# Flight instructions

### Start-up

- Bring the flight engineer panel to front (press Shift+3)
- Switch on the alternators, the battery and the avionics (big red switcher) - if not already on. The active position is the upper one for the alternators (you see four switchers) and the lower one for the battery and the avionics (they are closed by lids).
- Check the fuel. Use the switcher to check separately each tank
- Close the entries (Shift+E) - check that the white leds are off on the 2nd pilot's panel.
- Switch on the fuel pumps (the topmost switchers) - white leds attest the pumps are functionning. Check that the feathering buttons get pressed. Close the feathering buttons lid (if not closed)
- Check the avionics is activated
- Check the parking brakes are active
- Switch on the navigation lights and strobes.
- Start the engines one by one using the engines start switchers. Red leds should light during the start-up procedure. They extinguish as soon as the engines gain power.
- Check the green pumps leds are on
- Switch on the taxi lights if necessary
- By cold weather, switch on the cabin heating to de-ice the windows.

### Taxiing and takeoff

- Release the parking brakes
- Set the throttle to 25%
- Control the taxiing speed. Press Shift+Z to show the speed on the top of the screen (press three times Shift+Z to hide all the info). Don't exceed 20kts.
- You can also taxi with just two engines on (the second and the third). In this case, set throttle to 45-50%. Start the engines 1 and 4 during the taxiing as you approach the runway.
- Before the takeoff : set flaps to 25° (red line on the flaps gauge), the stabilizer pitch is set automatically to -2°.
- Set elevator trimmer to 1.5-2°
- Deploy and switch on the landing lights
- Engage the parking brakes
- Set and check up the autopilot (See the panel manual). Then, de-activate it for the takeoff.
- Get the authorization to takeoff
- Press "I" to make the smoke effects visible
- Set the throttle to 100%
- When the fuel pressure reaches 100kg/cm2, release the parking brakes
- Start rotation at 150kts (278km/h)
- Takeoff at 160kts (296km/h)

### Climbing and cruise flight

- After the takeoff, brake the wheels, retract gears
- Switch off and retract landing lights
- Switch on the autopilot
- Retract flaps progressively
- Reduce the throttle to 92%
- Climb to 10km (32000 ft). Reduce the vertical speed progressively as you approach to the cruise flight level. Keep the indicated airspeed at approx. 450km/h (240 kts). Check that the pitch doesn't exceed 10°.
- If the cabin windows cover with ice, switch on the cabin heating.
- At cruise altitude, reduce the throttle to 85%. Keep the indicated airspeed at approx. 500km/h (270kts)

### Descent and landing

- Start descending approximatively at 90nm from the airport. Use this simple formula:

      D = H*3

  where D is the distance to the airport (in nautical miles) and H is the current altitude (in thousands feet). This formula is valid for average descend ground speed of approx. 300kts and the descent rate of 1500ft/min (7.5m/s).
- Keep the indicated airspeed within 600 km/h
- At 1km (3000ft) altitude, reduce the speed to 400km/h and deploy flaps progressively to 15°.
- Deploy landing gears at 350km/h (190kts)
- Deploy flaps progressively to 35° before entering the glideslope.
- Deploy and switch on landing lights.
- Keep the speed at 270-280km/h (145-150kts) on the glideslope.
- Touchdown at 250km/h (135kts).
- Engage thrust reverse and retract the flaps. Remember: this aircraft has no spoilers
- Start braking at 160km/h (85kts).
- Switch off and retract the landing lights.
- Press "I" to de-activate the smoke effects.
- You can taxi either with four or with two engines on. In the second case, turn off the first and the fourth engines after leaving the runway. Use the red handles on the central console to switch off the engines. Open the plastic lid first (click on the little red arrow above the lid).
- At the gate, engage the parking brakes, switch off all the engines. Open the passenger doors after the propellers stop turning.

### Technical data

Wing span | 51.10 m
Length | 54.10 m
Height | 15.50 m
Wings area | 311.1 m2
Empty weight | 93500 kg
Maximum takeoff weight | 173500 kg
Engines | 4x Kuznetsov NK-12MV
Power | 4x 14795 hp
Maximum speed | 877 km/h
Cruise speed | 770 km/h
Maximum range | 8800 km
Range with max payload | 6200
Service ceiling | 12000 m
Runway length | 3500 m
Crew | 5
Passengers | 65-220 (depending on version)
Useful load | 25000 kg freight