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A-4E-C GUIDE By HECLAK

This is a work-in-progress. You can

leave feedback and comments in the
thread below.
https://www.reddit.com/r/hoggit/comm
ents/9ycr50/sharing_my_notes_for_th
e_community_a4e_as_i_learn/ NOT FOR REAL WORLD FLIGHT
Control Stick
Throttle ★ The MASTER EXTERIOR LIGHTS SW is spring loaded from
the aft to the center position, providing a means of signaling
with the exterior lights.

MASTER EXTERIOR LIGHTS SW

ON/OFF/MOMENTARY ON

UNKNOWN

SPEEDBRAKE
OPEN/CLOSED
 1 4

Startup Procedure STARTER

SWITCH

1. Ground Power ……………………...….CONNECT

2. Master press-to-test ……...CHECK LIGHTS 5a
ENGINE RPM
3. Throttle …………………………..……………….…. OFF
4. Starter switch…………..DEPRESS TO START
5. Engine RPM at 5% ……….. Move throttle to
IGN position (Right-click on throttle)
6. Engine RPM at 15% ………. Move throttle to
IDLE position (Right-click on throttle)
7. Engine RPM at 40% ………. Remove Ground
power 3 5b 6
8. Canopy ……………………………………...…… CLOSE
9. TACAN switch …………………………...……... REC
10. AFCS ……………………………………….... STANDBY
11. Flaps ……………………………………….... SET AT ½
12. Altimeter …………………………………………….. SET
OFF IGN IDLE
Takeoff
PRE-TAKEOFF CHECKLIST

Elevator Trim ……….……………….. 8° UP / CATAPULT AS

REQUIRED
Flaps ..……………………………...…………………………..…….…. SET AT ½
Speedbrakes ….…………………...…………………………..…….…. CLOSED
Armament ………...…………………………..…….…. ALL SWITCHES OFF
Spoilers ……………………………...…………………………..…….…. ARMED
Nosewheel Steering ……………………………...……………...…. NORMAL

Notes

● A-4E mod can only toggle between FLAPS UP and FLAPS

DOWN with regular keybinds. Bind the ‘Flaps Down else Stop
(HOTAS)” control to get ½ FLAPS.
● Nosewheel bounce may be experienced during takeoff run.
Apply forward stick to maintain nosewheel on the deck till
takeoff speed reached.
 Landing

Notes

● Ensure that spoilers are armed before landing. Spoilers

will automatically deploy with weight on main landing gear
to reduce landing distance.
● NATOPS manual recommends applying brakes below 80
knots if runway length is adequate.
Shutdown Procedure
Flaps ……………………………………………………...... UP
Speedbrakes ………………………………………….….. IN
Spoilers …………………………………………..... CLOSED
Drop tank switch …………………………………….. OFF
Radios and all electrical equipment …………... OFF
Canopy ……………………………………………..…. OPEN
Throttle …………………………………...……….……. OFF
Carrier Procedures
AOA Indexer

TOO ON TOO
LOW HIGH
LOW SPEED HIGH

0 - 16.5 16.5 - 17 17 - 18 18 - 18.5 18.5 - 30

Reduce Add
Reduce Add
power Maintain power
power power
slightly slightly
Automatic Flight Control
System (AFCS)
STANDBY
The automatic flight control system (AFCS) is the autopilot system of SWITCH
the A-4E-C. The AFCS will maintain heading, altitude and pitch and
bank angles, and perform a coordinated turn to a preselected heading
without the use of the pilot control stick.

The AFCS control panel is located on the left-hand console.

STANDBY SWITCH
Moving this switch to the standby position provides electrical power to
the AFCS. This switch should be in STANDBY at least 90 seconds
prior to engaging the stability augmentation switch or the AFCS main
engage switch.

ENGAGE SWITCH
Moving this switch to the ENGAGE position turns on the AFCS in one
of two modes; attitude hold or heading hold, depending on flight
attitude. HEADING ALTITUDE ENGAGE
SEL SW HOLD SW SWITCH
When this switch is placed in the OFF position both the heading select
switch and the altitude switch returns to the OFF position.
Automatic Flight Control
System (AFCS)

AUTOPILOT OVERRIDE BUTTON

Pressing this button immediately
disengages the entire AFCS
TRIM SWITCH
The trim switch is inoperative
during all AFCS modes except
control stick steering. The control
stick trim switch should be used
with normal technique when control
stick steering mode is engaged.
AFCS Modes
CONTROL STICK STEERING (CSS) MODE
The CSS mode provides for longitudinal and lateral control of
the aircraft through the AFCS by pilot movement of the stick as
in normal flight. This mode is engaged regardless of other
modes selected. Preselect heading and altitude hold modes are
disengaged by use of CSS and they must be re-engaged to be
used again. The AFCS reverts from CSS mode to either attitude
hold or heading hold mode when pilot force on the control stick
is reduced below 2 pounds. The aircraft is controllable in all
attitude in CSS throughout the AFCS flight envelope, which is
4±½ positive-g, 1½±½ negative-g, and one-half aileron
deflection left or right. If these limits are exceeded, the AFCS
disengages.
ATTITUDE HOLD MODE
With an aircraft bank angle between 5 degrees and 70 degrees
and a pitch angle less than 60 degrees noseup or nosedown.
The aircraft lateral and longitudinal attitude at time of
engagement of the AFCS or reversion from the CSS mode will
be maintained.
HEADING HOLD MODE
If the pitch angle is within 60 degrees noseup or nosedown and
the bank angle of the aircraft is less than 5 degrees upon
engagement of the AFCS or reversion from CSS mode, the
aircraft will be rolled to a level attitude and the heading and pitch
angles at that time will be maintained.
PRESELECT HEADING MODE
Upon engagement of the HEADING SEL SW, the aircraft will roll
into a smooth turn to the preselected heading on the dial then
roll out on this heading. The bank angle will be maintained at
27±5 degrees under all conditions.
STABILITY AUGMENTATION MODE (NOT IMPLEMENTED)
ALTITUDE HOLD MODE
Altitude hold mode may be engaged when the rate-of-change of
altitude is less than 4000±500 feet per minute. The aircraft will
maintain the altitude at engagement of the ALT HOLD SW.
Weapons [WIP]
Air to Air

● AIM-9P5

Rockets

● FFAR Mk1 HE
● FFAR Mk5 HEAT
● FFAR M156 WP
● ZUNI MK 71
● M257 Parachute Illumination

Bombs

● Mk-20
● Mk-77 Mod 1
● Mk-81 (250lb)
● Mk-81SE
● Mk-82 (500lb)
● Mk-82 SnakeEye
ARMAMENT
PANEL

AIRCRAFT WEAPONS
RELEASE SYSTEM
(AWE-1)
Aircraft Weapons Release QUANTITY DROP MULTIPLIER MODE

System Panel (AWE-1)

SELECT INTERVAL SW SELECTOR

The AWRS allows the pilot to control the quantity of

weapons for release and interval between releases.

The quantity select control and power on-off switch serves

as an OFF/ON switch for the AWRS and provides selection
of weapon release quantity.
DROP INTVL determines the interval between each
RIPPLE. This interval ranges from 20 to 2000 milliseconds.
The DROP INTVL control is used in conjunction with the
multiplier switch. The control has positions of 20 to 200
milliseconds in the x1 position. When the multiplier switch is
placed in the x10 position, drop interval becomes 200 to
2000 milliseconds.
RELEASE MODES
The pilot may choose one of the two basic release modes,
ripple release or step release.
RIPPLE MODE - Releases weapons at a selected drop
interval until the selected number of weapons have been
released.
STEP MODE - Weapon release rate determined by pilot.
One release signal is generated with each depression of
the gun-rocket trigger or bomb release button.
Aircraft Weapons Release
System Panel (AWE-1)
STEP SINGLES - One weapon will be released for each
depression of the bomb release button.
STEP PAIRS - One weapon will be released from each
station of equal priority with each depression of the bomb
release button.
STEP SALVO - The number of weapons released
simultaneously with each depression is determined by the
QTY SEL.
NOTE: QTY SEL isn’t functioning as per NATOPS
manual at the moment. This manual reflects current
functionality.
RIPPLE SINGLES - One weapon is released continuously
with a release interval set by the drop interval. Release
sequence continues until bomb release button or
gun-rocket trigger is released.
RIPPLE PAIRS - One weapon will be released from each
station of equal priority continuously with a release interval
set by the drop interval. Release sequence continues until
bomb release button or gun-rocket trigger is released.
RIPPLE SALVO - The number of weapons released at
each interval is set using the QTY SEL switch. Release
sequence continues until bomb release button or
gun-rocket trigger is released.
GUNS AUTHOR’S NOTE
These values were obtained through direct test
firing in the sim instead of real world depression
AUTHOR’S NOTE tables as the sim physics do not currently align
So it seems that we won’t be able to use real world depression tables as with real world values.
the weapon trajectories in DCS doesn’t seem to line up exactly. I’m
working on generating new sim-only data like the chart below so that MK 12 GUN/MK 4 GUN POD
I can generate DCS specific depression tables for the A-4E-C. This 20MM STRAFING SIGHT ANGLES
should significantly improve the accuracy of the sight angle tables.
REL SIGHT
ALTITUDE
REL ANGLE AIRSPEED ANGLE
(FEET)
(KTAS) (MILS

400 1000 0
300 2000 27
-10
400 2000 17
450 2000 15

-20 450 1500 0

Mk 4 HIPEG (High Performance
External Gun)
The A-4E-C has the ability to carry three Mk 4
HIPEG gun pods in addition to the two internal
20mm Colt Mk12 cannons. The gunpods can
be mounted on stations 2, 3, and 4.

The gunpods can be armed through the GUN

PODS panel on the left console. Each station
should be set to READY to be armed for firing.

The selector on the right should be placed to

CHARGE to arm the gunpods.
Rockets
1. Set GUNS SWITCH to SAFE. The trigger is shared between
the guns and stations. Set the guns to safe to avoid firing the
guns when firing or releasing a weapon on the stations. GUNS SWITCH
2. Turn FUNCTION SELECTOR SWITCH to ROCKETS STATION
3. Set the required STATION SELECTOR SWITCHES where the SELECTOR
rockets are mounted to READY SWITCHES
4. Squeeze the trigger to fire the rockets.

GUNSIGHT …………………………………...………….. __________

FUNCTION
FUNC SEL SW ……………………………………….….. ROCKETS SELECTOR SWITCH
STATION SEL SW …………………………………….... AS REQUIRED
BOMB ARM SW ……………………………………….. NOSE/TAIL
INTERVAL ………………………………………………... AS REQUIRED
MASTER ARM SW ……………………………….….... ON
TRIGGER ………………………………......................... SQUEEZE
Rockets Sight Angles

AUTHOR’S NOTE
These values were obtained through direct test firing in the sim
instead of real world depression tables as the sim physics do
not currently align with real world values.

FFAR Mk1 HE ZUNI MK71

Sight Angle (mils) 0 -22 -38 0 -26 Sight Angle (mils) -38 -18

Release Speed Release Speed

450 400 400 400 400 400 400
(KTS) (KTS)

Release Altitude Release Altitude (ft

1000 2000 3000 3000 5000 3000 5000
(ft AGL) AGL)

Dive Angle 10 10 10 20 20 Dive Angle 10 20

AGM-45A SHRIKE
The AGM-45A is an air-to-surface anti-radiation
missile (ARM) designed to destroy radiating radar
transmitters. The Shrike homed on the
electromagnetic signals emitted by enemy
ground-based radar sites.

The Shrike is a fire and forget ARM where the missile

only needs to be launched in the direction of the
emitter and the missile will automatically track and
destroy the emitter. FUNC SEL SW ………………………….. BOMBS & GM ARM
STATION SEL SW ……………………... AS REQUIRED
The seeker only allows for a maximum of 3 degree
MASTER ARM SW ………………….... ON
deviation from the target, requiring a precise target
vector. BOMB RELEASE BUTTON ………….. DEPRESS & HOLD TO FIRE
 Level Bombing Table

BOMBS Mk-81SE Mk-82 Mk-82 SE

Sight Angle 170 mils 141 mils 166 mils

Release Speed 400 kn 400 kn 400 kn

Release Altitude 400 ft agl 500 ft agl 400 ft agl

Dive Angle level flight level flight level flight

QTY SEL SW ……………………………………………..….. __________

INTERVAL ……………………………………………...……... AS REQUIRED
MULT SW ……………………………………….………..….. __________
MODE SEL SW …………………………...………….….….. __________
BOMB ARM SW …………………………………………..…….. NOSE/TAIL

GUNSIGHT ………………………………………….……….. __________

FUNC SEL SW ………………..……...…………….….. BOMBS & GM ARM
STATION SEL SW ……………….………………...……….... AS REQUIRED
MASTER ARM SW ……………………………………………...…….….... ON
BOMB RELEASE BUTTON …...…........................................... DEPRESS
AIM-9 SIDEWINDER
The AIM-9 Sidewinder is a short-range air-to-air missile which is guided
by its IR seeker head. The missiles can only be carried on stations 2 and
4.

The missile can only be fired in boresight mode.

2
3
GUNSIGHT ………………………………………….……….. __________
FUNC SEL SW ………………..……...…………….….. BOMBS & GM ARM 1
STATION SEL SW ……………….………………...……….... AS REQUIRED
MASTER ARM SW ……………………………………………...…….….... ON
TRIGGER / BOMB RELEASE ….............................................. DEPRESS

MOD NOTE
There is a bug when following the NATOPS procedure of
turning on the master arm switch last prior to firing. As of v1.01
the AIM-9 will not be activated. Either the FUNC SEL or STA SEL
needs to be the last in the sequence for the AIM-9 to be
activated.