moment. The DMT is not great by definition, requires strong contrast to lock on and requires time and special flying to calculate the range, and should turn useless in dusk and dawn - rendering it only a day light - good weather system. But marines use lasers guided so it is more of a LST feature that matters at night and low visibility like low cloud cover. But the TPOD shouldn't be much better. The FLIR should become less useful in longer ranges than 8-10 nmi. It should become challenging to spot anything on ground as vehicles and infantry should stop glowing on ground as they do now. So you should need to know where to point TPOD to get know what you are looking. We should as well see mavericks seekers to become 0.8-1.5 nmi limited in range, as by public test range launches the common range for A/B/D (that F and G are based too) are bad. The CCD updated K and H variants has same 2x magnification as B and D, but allows to engage targets in hot or cold environments where D with it IR seeker can not detect or separate targets, and TV seeker in A and B requires to fly to minimum ranges even when you know where the tank size target was. The FLIR update should radically dimish the "I have stand-off" capabilities and render GPS guided weapons with old intelligence coordinates only solution. As otherwise you fly in the air defense zones as you must get close to like dropping a bomb. What would make HARM kind weapons more required for countering SAM systems. But considering that we have example Strela-10M3 that has the passive radar sensors (fat box) that will give the bearing to fighter with radar emissions, the ambushes should become easy as anyone using A-G radar reveals their position. As well smoke greens and camouflage etc should render FLIR useless and lasers useless. So one can't anymore guide weapon via laser even as it is blocked by smokes and weapon goes dummy. FLIR/EOS guided weapons lose a lock and go ballistic, meaning mavericks pull high G turn upward and disable their warheads making them dud. Suddenly everyone would be there dropping unguided iron bombs in CCIP at low altitude and CCRP at medium (1500-4500 ft) without radars, laser targeting and FLIR. And that is where DMT would shine in accuracy and speed.

[@jnyteshayd8710]

Hey Spud. Just wanted to add something as a former powerline mech for vma-513. Them chocks stay put til right before you taxi in real life. Despite the size of the engine, it really does not suck much at idle and due to it being over such a large area as the intakes take up, the risk is slim to none. Keep up the good vids and hope to see you sunday on the op.

[@Spudknocker]

In DCS World the ground crew will not remove the chocks with the engine running, just a little bit of an entertaining way to get DCS players to remember to remove them before they start up

[@TheFri13]

I have read that crew will move under the Harrier removing the chocks while engine is running as you say, but as well that they do not climb in the cockpit ladder as it is just next to engine inlet. So one shouldn't have possibility to install NVG if engine is running. Do you confirm?

[@jnyteshayd8710]

Actually, nvgs were always brought in a small bag when it was a night op so there was never a decision of switching between visor and nvgs. Pilot helms were able to easily attach the nvgs by pilot so never involved ground crew at all.

[@loteknomad5032]

Great video. Love the harrier. Love VTOL aircraft in general. But...but that glorious takeoff is the payoff. You have to include the takeoff and some of the early departure in these startup videos. >_< Its like filling a pool with water and then NOT cannonballing into it. Incomplete experience!

[@Try_n_2Tri]

Not experienced in DCS - I am Hornet friendly and just starting the A10. I feel this is very similar to the Hornet strangely. Nice vid as always Spud.

[@noamb.6491]

Great tutorial! One last thing to note, you do need to turn on your FLIR and DMT, which are the switches near the INS knob. Technically, you don't need to use these systems, but they are incredibly useful and necessary for buddy lasing without a TPod. I've been really enjoying the Harrier since I picked it up a couple months ago, and I hope to see more Harrier content and missions!

[@Spudknocker]

Yep, Whenever I have the TPOD on the aircraft I tend to leave the DMT off as some of the systems tend to conflict with each other

[@thomasbouvier3203]

I didn't saw the DL activation too... maybe i missed it? ^^'

[@izkylemorales216]

We definitely remove chocks on the final walk-around so no you won't get sucked in unless you're really close to the intake and the pilot throttles it up past idle

[@Pekins]

Now that I have a 21:9 screen I can fully appreciate the videos

[@rwhunt99]

Thanks for this, I haven't been flying it and I made a sorta New Years resolution to start flying different aircraft on a more regular basis as I've been more or less stuck on flying either the F-18 and the F-16 for some time now. So, this helps to motivate me to go to the garage and fly one of the others in the stable, ;)

[@agamemnonn1]

The wheel chock thing before engine start-up is due to a known bug in the module. There are a great many videos of a Harrier with its engines running and the ordnance or maintenance guys doing their thing with the chocks still in place. I've also seen it in person. Realistically, no military aircraft has its chalks removed prior to taxing. This also ensures the pilot knows where they are (for FOD purposes) and the crew will display the chalks prior to the pilot taxing the aircraft (to show chalks removed and no FOD from them.

[@therealtjpek]

This is most likely due to how the harrier behaves compared to other crafts. In any other craft, if you have enough engine power applied to be moving, the ground cerw won't remove the chalks (as they'd be risking their lives even more than usual). The harrier being powerful enough to move even at idle power, the game is registering it as too dangerous for the crew to remove the chalks.

[@agamemnonn1]

@@therealtjpek that makes sense, actually. My only qualm was spud passing it off as like it was standard procedure in the real life Harrier.

[@WatchMysh]

Thanks! A lot less convoluted than other tutorials

[@Aeronaut1975]

For INS alignment, you can just flip the rotary switch straight onto IFA and it will automatically align with satellites and update your gyros. That way, you never have to input co-ordinates etc. You know when it's aligned as the map suddenly appears. The only time this WON'T work is if the mission date is pre-GPS (1987?).

[@therealtjpek]

Interesting. And do you still have to be immobile for it to work?

[@Spudknocker]

In the F/A-18C you can taxi and it will still work, I will have to try it with the AV-8B, if you plan to do this you wanna make sure that unrestricted SATNAV is turned on otherwise you wont be able to use GPS prior to I think 1989 in the Mission Editor, as well as you wont be able to use it if you are flying a Hornet on the RED side

[@therealtjpek]

@@Spudknocker very interesting that the journey can still align while taxiing, didn't know that!

[@Aeronaut1975]

@@Spudknocker you can align it whilst taxying or in flight. It's the ONLY way I've ever aligned my INS. The only downside to taking off before it's aligned is that you get no artifical horizon (*Edit: witches hat) on the HUD until it aligns.

[@Aeronaut1975]

@@therealtjpek No, you can flip the switch, take off (with no witches hat until it aligns), and it'll align itself in a minute or so while you're already on your merry way :)

[@Kifter1983]

Great tutorial 'as always' Spud. Thank you.

[@boilermaker7754]

Thanks Spud, time to hop in the AV-8B again!!

[@Spudknocker]

Go for it dude!

[@Aidy]

I'm still debating on whether or not to get the Harrier, it's one of my favourite planes but I can either get this or the Hornet, another amazing plane. Ah, these decisions are killing me.

[@roccop3760]

The Harrier is by far my favorite DCS aircraft to fly! I also have the Hornet, which is a blast to fly, but nothing compares to the harrier in my opinion. It’s certainly a challenge getting used to VTOL, but once you get the hang of it doing conventional landings will be boring as hell.

[@TheFri13]

If Razbam manages to fix Harrier and add all the missing features, it would be the most interesting FIXED wing aircraft in DCS. It is not unusable now, but it is not great. They have lot of things to add. But when it comes to action, there is nothing in hornet or viper that Harrier has. Really the two things that makes those apart is that Harrier doesn't get JHMCS so pilot could designate targets on ground by looking at them. And you can't really fly to combat zones where enemy has fighters present for denying air operation. That is why Razbam should soon get AV-8B+ done with the Radar instead DMT. It is by the NATOPS manual otherwise identical to use but you get the radar page instead DMT/LST. So you are depending TPOD for any optical or laser guided weapons delivery if self-designating. Otherwise you gain AIM-120, AGM-84, AGM-88 capability, A-G radar with just limited range as the only difference is smaller radar dish than Hornet has. It would turn to be a direct competitor to ED's Hornet as while not a dog fighter, the Harrier can put inexperienced hornet pilots to disadvantage and win... Razbam has keys to the kingdom and all they would need to do is start having a communication with customers in ED forum and actually be willing to do what it takes to make harrier feature completed. Right now it is not ready, but still very fun. It has something that adds more pleasure, probably that you are closer to ground and you can be slower than a A-10 if needed to and yet you get to be fast when wanted. The cockpit offers great visibility (better than A-10, but not as good as F-16) and it just has the cockpit design such that you don't need to use HOTAS as much to get "bomb on that spot".

[@nigelmtb]

Well I love my checklists! They keep me on track.

[@larshedgehog2300]

Thank you so much for this tutorial it helped me alot

[@wormthatturned8737]

Press the start button count to 10 slowly then open HP cock (advance throttle to idle stop) was the procedure back in the day. As for getting sucked in the intakes at idle that is a myth. You never trusted the brake pressure especially onboard. Quite often you would need to have the chocks kicked out with the engine running especially the front one. Operating in salt laden environments it was also common at the end of the flying day or if the aircraft was due a prolonged maintenance for the ground crew to show you a water hose as you taxied in. Then if you were a friendly pilot you would turn off your rear equipment bay cooling, OBOGS and cabin conditioning and he would walk right up to your intake each side and squirt demin water to wash the salt off the fan and LP staters. Did it quite a few times myself and you have to get really close to get the water to be sucked in. So no ground crew safety hazard apart from the live arms!

[@TimberDCS]

I’m not first, I’m not last, but most importantly, no one asked.

[@TimberDCS]

Wait am I’m first

[@AlphaSputnik]

@@TimberDCS Man you are. I shall award you with the first anti-first but first trophy. Please fly safely Cmdr. Doge.

[@carterdubose540]

good job, im proud of you

[@starpirat]

Great video tutorial but you forgot to tell the ground crew to add power

[@dambuster6178178]

brilliant video mate

[@indianajon7980]

Thanks Spud. Entertaining and informative. Would happily watch many more.

[@thereisnospoon3595]

So make sure to have your ground crew remove the chalks. Ok so the menu pops up and goes away, what did you push?? It magically pops up and disappears but you must remove chalks. Gotta love DCS, can't find that menu this was the first plane I picked to learn.

[@jyrkytv1112]

Nice tutorial mate! Keep it up!

[@timmy3822]

Hey Spud, great tutorial man. Glad to see the Harrier getting so many updates since release, typed out myself a handy checklist based off what you did in this one for future reference. I don't suppose anyone knows if it's possible to import a text file into the DCS kneeboard for an aircraft? Keep seeing the occasional tease for the FRS.1 Sea Harrier on RAZBAM's Twitter account... seriously can't fucking wait for that. Having a decently modelled Invincible class carrier will be heaven for me in the Falklands map!

[@rickaredoughmyloss7023]

Can you shut the harrier down? I couldn't find any vids about it.

[@nathanm6024]

This is great... what is controlling the view? TrackIR? VR? Something else?

[@EthanAdey]

What does “WOF” do on the bottom left on the panel inbetween the 2 MFDs??

[@antony716]

My Ground crew radio option is ALWAYS dark in the Harrier. I can communicate with them, but I cannot for the life of me, figure out why I can't get them highlighted

[@jibcot8541]

You should be able to if the canopy is open even when power to the battery is off.

[@Macki1287]

How do you have the AI Radio menues clickable with your mouse? I use VR and its annoying as hell to find the F Keys to communicate with ground and ATC

[@crispy1688]

I hope the wheel chocks thing is a bug. Makes no sense to me to remove the chocks before engine start, I thought they should be on! Many videos of then being removed with engine on

[@crispy1688]

Has been fixed in 2.7

[@flighttherapybullisticfpv133]

I got my first HIFI models in DCS during the last xmas sale and I ended up getting the F/a-18 and the JF-17. Dont get me wrong I LOVE both aircraft (ok i like the jeff better than the hornet, sue me lol) But I talked myself out of getting the harrier even though it was only like 35 bucks and I'm starting to regret not getting all three lol

[@napnic]

Thanks Spud!

[@AAAAAAAHHHHHHHHH-y5f]

Hey can you make a Harrier Cold Start tutorial with realistic tests and checks.

[@hmleao]

what's the difference between the cruise and auto flap modes? When to use each one?

[@ComdrStew]

I have this module, but I have never used it, lol.

[@mattiiiww]

Hey Spud Great Video

[@armaaviator8060]

Ok fine I'll subscribe.

[@vladchitoroaga250]

Guess I will as well.

[@Spudknocker]

LOL thank you for your reluctant subscription hehe

[@therevolutionary702]

One more, just for fun.

[@headears]

perfect length

[@chamchullo]

me, who only has the Viper: interesting

[@Spudknocker]

I always recommend the harrier as a very cool and fast ground attack aircraft!

[@oscarrep3520]

Where is the personnel we need to avoid hitting?? :-)

[@hausersmoran8588]

So, I am trying to align my Harrier, but the ODU wont show any options, so getting the data in for alignment is not possible. What am I missing? Any ideas?

[@danceswithbadgers534]

I always go to Nav as well. IFA is for inflight alignment, from my understanding

[@wyphern8450]

I think I'm doing something wrong, it keeps saying flap failure

[@Brolex28]

@Spudknocker 5:40 the audio cuts off

[@chadvader974]

how come your displays are blue.. mine are totally black 0)O

[@DieNachteule78]

[@eq1373]

I'm having a LOT of trouble starting this aircraft. I'm following your tutorial, but the aircraft is not reacting the same way. The engine noise isn't even the same.

[@WhereNerdyisCool]

Spud my throttle works for every aircraft except the Harrier since the latest update. All settings look fine. Any ideas?

[@Spudknocker]

Huh... I reccomend nuking your controls files in your Config folder and rebinding everything, sound like maybe the file is corrupted!

[@bobt223]

Release the Wheel Brake..

[@WhereNerdyisCool]

@@bobt223 yup. Brake off. The throttle on screen doesn’t move when I move my slider

[@bobt223]

@@WhereNerdyisCool Hmmm... ok that is weird. I setup the throttle in AV8B just like the other jets (F/A-18, A-10C, FC3 AC) and it works. I was sure it was the Parking Brake cutoff . When you say the Throttle on screen, you mean in the Controls Page or in the little CNTRL-ENTER in-game display?

[@WhereNerdyisCool]

@@bobt223 Control Page shows the slider moving Just like all my other aircraft! Wonky, right?

[@narges78]

How can i open the crew menu .. ??

[@shreddingseb1899]

How do i shut down the harrier

[@skripzy6240]

Hey spud, I dont think ive seen any A10 content on your channel, I picked it up in about a day or so and I have an absolute blast with it. I think you should give it a shot.

[@Spudknocker]

Its a fantastic aircraft that is incredibly relevant in real life and I wholeheartedly support the A-10 community and keeping it from being retired... in DCS I have no interest, too slow and ugly for me haha

[@skripzy6240]

@@Spudknocker Understandable bro haha, have a good one.

[@shamandgg]

Is this some cockpit mod? my screens are black not blue

[@Imperial-GB]

Think you forgot the RPS YAW switch

[@bartacomuskidd775]

IFA? i thought we moved it to NAV, can someone explain please?

[@arrow_1416]

NAV would mean you are only running on INS and you would need to do position updates using Overfly points (not modeled yet), with IFA in the Harrier it couples the GPS to the INS meaning it is always receiving position updates and corrections.

[@ruger2275]

Flashlight?

[@rev8947]

I think you forgot the ejection seat arm handle. ;)

[@Spudknocker]

Don't wanna accidentally eject into the top of a hardened shelter, that would definitely suck haha

[@TheFri13]

I would love to see possible malfunctions in those. 1) Armed ejection seat could launch with power fluctuations like when ground power is connected or disconnected or starting engine. 2) Expendables to fire off if refueling, rearming or using ground power or starting engine. 3) Weapons to accidentally launch if master arm On when rearming. Actually ground crew asking to confirm it (the weight on wheel switch can't be trusted, the master arm is only switch that truly shuts down the weapons arming system, but even then rockets can get launched why first thing first on ground is that crew goes to install safety pin to rocket pods as they can get triggered from anyhing). And more of the malfunction, risks and errors that can be accidental, random etc. Like the seat wouldn't eject all the time, but that there would be little higher risk so everyone would experience it then and now if not following proper procedure. As well the upcoming new voice additions to ground crews and wingmen etc, I want to hear crew chief yelling head red about your stupidity and risking the crew lives and really making you feel uncomfortable if you did something stupid. Nothing as pussy as "Hey! what are you doing!" when moving when they rearm and refuel etc. But really make you feel stupid... Same thing for the ATC. That they would really put you in order from improper taxiing, take-off, landing, approaches etc. Like really be there on each step of the operation and truly guiding you to landings, taxiing etc. all this without any so how script or addition, mod etc. I don't know what would really happen if someone starts aircraft without permission and starts taxiing to runway, like would the military police drive their vehicles front of you blocking your take-off and shoot you if not cooperating etc? As how they know that it is not a spy or something that is stealing the aircraft? It would be cool....

[@danny7500]

Hi I was wondering if a AV-8B HARRIER cab be play with the super carrier, or only the F-18 hornet, cause I bought a super carrier and it seems I can't play the harrier on the super carrier. Plz let me know thanks

[@tylerprufer7066]

Battery volume 😉

[@MattJones675GR9]

I only fly the Harrier

[@starpirat]

great video but more zoom needed.

[@NatendoSwitch]

Real pilots don't need their ejection seats armed >:)

[@Spudknocker]

Real pilots dont wanna accidentally eject into the roof of a hardened shelter... that would definitely suck haha

[@NatendoSwitch]

@@Spudknocker No Bueno!

[@FuriouslyFurious]

You don't have to say the name of the jet every 30 seconds. Everyone that's watching this video knows the jet we're seeing from the title and from the first introduction.

[@GIZALARF]

I'll admit, I recently purchased this but promptly requested a refund. It was way too difficult. Did not like the mouse usage in the cockpit and the tutorials would take me a lifetime to get through. If only this was as simple as starting up the SU-33, taxiing and taking off and landing. Even mastering the A10-C was a doddle. I'm keyboard and mouse only and would assume that the Harrier is best with HOTAS ? If you know of an easier was for me to use this jet, turn off mouse cursor in the cockpit (or do you need this) then I'd be happy to re purchase it. cheers

[@forest4283]

Hey man, just a suggestion for future tutorials. When it comes to tutorials - generally people just want the info as quickly as possible so they can get to flying themselves. I am not saying remove all the "flavor" text you have in your vids, I am just saying - to be honest, we don't really care that you're about to fly a close air support mission - we want to know how the damn INS alignment works etc. Other than that - thanks for the vids!

[@therealtjpek]

Well, to start off, you'd be aligning the INS, because the ILS is, well, the instrument landing system :p

[@forest4283]

@@therealtjpek Correction made.

[@caseyryback6932]

That "flavor" text is exactly what makes Spud special and thats why I and many others love him and his work. And 14 minutes for a DCS tutorial is not that much.

[@forest4283]

@@caseyryback6932 Agree to disagree.

[@brianrivers2028]

HI THANK YOU FOR THE TUTORIAL I HAVE A COMMENT IT'S HARD TO FOLLOW YOU YOUR MOUSE CURSOR AND VIEWS GO TO FAST SLOW DOWN AGAIN THANK YOU HAVE A NICE DAY

[@S3NTRY]

Need to reduce your repetition a bit, mate.

[@cave0770]

of course.... the harrier cost money. I sad now ;/

[@MrMulkerrins]

Why do you say 'as always'? So cringe