ALPHA Bristol Beaufighter Mk VI

Operational Procedures

Note: These procedures and specifications were derived from the actual Beaufighter Pilot's Operational Handbook, printed in 1944.



Aircraft Weight, loaded: 20,000 lbs
Crew: 2
Maximum fuel load: 850 U.S. Gallons

Adjust aircraft weight by selecting “Fuel and Payload” under the Aircraft menu. Torpedo and ordnance weight may be simulated by setting the "Ordnance" payload to 2,500 lbs.  On shorter runways select 15 degrees of flaps for takeoff at this weight.
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BEFORE STARTING ENGINE

[ ] Brakes -- TEST and SET
[ ] Electrical Equipment -- OFF
[ ] Landing Gear Lever -- DOWN
[ ] Fuel Selector Valve -- BOTH
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ENGINE START

Press E to initiate engine auto-start sequence, or:

LEFT ENGINE
[ ] Propeller -- HIGH rpm
[ ] Mixture -- RICH
[ ] Propeller Area -- CLEAR
[ ] Master Battery Switch -- ON
[ ] Ignition -- BOTH
[ ] Engine Start Switch -- ON

Then:

[ ] Throttle -- 1,000 rpm
[ ] Oil Pressure -- CHECK

RIGHT ENGINE
[ ] Propeller -- HIGH rpm
[ ] Mixture -- RICH
[ ] Propeller Area -- CLEAR
[ ] Master Battery Switch -- ON
[ ] Ignition -- BOTH
[ ] Engine Start Switch -- ON

Then:

[ ] Throttle -- 1,000 rpm
[ ] Oil Pressure -- CHECK
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BEFORE TAKEOFF

[ ] Brakes -- SET
[ ] Gills -- 1/3 open
[ ] Flight Controls -- FREE and CORRECT
[ ] Flight Instruments -- CHECK and SET
[ ] Right Mixture -- RICH
[ ] Left Mixture -- RICH
[ ] Fuel Quantity -- CHECK
[ ] Fuel Selector Valve -- SET TO INNER TANKS (ALL)
[ ] Elevator Trim -- NEUTRAL OR UP TO 2 DEGREES NOSE-HEAVY
[ ] Rudder Trim -- SET AS DESIRED

LEFT ENGINE
[ ] Throttle -- 2,200 rpm
[ ] Magnetos -- CHECK
[ ] Propeller -- CYCLE high rpm/
low rpm/high rpm
[ ] Engine Instruments -- CHECK
[ ] Throttle -- 800-1,000 rpm

RIGHT ENGINE
[ ] Throttle -- 2,200 rpm
[ ] Magnetos -- CHECK
[ ] Propeller -- CYCLE high rpm/
low rpm/high rpm
[ ] Engine Instruments -- CHECK
[ ] Throttle -- 800-1,000 rpm
[ ] Flaps -- SET for takeoff (0-15 degrees)
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TAKEOFF

[ ] Flaps -- As desired up to 15 degrees
[ ] Throttles -- Advance smoothly to 1/2, rapidly to full
[ ] Mixtures -- RICH (may be leaned above 3000')
[ ] Propellers -- 2,900 rpm
[ ] Tailwheel -- LOCKED
[ ] Elevator Control -- LIFT TAIL WHEEL EARLY FOR DIRECTIONAL CONTROL
[ ] Rotate -- 125 mph IAS
[ ] Brakes -- APPLY momentarily when airborne
[ ] Landing Gear -- UP
[ ] Flaps -- RETRACT

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CLIMB (20,000 lbs.)

NORMAL CLIMB (To 15,000 feet)

[ ] Airspeed -- 150 mph IAS (145 mph above 12,000 feet)
[ ] Throttle -- +6 BOOST
[ ] Propeller -- 2,400 rpm
[ ] Fuel Selector Valve -- BOTH
[ ] Mixture -- FULL RICH (may be leaned above 3,000')
[ ] Time to climb -- 7 min 24 sec
[ ] Distance covered -- 20 miles
[ ] Fuel used -- 29 gallons

MAXIMUM PERFORMANCE CLIMB (5 minute maximum)

[ ] Airspeed -- 150 mph IAS
[ ] Throttle -- FULL
[ ] Propeller -- 2,900 rpm
[ ] Fuel Selector Valve -- ALL
[ ] Mixture -- FULL RICH (may be leaned above 3,000')

CRUISE CLIMB

[ ] Airspeed -- 160 mph IAS
[ ] Throttle -- +6 BOOST
[ ] Propeller -- 2,400 rpm
[ ] Fuel Selector Valve -- BOTH
[ ] Mixture -- FULL RICH (may be leaned above 3,000')

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ECONOMY CRUISE

[ ] Altitude -- 15,000 MSL
[ ] Throttles -- +0 BOOST
[ ] Propellers -- 2,000 rpm
[ ] Mixtures -- LEAN as required
[ ] Elevator Trim -- ADJUST
[ ] Rudder Trim -- ADJUST
[ ] Airspeed (IAS) -- 190 mph
[ ] Airspeed (TAS) -- 237 mph
[ ] Fuel consumption -- 59 gph/engine
[ ] Range -- 1606 miles
[ ] Endurance -- 6.8 hours

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SINGLE ENGINE OPERATIONS

[ ] Feather prop on dead engine
[ ] External stores -- DROP
[ ] Throttle -- +6 boost
[ ] Propeller -- 2,900 rpm
[ ] Minimum Airspeed -- 160 mph IAS

Do not use full power on the live engine below
150 mph IAS
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DESCENT

[ ] Fuel Selector Valve -- Check
[ ] Throttle -- -1.5 boost
[ ] Propeller -- 2,400 rpm
[ ] Mixture -- ENRICH as required
[ ] Flaps -- Up to 20 degrees below 170 mph
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BEFORE LANDING

[ ] Airspeed -- 160 mph
[ ] Fuel Selector Valve -- BEST
[ ] Landing Gear -- DOWN
(below 170 mph)
[ ] Mixtures -- RICH
[ ] Propellers -- HIGH RPM
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LANDING (21,000 lbs)

[ ] Airspeed -- 120 mph (flaps DOWN)
[ ] Flaps -- FULL DOWN (below 150 mph)
[ ] Trim -- ADJUST
[ ] Flare to make contact at about 95 mph
[ ] Touchdown -- MAIN WHEELS FIRST
[ ] Landing Roll -- LOWER TAIL WHEEL GENTLY
[ ] Braking -- MINIMUM REQUIRED
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AFTER LANDING

[ ] Flaps -- UP
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BELLY LANDINGS and
WATER LANDINGS (DITCHING)

[ ] Landing Gear -- UP
[ ] Landing Flaps -- DOWN
[ ] Shoulder Harness -- LOCKED
[ ] Canopy -- OPEN

PRIOR TO CONTACT WITH GROUND OR WATER

[ ] Switches -- OFF
[ ] Fuel Selector OFF
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SECURING AIRPLANE

[ ] Brakes -- SET

Right Engine
[ ] Throttle -- IDLE
[ ] Propeller -- HIGH rpm
[ ] Mixture -- IDLE CUT-OFF
[ ] Ignition Switch -- OFF

Left Engine
[ ] Throttle -- IDLE
[ ] Propeller -- HIGH rpm
[ ] Mixture -- IDLE CUTOFF
[ ] Ignition Switch -- OFF

[ ] Master Battery Switch -- OFF
[ ] Fuel Selector Valve -- OFF