Overview
The goal here is to learn all the checklists for the Viggen, perfect for this full study-sim. Being able to follow, and later on, memorise the checklists is a great feeling of accomplishment. To do real-world procedures also adds to the immersion of the sim.
Real-life AJS37 checklists
The official AJS37 checklists used in the SWAF can be downloaded the below. These are the reference checklists that everything is centered around.
The official Heatblur manual clearly is based on these real-life checklists. This is a good thing from a realism perspective. Some steps are of course skipped, like the initial walk-around, and steps not yet implemented in the 37 module. When a function isn’t implemented in the module, it’s acknowledged, but not performed.
Training missions to learn checklists
The most obvious way would be to use the in-game training missions. However, a few questions should be investigated:
- Does the training mission for Cold Start follow the checklist in the module’s manual? If not, the checklist in the manual should be used instead.
- Does checklist training exist for the other parts of a flight, such as take-off, landing, weapons handling, emergency procedures etc? If not, the manual should be used.
How are checklists read and used in real-life?
Let’s keep the focus on military checklists and their use. There are a few variants of how to actually perform the items in the checklists. Here are a few links to get started:
Modifications
I have modified the checklists to suit a logical “flow”. In my case I start on the left hand side in the cockpit, continue onto the instrument panel, and then finish off on the right hand side. This also helps with remembering the steps. As in real life, the order is not set in stone. The important thing is that all steps are performed.
We will begin with Block 1, learning the normal startup procedure using ground power, with procedures grouped together in sub-blocks.
Block 1: Normal startup using ground power
The following checklist are included in this block:
- Before engine start (original checklist called “Före startning av motor”)
- Engine start (“Startning av motor”)
- After engine start (“Före utkörning”)
- Before take-off (“Före start”)
- Take-off (“Start”)
The goal here is to perform this block until you can do the steps blindfolded. I can train each sub-task separately and then join all together, if it makes more sense.
1.1 Before engine start
1.2 Engine start
1.3 After engine start
1.4 Before take-off
1.5 Take-off
- Using the HUD
- Using the ADI (FLI 37)
- Take-off on short runways
Block 2: Startup without ground power
- Changes in procedure (after engine start
Block 3: Landing
- Landing, visual approach
- Landing, TILS
- Braking, aerobraking, normal braking (w/without thrust reversal)