Taxi & Takeoff Tutorial for the DCS F-4E Phantom by Heatblur

[@TrickerDCS]

Pro status achieved from this video

[@Spacepotato9202]

Happy phantom phriday everyone 🎉

[@Boots3862]

Somehow, on this particular weekend where we in the US remember our fallen warriors, this seems especially appropriate.

[@tim-3705]

i cannot wait for your landing tutorial, because i am having trouble. And you have truly the best f4 tutorials on youtube, being calm, taking time and explaining why we do a certain check. Most other tutorials just say “flick this lever” without telling us why, or what it does. Keep up the amazing work!

[@ReflectedSimulations]

Thank you for the kind words, I’m working on the landing tutorial as we speak. It’s the hardest one to make!:)

[@valuedhumanoid6574]

This is a sim. For example, there are no valid reasons to "check your brakes" because there's a 0% chance of them being bad. When you're at the hold short line, there is no reason to check for incoming traffic, because there will be none unless you put it there (in single player) If you want to do real life mil sim, then I get it, Reflected is your guy. But "flick this lever" is all you need in a sim. Knowing what it does changes nothing. If you're having issues landing, all the knowledge of why the lever does what it does will not help you whatsoever. That's why I avoid the study level tutorials if I just want to get into the air. If the checklist says "adjust environmental controls to suit the weather" are you really going to think that's going to help you? Are you wasting time on the startup going around the exterior to inspect for damage when it says to do it on the checklist? It's silly to do unless you just want that realism. It doesn't help you at all. I know you're probably going to try and tell me that knowing the physics behind what happens when you "flick the lever" that the other tutorials tell you to do, and you'll try and tell me that that knowledge will fix your woes. I am not buying it, so don't waste your time. Practice and repetition are what's needed. I only say all this because your expectations on Reflected's landing tutorial are going to be too high. It's not going to help you.

[@FreezeFrame175]

@@valuedhumanoid6574 what? lmao

[@WishIknewwhatthiswas]

I feel you on the landings. I accidently set up my landing scenario wrong and learned how to land with a full fuel tank. Now jester only gets mad some of the time.

[@tim-3705]

@@valuedhumanoid6574 Sorry, truly with all due respect. You literally said nothing. Personally I think it is pretty clear that I want to do the realistic procedures. I like doing those, and I love the extra information about the aircraft I’m in. Going on about your point that practice is the most important way to success; I really do agree with you on that. But the road how we get there and how we like spending time in the sim is really subjective and personal. So saying “I am wasting time” is a weird statement. Have fun in the f4!

[@KillerKev1961]

Its amazing how ancient analog systems in the F-4 are. Its like flying an F-86!

[@ReflectedSimulations]

Yeah pretty close!

[@KillerKev1961]

@@ReflectedSimulations lol

[@Andrew-13579]

There’s a lot of similarity to the F-5E…instruments, engine start-up, no HUD. But the F-4E, of course (I can already tell in one flight), has a heavier, chunkier feel. When we get the F-100D, I think it will look a lot like a hybrid between an F-86 and an F-4. The F-100D will feature the same gunsight/bombsight of the F-86F but with some of the gauges of the F-4/F-5. The A-7E should seem a lot like the F-4E, too. Now, the A-6E will seem a lot like the F-14A.

[@Andrew-13579]

The F-86F was from 1954, I think. The initial version of the Phantom, F-4B was from about 1958. The F-4E, 1966-67. Look at the engine instruments in the F-15C and A-10A (from around 1976)…a lot like the F-4/F-5. Things really changed with the F-16, F-18, AV-8B and the MFD.

[@SoaCrow]

These videos are an immense help when learning to fly the Phantom properly. Thanks Reflected, looking forward to the landing guide, since I am struggling with that.

[@ReflectedSimulations]

Thanks, I’m glad they’re helpful. The landing guide is coming next week ;)

[@WishIknewwhatthiswas]

After landing hard multiple times my advice is .... don't do that. Jester doesn't like that

[@seancolvin8545]

I am glad you used NTTR as map...good tutorial.

[@ReflectedSimulations]

One of my favorite maps!:)

[@eduardotorresspook7305]

😍I really liked your explanation, it was quite technical. I appreciate more tutorials of this type. Hopefully more faithful to the airplane flight manual.

[@ReflectedSimulations]

Thank you!

[@Andrew-13579]

I flew the F-4 for the first time, yesterday, and I didn’t wreck it! It was a 2-hour FAM mission with 20 minutes in the air! 😂. Sitting on the ramp, engines running for a half-hour, and no oil pressure indications. How do I tell Jester to turn on the generators? Oh! I have the switches! (Right console). So much to learn. 😄. Actually, much of that was in pause, setting up my joystick/throttles and switch bindings. It should keep people busy for a while. Up to FL340 and back down for a 12-mile straight-in. I sort of plopped it down “firmly” on the landing with Jester complaining something about his mustache…I didn’t think he had one. 😂. But the crew chief didn’t gripe at me. A couple times, “yeah, did that. It’s done. Done. Did that.” 😂. I clicked an item too many times.

[@Boudie24061972]

As always great content. Your relaxed voice telling what to do en don’t helps me very much. Thanks!

[@ReflectedSimulations]

Thank you!

[@phill00]

The Skin is just EPIC!!!!

[@endingender]

That was so helpful!! Can’t wait for the next. Landing is hard.

[@jxk4500]

thanks bro - keep these dope videos coming

[@ReflectedSimulations]

Thanks, will do!

[@teggy689]

Man I love your work, awesome videos and missions for the community. I appreciate your attentional to detail for historical procedures. I'd love to see a video on carrier take off/landing with the F-4, it's a little intimidating right now hahaha

[@ReflectedSimulations]

Hey thanks! No, the F-4E is not carrier capable, I'll make a tutorial if and when we get a Navy version :)

[@F4flyer]

Apply full aft stick before brake release. Full aft stick takeoffs were standard in the Air Force.

[@ReflectedSimulations]

Yes, that’s probably the safest way to go, you reach 80 knots rather quickly

[@EvansRG78]

Thanks for this! There's lots to learn on this bird, but I've been enjoying it so far.

[@paulf1389]

Loved your phantom content. Can’t wait to see what’s next. Keep them coming Reflected.

[@pickyfox9061]

BEAUTIFUL jet, gonna save some money to buy it!

[@becauseifly3440]

Outstanding instructional video!! Some minor debrief items: 3:39 -- The Dash 1 has you close the WSO's canopy first, then the pilot's. Looks like DCS Phantom was programmed for the pilot's canopy to close first. Incorrect, but no biggie. 3:59 -- In the preflight crew brief, the pilot instructed the WSO on whether he wants the Command Selector Valve in horizontal (the WSO punches out both aircrew members) or left in vertical (the WSO punches only himself, leaving the pilot behind). This had to do with whether the pilot trusted the WSO's experience level.

[@ReflectedSimulations]

Thanks for the info! Interesting. In DCS the player is the pilot usually so the AI WSO only knows he wants to close the canopy when he actually closes it. I thought horizontal was SOP but it makes sense, I’d want it vertical if I knew an inexperienced guy was sitting behind me.

[@becauseifly3440]

@@ReflectedSimulations TO 1F-4E(G)-1, Chapter 2, BEFORE TAKEOFF: Step 4c: CLose aft canopy... Step 4d: Close forward canopy... Why? With the front canopy closing first, if the pilot's ejection seat inadvertently fires, there's nothing to protect the WSO from the rocket blast. By closing the rear canopy first (with the pilot's canopy still raised), it'll give the pilot some protection from rocket blast if the WSO's seat inadvertently fires. BTW, after landing we always raised the canopies together. Not a Dash-1 reference, just a crew working together.

[@rockrock8706]

F-4 Phantom Never Dies

[@twofaceddisk799]

Great tutorial as always Reflected!

[@AdmiralQuality]

Great stuff, Reflected! Thanks!

[@ReflectedSimulations]

Cheers!

[@SVgamer72]

Phantastic content

[@Aetius42]

Can you do an rwr and countermeasure tutorial?

[@ReflectedSimulations]

I'm also trying to figure that one out.

[@dienkhungtung]

A few questions from a noob, sorry: - How do you steer on the ground? I know that you press the nose steering button, but how to turn, do you do it with the rudder or the stick? - So take off/landing set the flaps/slats to out-and-down and when flying, set to Norm position correct? And in order to change it, the speed needs to be at 212 knts correct? Edit: Reason I ask about flaps/slats due to I may have messed up during the take off then flying yesterday, after a while I can't pull the nose up

[@ReflectedSimulations]

Yes you steer with the pedals while the nws button is depressed. Correct about the flaps. Out and down for takeoff and landing, up for flying

[@dienkhungtung]

@@ReflectedSimulations Thank you, was confused when need to press that button to turn on the ground. I guess I messed up the flaps when I took off first time yesterday lol

[@hueyfoo]

I'm also having the issue of rolling out straight on the runway after touching down.

[@OldTrucker2024]

People keep saying they struggling on landing, meanwhile I’m buttering each one. Trick is don’t let your airspeed drop to much, keep at least 200 on the final approach to be able to glide down with flaps and slats deployed. Right before touchdown, pop speedbrakes and reduce power to idle, should bring you around 150, pop drag chute on touchdown

[@ReflectedSimulations]

200 is way too fast. I’m working on a landing tutorial right now

[@hueyfoo]

I could manage a very smooth touching down but having a tough time rolling out straight. My touchdown speed is about 150knt and brake chute deployed roughly about 2000 ft later then the aircraft starts rolling to either left or right side of the runway. Using pedal to steer it would result in a horrible skid. WTF am I possibly doing wrong here?

[@OldTrucker2024]

@@hueyfoo anti skid is on? Remember to use smooth inputs and let the drag chute and air brakes slow you down

[@eminententropy]

@@hueyfoo Also don't engage NWS until below probably 70 kts, and adding curves to the rudder axis can help a lot

[@hueyfoo]

@@eminententropy I should have read the user manual more carefully. Anti skid mode on did the trick. And you're right to apply NWS at appropriate timing.

[@Andrew-13579]

I would say this is one jet where having VR goggles are going to be quite nice (and it is). The view forward is very cluttered for the pilot…and almost nonexistent for the WSO. Looking with two virtual eyes, in 3D, helps with seeing past all that…the same as in the real thing.

[@ReflectedSimulations]

It does, especially because there is no hud to give you clues about your descent rate

[@Andrew-13579]

Somewhat like the F-5E, you’re going to be sort of looking down the nose at the runway you intend to land on, in a nose-high attitude. Try to establish about a 3-deg glide slope, gear, flaps and slats “down and out”. With a clean machine and about 4000 lbs fuel, looks like “on speed AoA” speed is around 135 kts. The AoA indexer lights tell you, as well as a beeper/tone system. Steady tone when you’re on speed and optimal AoA. I’m still learning how to maintain that speed. Just takes practice with the throttles and how to anticipate the response needed. Up around 85-88% RPM, I think. It would be cool if either a mod-maker or DCS could make a GCA (Ground-Controlled Approach) controller for DCS. The one where the controller is talking to you almost continuously and no response is required. “You’re on glide path. You’re right of course. Turn left heading 243. You’re on glide path. You’re 3 miles from touchdown. You’re slightly above glide path. You’re approaching course. Fly heading 245. You’re on glide path. You’re on course, 2.5 miles from touchdown,” etc, etc. until you report runway in sight. And you just maintain that on speed AoA in the landing configuration, holding a descent rate and heading that keeps you “on glide path, on course.”

[@starfleethastanks]

The F-4 is not a brick with engines, it's a jet that thinks it's a Saturn V rocket with control surfaces to prevent it from going into space.

[@ReflectedSimulations]

Exactly!:)

[@7e21]

Fun tidbit about the F4: They were used as camera planes for several of the gemini missions which involved two phantoms with camera pods going mach jesus towards the launch site at high altitude and then pulling a vertical climb alongside the rocket until running out of energy.

[@ReflectedSimulations]

@@7e21 Cool! I wish we could simulate that in DCS!

[@7e21]

@@ReflectedSimulations I've been really tempted to try and make a mod for something like that. But I only know the 3D modelling side of things.

[@ItsJustSteve]

idk why i have such a hard time with this, I tend to be able to keep it aligned with NWS down the runway but once its time for rudders they dont seem to do much (a lot of times I'm forced to tap nws at high speeds which I know would be a huge "NoNo" in real life), I just about always manage to get off the ground but it sure doesn't look pretty. It's not a lack of anti-skid...idk i might just suck

[@hueyfoo]

Perhaps you can make one for landing? One on land and one on carrier. It seems like the brake chute isn't working for me when landing. I tested it in static mode and it deploys the chute. What can I do wrong there? My roll out speed is well below 150 knots.

[@ReflectedSimulations]

Working on it!

[@etienneleroux6253]

Are those missiles on the belly clipping into the 3d model or

[@KernitTheFont]

The fins on Sparrow missiles were inset into the fuselage on F-4s

[@jayhawk9267]

Why is the Part missing how to open / close the canopy in every F4 Tutorial?

[@ReflectedSimulations]

I’m literally showing yhe switch being moved :) left hand side just below the canopy rail.

[@jayhawk9267]

Sorry

[@aztec0112]

Since many of the fuses are essentially hidden, do you have any ideas on how to check them? Normally I wouldn't really care, but given some of the extra candy stuffed into this magnificent goose, I am a little wary of being dismissive of them as I usually am.

[@brandonhill9795]

Going to give it another go 4-5 times now, the bird violently jinks right and skids off the runway about halfway down the run...frustrating, but I'm not giving up

[@ReflectedSimulations]

Sounds like a double control mapping

[@behindthen0thing525]

nice

[@aplaceinthesky82]

I have a question not related to the video, but the pilot editor is not included in the early access, am I correct?

[@ReflectedSimulations]

I haven’t tried but I don’t think it is

[@hueyfoo]

Dunno why my arresting hook is always down at start up.

[@ReflectedSimulations]

Check your control assignments

[@banditkfk1463]

Is the tyres rolling on rims simulated?

[@ReflectedSimulations]

Doubt it

[@StevenV2]

Mobius 1?

[@odysseus9797]

Is there even fuel tank leak coded in dcs?

[@ReflectedSimulations]

I think you might be able to trigger one

[@TheBlastStar]

Helpful?, Interesting?, FUCK YEAH!!!

[@ReflectedSimulations]

Thanks!:)

[@sageg58]

I keep slamming back down while takingg off, anyone else have that issue?

[@UkDave3856]

I did until I adjusted the saturation and curves on my stick axis settings. The stick seems to have a very short throw and I had to saturate the range in both X and Y axis to 50% to match my stick inputs to the cockpit’s movements. This lead to quite twitchy controls, so I put 25 curve on each axis which smoothed things out a bit, but as reflected says, you need to ease forward as soon as you lift off but I find you need to be smooth with it to, even with curves set

[@MrSomethingdark]

WAGZ versus REFLECTED, FIGHT!!!

[@ReflectedSimulations]

Why would it be a ‘versus’ or a ‘fight’? I don’t get it.

[@MrSomethingdark]

@@ReflectedSimulations I am sorry if it was possibly a misunderstanding. I thought it only in the most casual way. As if who is more beloved by the community.

[@ReflectedSimulations]

@@MrSomethingdark haha, Wags (among others) brought us DCS so that’s always a win there :)

[@ExactPlanet0]

Could we get a landing one too? 😂

[@ReflectedSimulations]

Working on it!

[@vd9136]

Let’s make landing video.

[@ReflectedSimulations]

Working on it!

[@AggrarFarmer]

Pitot heat only on icing conditions !

[@rudelchw]

The Procedure of the real aircraft says Pitot Heat ON during takeoff, with no qualifications.

[@CharlesHuse]

Wish I had $5k to dump into a pc and flight control kit

[@RW-zn8vy]

You don’t even need that much 1.5k will do just fine