How long does it actually take from pre-flight checks to taxiing for the A-10C?

Start up in RL is similar to the sim. Just to get engines running takes less than five minutes. Flight control checks, brake checks, etc with a good pilot and me telling him what I see takes anywhere from 2-5 minutes. I can be standing bored in front of my jet within 10 minutes waiting for the pilot to get all of his stuff lined up, loaded, radio checks done. So generally from pilot firing up the APU to taxi takes around 20 minutes if all goes right.

I have a picture like that taken last week.

Looks slightly warmer in your photo lol.

Wow, that's faster than I thought. When you are at the rear are you watching the engines/moving surfaces etc?

C models are much quicker than A models. "A" models took a minimum of 15 minutes just to get the INS alligned. I've lauched a C model out in about 10 minutes from start (strapping the pilot in the seat) to taxing out. An "A" model fastest was about 20 minutes, except on alert. We launched them out in about 5 minutes once the pilot got to the jet. But, we already had the APU running and INS alligned before they got to the pad.

When we're at the rear of the ACFT like that we're relaying to the pilot that the flight controls are operating correctly. Goes something like this:

Pilot: Chief, Flaps Clear
Me (aka Crew Chief): Clear
Me: Flaps at 7
Me: Flaps full down
Me: Flaps full up - Speed brakes clear
Me: Partial (speedbrake is partially open)
Me: Full Open - clear to cycle (opens to 100%
Me: cycling (moves stick left right)
Me: Full closed (speedbrakes completely closed)
Pilot: Flight controls Clear
Me: Clear
Me: Elevators up (pilot pulls back on stick moving the elevators)
Me: Elevators down (pilot pushes forward on stick moving the elevators)
Me: left up, right down (pilot pushes stick to the left moving the ailerons)
Me: right up, left down (pilot pushes stick to the right moving the ailerons)
Me: Rudders Right (pilot pushes on the rudder pedals)
Me: Rudders Left (pilot pushes on the rudder pedals)
Pilot: Ready on SAS
Me: Ready, Kick Left (pilot tests SAS)
Me: Kick Right (pilot tests SAS)
Pilot: Ready on Trim
Me: Ready, Elevators up (pilot uses trim hat on stick moving the elevators)
Me: Elevators down (pilot uses trim hat on stick moving the elevators)
Me: left up, right down (pilot uses trim hat on stick moving the ailerons)
Me: right up, left down (pilot uses trim hat on stick moving the ailerons)
Me: Rudders Right (pilot uses YAW trim knob)
Me: Rudders Left (pilot uses YAW trim knob)
Pilot: Ready Override
Me: Ready, Elevators up (pilot uses trim hat on emergency flight control panel moving the elevators)
Me: Elevators down (pilot uses trim hat on emergency flight control panel moving the elevators)
Me: left up, right down (pilot uses trim hat on emergency flight control panel moving the ailerons)
Me: right up, left down (pilot uses trim hat on emergency flight control panel moving the ailerons)
Pilot: Trim's in the green (presses TO trim button)
Me: Looks good here
Me: Ready on the right (run to right main wheel, watch the brake)
Me: Pumping
Pilot: Skid Off
Me: Pumping
Me: Ready on the right (move to left main wheel, watch the brake)
Me: Pumping
Pilot: Skid on
Me: Pumping
Pilot: Heats off, ready on the right
Me: (Actuate the lift transducer, watch left slat to make sure extends) lefts good
Pilot: Rights good, heat coming on
Me: (Check lift transducer, AOA vein, pitot tube) Heats good
Pilot: heat coming off

Then it's sit and wait until he/she is ready to taxi unless they have a problem with a system then they'll call a redball and get maintenance to work it so hopefully he can still use the jet he is in. Otherwise he will either have to maintenance cancel or step to a spare jet.

That's great Paul, thanks for sharing that. Just a couple of questions though, what does this refer to and what is the pilot doing?



And also this?

SAS Check:

a. Anti-skid switch to ANTI-SKID
b. SAS switches - ENGAGE
c. Monitor Test switch - L (HOLD). Check all SAS switches disengage
d. SAS switches - ENGAGE
e. Monitor Test switch - R (HOLD). Check all SAS switches disengage

For the SLAT check all the pilot does is look down and to the right to observe the right slat. The LIFT transducer is on the leading edge of the left wigh next to the wheel pod. It is what controls the Slats popping up and down to direct airflow into the engines. Basically I take my comm cord (because if the pilot has pitot heat on it'll burn the hell out of my hand) and push it up. This simulates airflow pushing up on the transducer and actuating the slats to full up (the only two possible positions are full up and full down).

Damn! If that checklist was implemented in the game, I will have to insist on better comms with the ground crew.

Great thanks Paul, so the SAS check is when we flip the SAS switches in our start-up. Would be great if a crew chiefs feedback like you have just mentioned could be modded in not asking much and as though there isn't enough detail in this sim anyway!

EDIT: great minds think alike , Ice

What "great mind"??

Speak for yourself lol

Could you run a recording of that Pilot/Crew Chief dialog with each step triggered in the same manner as the training missions with the instructors voice only triggered when a specific action has been completed?

ie
Pilot: "Chief, Flaps Clear" (triggered by ground crew radio menu)
Crew Chief: "Clear, Flaps at 7." (when flaps at 7 triggers next Crew Chief command)
Crew Chief: "Flaps full down." (flaps full down triggers next Crew Chief command)

Anywho... it would be a cool mod.

Who's had experience of making mods? This would be great!

WK doesn't have the cool Spiderman pose going for him, though. He looks a lot more relaxed.



The Jedi Master

Yeah, he's more Batman

Heya real life Hog experienced guys, is there something called a "Hog Bite" in A-10 circles? I was at our air show about 5 years ago and I touched a SER and a cap of some kind came off.. I quickly bent down and grabbed it to put it back on before anyone saw, and ran my head into one of the first few outboard stations as I was getting back up. Still have the scar.. The pilot ran over and started shaking my hand saying it was an initiation thing. I was in a daze but that's how I remember it at least. Is a Hog Bite a real thing?

Oh yes, I have many "hawg bites" scars to prove it

When I launch I don't kneel down, I stand under the horizontal stab and observe everything.

SSgt Manley from Selfridge Michigan is keeping his knee dry. In Tucson Arizona where I was I didn't have to worry about that. Plus Batman is more badass.

Paul, at 6'4 I "can" stand up back there but I have to duck down to see some things so I just squat now. I also don't need a ladder to check AOA or pitot heat.

Hawg bites...oh yeah! During my TDY to Tucson nobody had any accidents until the very last mission day where we had to Ops cancel one flight because the pilot checked his gun round counter and then walked into the TACAN antenna between the nose gear and ladder and took 5 staples in his head. I had a fair share when we first got our Hogs. A couple drew blood from walking into the front of pylons. I'm getting better now though since I'm used to where I need to be.

Same here..I'm 6'2 and have to duck down, my knees just aren't what they use to be so actually squating down isn't much fun anymore I "piss" lots of folks off because when I launch I don't have to jump or use a ladder checking the AOA or pilot heat...

The crew chief voice mods could be accomplished with the current mission editor and triggers.

Very cool guys, thanks for the replies. Glad I wasn't hallucinating. It was quite a whack to the noggin, the ball cap I had didn't provide much protection.