DCS A-4E-C: where every avionics panel is, and how to work it

AN/APN-153 + AN/ASN-41

Doppler radar and navigation computer — the aircraft's dead-reckoning nav. Learn this pair first; it's the heart of the jet and the least intuitive thing in it.

Where

Right console, forward — panel #50, both on the same panel

APN-153

OFFSTBYLANDSEATEST

ASN-41

TESTOFFSTBYD1D2

1. Doppler to STBY to spin up, then LAND over ground or SEA over water — the sea setting compensates for a moving surface.
2. ASN-41 to STBY.
3. Set present position latitude and longitude on the push-to-set knobs — push the knob in, then rotate. Everything downstream is only as good as this entry.
4. Set magnetic variation for your theatre.
5. Set wind speed and direction if you know them. This is what the computer falls back on when the doppler loses lock.
6. Set destination lat/lon for D1, and D2 if you want a second one. Slew knobs give you fine adjustment.
7. ASN-41 to D1 (or D2) to steer to that destination.
8. BDHI selector to NAVCMPTR so the needle actually shows it.

BDHI selector

Bearing–Distance–Heading Indicator source switch. Three navigation systems, one needle.

Where

Armament panel #35, main panel centre — not with the nav gear

Positions

NAVPACTACANNAVCMPTR

• TACAN — bearing and DME distance from the ARN-52.
• NAVCMPTR — bearing and distance to your ASN-41 destination.
• NAVPAC — the third source position.

AN/ARN-52 TACAN

Bearing and distance to a ground station or a tanker. Your independent cross-check on the dead-reckoning nav.

Where

Right console, middle — labelled TACAN, not ARN-52

Positions

OFFRECT/RA/A

1. Dial the channel on the 10s and 1s wheels.
2. Mode to T/R for bearing plus distance. REC is receive-only, so bearing but no DME.
3. A/A is air-to-air — range to another TACAN-equipped aircraft, which is how you find the tanker.
4. BDHI selector to TACAN.
5. Volume knob confirms you're actually receiving the station ident.

AN/APG-53A radar

Ground mapping, terrain avoidance, and the slant range that makes computed bombing work.

Where

Controls on left console middle (#6); scope at the left of the main panel (#20)

Positions

OFFSTBYSRCHTCAG

1. Mode switch to STBY and let it warm, then pick your mode: SRCH for ground mapping, TC for terrain clearance, AG for air-to-ground ranging.
2. Set antenna tilt on the radar control panel — this is what most often makes a scope look empty.
3. On the scope itself, work brilliance, gain and detail until you get a usable picture. Drop the filter plate in bright light.
4. Range switch and terrain-clearance switch are over on the armament panel, and change the presentation.
5. In TC, set the obstacle-tone volume — the warning is audio.

AFCS

Automatic Flight Control System — the autopilot. Attitude hold is the base; heading and altitude hold stack on top.

Where

Left console, aft — panel #8 (test panel is right console aft, #59)

States

OFFSTBYWARMUPATTITUDEATTITUDE+HDGALTITUDEALTITUDE+HDG

1. Standby switch on first, and let it run through warm-up. It will not engage straight from cold.
2. Trim the aircraft out properly, then Engage. Attitude hold is what you get.
3. Want heading hold? Set the heading with the pull-to-set knob, then flip Heading Select.
4. Want altitude hold? Level off first, then flip the Altitude switch.
5. Stability augmentation — the yaw damper — is independent of all of the above and worth leaving on.

APC

Approach Power Compensator — an auto-throttle that flies angle of attack for you on approach. The carrier pilot's best friend.

Where

Left console, forward — panel #17A

Power

OFFSTBYENGAGE

Temperature

COLDSTDHOT

1. Set the temperature switch for ambient conditions — STD covers most days.
2. Power to STBY on the way down the pattern.
3. Configure the aircraft: gear down, flaps down, on speed.
4. Power to ENGAGE. The throttle now works itself to hold your AoA — fly the ball with attitude and let it handle power.