I have over 200 hours in the DCS F-18. It’s not hard to understand everything going on during startup once you learn what to look for. 2:43 Right glove:Check 3:01 Left glove: Check 6:30 Something something: Good to Go 8:24 Look Ma, no hands: Confirmed 9:05 Rock, Paper, Scissors: Complete 9:10 Hair: Check 10:00 Salutes Easy day.
A shoutout to all the crew outside the fighter that we can see at the beginning of the video. I was one of them here in Italy, and what most people don’t realize is that they do their job at one inch from their very dream of life, but most of them don’t actually get to know what’s going on inside the cockpit, ever. I think one way to thanks them for their job, is to give to every and each one of them the possibility of a ride in a fighter jet before their career ends.
The folks on the ground are every bit as important as the guy in the cockpit, if not more so. The whole process of taking a fighter from cold and dark to in the air is such a beautifully choreographed sequence, just a joy to behold professionals at work.
MrGilRoland absolutely spent 5yrs working those jets never got a ride in one. But I did get to fly a T-34 with my Divo from Nas Key West to Marathon a few times..
I was a maintainer in the Australian Air Force and spent most of my time fixing F-111s. I got a ride before I got out. It made me properly appreciate how fast things actually happen in the air.
@@rgking03ify That must have been exciting getting to fly a T-34 from NAS Key West to Marathon a few times . Were youin the Navy or the Air Force ? I'm an Air Force Veteran of the Vietnam Era / Cold War Era's .
Totally inaccurate. I happen to know that Kenny Loggins 'Danger Zone' is always playing in the background, during takeoff and while performing barrel rolls.
Casually hopping into one of the most powerful machines on earth and just doing your thing like it's no big deal… I can't even imagine… Mad respect to you guys
Multiplayer AND no framerate hit when he turned on the mirrors! Seriously though, this video just made my day. Thanks for sharing and keep digging these up!
mike mckenzie lots of people in the comments wanting to know what they mean. Care to share? The only thing I think I know is signals below the belt are for ground crew and above the belt for the pilot. I know what the “diamond shape” of the hands moving up and down rapidly means “taxi straight” and a hand off to one side or another means “taxi turn this way”. Right? E: Two hands on then off the helmet means “lee me see your hands” and calls the pilot to grab the bars and show his hands aren’t on the controls. That’s because they’re about to walk under the jet and moving the stick could take someone’s head off (elevators, ailerons, etc), right? A diamond shape with the hands and then pointing both hands at another crew member means “plane is under their control now”, or does it mean just to pay attention to them? Hands “butt to butt” or whatever is a signal to remove the “chalks”? Idk what their called lol. Around 8:56 is that a “make it rain”? Lmao
@@F3PIZZA when he's squatting and shows 3 fingers that's to start the apu. Then he waves 2 fingers to start up engine 2. And I didnt see if he did it or not but after that I'd tell pilot hands off im going out of sight which is hands on head then pit them in air. Then cross under nose to the other side. Then waves 1 finger to start engine 1. Hands of again and cross back to engine 2 side. Then he puts hands in front of him openlike a mouth then closes them that tells pilot close flaps. At that point he gives hands off again and goes to check the hydraulic gages. He comes back and gives him the sign for go to half flaps. Then he goes out infront and does the sign for flight control check with his arm acting as the control stick. Then he comes back to the side and does the final check signals to lower tail hook lower launch bar and extend refuleing probe.
Very nice Mover, I was a helicopter crew chief almost 40 years ago. I still love the sound of a turbine winding up and then lighting off. The smell of jet fuel burning always takes me back.
@@tehanperera4 Yeah but that's how they get you. Next thing you know you've bought the Huey - $50, the F-15C - $15, the harrier -$80, and the F-18 - $80. Then of course you really need head tracking so you buy a trackir or a VR headset - $100. Then you can't get by with a simple joystick or a controller because the DDIs and MDFs take up half your controls as it is so you buy a hotas - $120+ and the next thing you know you're watching C.W. Lamoine's f18 startup videos like I basically know what's going on because of DCS.
PC/AT VFA125 2005-2008. VFA147 2008-2011. The amount of launches I did in those years on A+, B, C, and D's as a PC/Troubleshooter/Final felt like thousands lol... Great footage, sir! Even for 2012 it's pretty clear. Was definitely work back then. But man I miss it now. Impossible not to. Nothing like it. Enjoyed the channel for a long time. But it's these types of videos that I truly enjoy. Cheers, Mover!
CW every time I watch a flying video it makes my heart beet faster. Last time I flew in the back seat which was over 50 years ago (F4C) it makes me feel like it was yesterday. Keep up the good work with you videos.
Potato Cam? I thought that was pretty good quality actually, I've seen much, much worse out there. Definitely not what I would call a potato cam. When TH-cam started becoming a big deal I thought I would upload some video of the Blue Angels at Miramar I shot with a Canon mini DV (digital video tape) camcorder. I reviewed what I'd shot and was so embarrassed I never uploaded it. You could actually see the horizontal lines! It was bad. Thanks for the video, much appreciated.
I am not a jet pilot, nor have I ever been. The only flying I have done is in gliders in the Uk. I find this stuff fascinating. I have to take my hat off to the pilots and not forgetting those amazing guys and gals on the ground. They look so professional and deserve much recognition. Thank you all for your service and keeping the world safe
In 2004-05 I was working the FBO at KHIB (Hibbing, MN) and a River Rattlers F18 flew in to spend the night! I was the only one working and had never worked a fighter. The pilot parkek, I chalked him, and he then ask me to push a button to drop his ladder. I had no clue. He wound up jumping down himself. He did give me a River Rattlers patch which I still have today. SO cool! I am now an Air Traffic Controller and love working the fighters in the overhead and what not!
Thank you CW for all the vids you post! Wanted to be a fighter pilot since I was a kid, didn’t work out for me but can live vicariously through these videos, THANKS!!!👍😎
I find it interesting that you could look up at the clouds on the way into work and think "I will be flying amongst them in a few hours". Alternatively when your up there you might be thinking in a few hours I will be walking the dog amongst those trees or driving home over that bridge. Incredible. The cockpit to me seems very tight. Not how I imagined. When you play sims you kind of take it for granted there is plenty of room. But I guess I was wrong again. These videos are an incredible insight to another world. Great inspiration and myth busting for young ones who are determined enough to fly.
SavannahPhotographic They are US Aggressor Squadrons. There aim is to mimic Russian fighter tactics to enable pilots to sufficiently train for air to air combat. They paint the aircraft they are using to look Russian, hence the star.
This is so badass. The knowledge and skills it takes to get to the point is magnificent. Nice job, almost as good as an USMC aviator. Gotta love that close air support as a 0369.
Super dope video Mover! I’ll be applying to two ANG units at the end of this year! VTANG and a heavy unit (146th airlift). Thanks for always inspiring us!!
Tokyo JZA80 Had a Pilot buy a 1968 Pontiac Firebird from my boyfriend in the early ‘90s. He decided to do just that and ran the blasted thing into the landing gear of a F-15 of some variation. Not a good scene. We kinda felt bad for selling it to the dude lol
Tv 5150 You’re 100% right...but all we could think was “Damn 20 is obviously not mature enough for a big block-he damn near killed himself, his passenger & gracious knows who else!”. I’ll say this- it made me think hard every car I sold from that sale forward! Until the paperwork is done, it’s my decision to give someone that “bullet” for their brain (or lack of) gun. I figure at least two sprinters we didn’t sell to one immature 40 something & one immature 18-20 yo. They both went to much less powerful cars and in less than two seasons one ended up with a busted femur that gave him a limp/issues for life and the younger wadded his up in hot laps a month after purchase. Caused himself a broken ankle & wrist. I knew it was their doing... but was DAMN glad it wasn’t in one of our cars!
Great video Mover. Love the POV stuff. Always love hearing a dozen Hornets starting up, during Maple Flag in Cold Lake. Never gets old (for me anyhow).
Thank you very much for posting this. My brother flew Hornets in the Navy back in the late 80's, early 90's. I never had the chance due to life getting in the way to see him fly up close and personal except for one time when he was ferrying an old stripped down hornet from Florida out to California to be used in a static display. This was before Nine Eleven and I was able to go out to the flight line with him at what is now the Naval Joint Reserve Base here in Fort Worth, Texas. The only other up close and personal I got was when he was in Primary flight school in Beeville Texas in the T-28 Trojan. Yep, before the Texan II. So I thank you for posting this because it gave me a glimpse into a part of his flying career I did not know much about and it was neat to see what you go through to just get things moving. I am a fairly new subscriber to your channel but I have enjoyed it very much. Thank you once again. Take care.
Super cool! Rumor has it that because Mover never knew which F-18 he was going to get- that he installed Velcro strips and camera mounts in ALL the aircraft.
Can only image the feeling of acceleration and power..I was crewmen on S2E many years ago and took off/made arrested cable landing that were a hole lot slower...they had twin R1820’s....those were the days! Thank you for sharing.
You'll have full access to the internet and everything while you're there. Idk what you think your getting yourself into😂 but it's an academy. Not like you'll actually be in the military going to basic.
Awesome! It's fun watching this and thinking about all of the people on the DCS twitch channel taking 10 seconds to do the start-up... battery, apu, left, right, full mil to taxi. And they're usually are the ones that complain about how a minor system missing is killing their immersion :)
Very cool video. I have two questions... 1) Back then, were you flying the same aircraft each time out? I used to fly for a 135 outfit and we had three aircraft of the same model--each was quite different from the others, even though they were the exact same model. I always wondered how much difference there was between aircraft in the fleet. 2) You have probably said this in one of your other videos, but how capable was the autopilot in those aircraft...and did you use them much? I can't imagine hand-flying those things on a long mission, and then having to shoot an approach to minimums in IMC. Pretty nice to have an autopilot to at least allow you to get set up for the approach. Thanks for posting the video--very interesting to see the process of start-up and taxi. Seems like it took a fairly long time to get moving, but it's a complex aircraft too of course.
1) No. In the military you fly what maintenance has available for that event/go. Sometimes it's the same jet. Sometimes it isn't. Yes, some aircraft had gremlins that others didn't. 2) Hornet has altitude hold, attitude hold, heading hold, can intercept a course, or fly sequenced waypoints. You can't fly a coupled approach with it. (It also doesn't have a civilian ILS, so back at home station you were either flying a TACAN approach or PAR/ASR).
C.W. Lemoine Ah, makes sense. At least you could let the A/P fly the thing while you got set up for the approach...which can of course be a huge advantage, as you’re sharp when it counts ( FAF inbound). Thanks for your post.
@@CWLemoine DCS uses the F/A 18-C I believe, don't have that one yet but I do access the F/A 18-E in another simulator. Would the preflight checks and startups be mostly the same from F/A 18 variants?. There's plenty of guides based on C models but not much real life guides on E models. Thanks in advance.
I like that the video did not have audio,made you watch carefully.I noted the teamwork and precision of the hand signals to the pilot.,so I imagine they are looking for hydraulic leaks,positioning and integrity of the external parts of the aircraft Then accelerating the engine..Being that it is a multi million dollar aircraft,the ground crew would be like the right hand for the pilot,and would be interesting to know how long they train before allowing them to be on the crew,they have to know so many things about what to look for,so the aircraft is safe to take off,looks like a very serious job to me.The instrument panel,looked like it was downloading information(?),not sure.Then the radio communication with the pilot too,everything going on at once.Pilot salute,ready for take off.I am learning and am grateful for you sharing and letting us fly with you......
Hi Mover, another great video thanks for sharing, nice to see the full start-up to taxi. I used to work at Dunsfold in the UK on the RAF Harrier interesting watching the signals to the crew and the similarity of UK and US ground crew. Sadly Dunsfold seesed production in 2000. Though I am now working in the automotive business it is aircraft that still remain special to me as this is what I grew up doing and so thank you for this video reminding me of some great times.
God that must be so amazing, having the feeling of the power between your legs and then just lifting off the ground. Truly looks like you are a bird. The feeling of just floating through the air so freely. Im jealous
I definitely love the f18 engine start up sounds , my country had only 8 units of f18, it was the f18d the US marines standards bought it about 20 years ago, the way they fly it in the rutine and in the Air show are very satisfied me.
Thanks for the vid Mover - really enjoyed it. What I found interesting was how much sound the canopy blocks, how much the jet shakes on take off, the amount of ground crew is around at start up and the amount of checks to get the jet out. Obviously Ready 5/Alert 5 etc. planes will have a lot of this prechecked but still...
Hey man, You did such a good job on this video. I love the fact that you didn’t add music. Hearing the actual sounds make us realize how much it’s just a machine. Don’t have the comfortable feel of a Cadillac. 🤪. Keep posting videos like this one. 👍🏼👍🏼
My grandpa was an F-4 pilot shot down and killed in Laos, age 26. I wish there was a GoPro footage of the back seat of an F-4 to see what it was like! Nice vid
@Adithya R Digital Combat Simulator. Look it up. They have a 1 to 1 Simulator of the F-18C along with many other jets for the PC. If you ever want to know what it's like to fly the F-18, this is as close as you'll get to the real thing.
I’d love to know the hand signals Mover,, I’d like to marshal my husbands Radio controlled CF-18 for him when he flys it lol ,, Your videos are awesome!!
CVSiN I would just like to make a cool /funny video using perspective, and make it look like I’m going under the jet and in front of it doing what you guys do , I think it would be neat
@@TMB5BER The Stingers have probably done it. They're the DCS movie guys. They blended the real recordings and the DCS carriers and aircraft incredibly well in the latest one.
I'd like to see them too, really. It was reassuring to see that Mover takes almost as much time to start the Hornet as I do in DCS.... but then I realised he has all that ground crew interaction while I only have to read the checklist and hit buttons :0 Can I bribe him by saying I just bought Spectre Rising?
the only signal i know (because it is used in civil aviation too) is the signal at 8:52 before he closes the canopy. It means to remove the brake chocks. Ground asks him, pilot confirms and the signal is given to the crew at the main gear. For placing the chocks and confirm that to the cockpit it is the other way round (thumbs pointing inwards)
Sweet video! When fighters are scrambled in an emergency situation, are there any of these steps that can be skipped, or do they just go through them all faster?
This is superb Mover! Loved this watching you do the check we do in our Hornets in DCS, I just learned the FPAS check which I saw you doing, really nice not to have Check Trim all the time on my left DDI now. Wish we could have more of these! Top Stuff!
The one interesting thing that I picked up from all of the taxi to take off video... that the surface of the taxiway and even the runway sometime is not perfectly flat and smooth as many video games/simulators makes it seem to be. Even IRL commercial airplanes have big tires don't always give you that impressions of imperfect surfaces. Other than that, nice aggressor liveries there!
When we had the F-106 in my Air Guard unit in the 70’s and 80’s, The crew Chiefs we’re allowed to start up and taxi for us specialists when we needed to do ground op’s checks after repairs such as brakes, nose wheel steering, leak checks, etc. etc. Specialists would sometimes ride the brakes if they were towing it in the hangar and we would do marshaling, last chance checks on deployments when we were short handed for crew chiefs. When we got the F-15, the pilots had to do the start and taxi. I was in the Navy and the Guard. Air Force calls them crew chiefs, and the Navy called them Plane captains. (Bill from Slidell).
Cop Flyer...I was in a Navy squadron back in 71-75. I was trained to be an aircraft electrician but decided that I wanted to stay out in the 'line' division and become a Plane Captain for our A-3's. I wanted to be where the action was and out on the line was the place to be. I loved it. My squadron was VAQ-33 stationed at N.A.S., Norfolk, Va. You mentioned the F-106's in your guard unit. There is a former F-106 pilot, Bruce Gordon, who has a channel here on Y.T. and he has some great stories about his time as an F-106 pilot. I highly recommend his channel.
I am so entertained by the comments for this video. Especially the numerous ones saying "I have XXX hours in the DCS Hornet and can confirm this video is correct". I'm sure Mover sleeps better at night knowing his procedures have been verified as correct by such credible sources. As a licensed driver of an automobile, I can also confirm that based on the fact that your Hornet actually "slipped the surly bonds of Earth" that you correctly adhered to the start procedures.
Very cool video! I would love to hear the actual play by play commentary of what you are saying to your ground crew via hand signals, and just as important, what each of them are telling you with their hand signals! That would be awesome.
Awesome video, it did not disappoint me. But one thing that really confuses me. Navy Reserve F/A-18A+ armed with AIM-9X? I searched up into the internet and found pictures of an Adversary Aggressor F/A-18A+ with an AIM-9X. It was so confusing.
Hey Mover! Thank you so much for posting things like this. Growing up and even now, being a fighter pilot was my dream job. Unfortunately I never got to see it to fruition but I really enjoy your videos, stories and perspectives. In your time in the F-18, did you ever do any training at CFB Cold Lake in Alberta?
So, mover, I was wondering if you could explain something to me. Why are the MFDs trickling down like that? Pretty much every video I see of someone flying in the hornet I always see that. Does this have to do with shutter speed and scan lines? That must be it, right? not that dissimilar from how video of CRT monitors used to do? Then again, aren't these LCD displays? they shouldn't even have scanlines... IDK I'm just getting confused. Maybe someone who knows will be nice enough to explain. thanks.
Awesome video CW. Tech on the Canadian hornets here. I know... Yes we are still flying these machines ! Its interesting to compare the startup differences and cockpit upgrades we've had done. Have you ever flown along side with the RCAF ?
Don't forget the item 1A on EVERY pilots checklist; "Cool piloty looking watch"...CHECK! (Looks down at a vintage Citizen "Wingmaster" purchased while on cruise years ago in the PI at Cubi Point lol! )
Man that was a super truncated final check. But good to know what you guys are doing up there while I'm crawling around underneath. (Marine Structures/Hydraulics Tech '05-'13, doing it again since last year for the KAF).
You had an amazing potatoe in 2012. After spending many hours in the DCS F18 it was really cool to see this...not gonna lie, I think I tend to skip a few steps 🤫
Awesome C.W love to get a break down of the hand signals, i think i got the first 2 worked out correct me if i am wrong but i think he or she is giving you a visual ques to the engine fans spooling up after that i am lost. Another question did you ever feel cramped or cluttered with all that paper work on your knees, i have sat in my van with my paper work on both knees obviously not driving as that would be dangerous would never do that, but i can barely operate any of the controls in my van.
@@ShuRugal LOL...there is a lot going on. I was ground crew for P-3's, which are four engine turboprop Navy sub-hunters. When out front, those hand signals are necessary because the noise excludes any other comms. I was communicating not only with the pilot, but also the ground crew. There were a couple of 'carts' connected to the aircraft as it powered up. Once started, those carts had to be disconnected and removed, flight surface movements verified, clear ground verified, wheel chocks pulled, etc. We tended to get pretty theatrical with our signals, so it isn't just for the camera.
Man these DCS videos just keep getting more realistic.
Yeah, but I think there’s something wrong with the graphics drivers because the instrument panel is mostly dark and flickers
Yeah
People look more and more real
@@mrbdzz DCS = Dark Cockpit Simulator. Looks fine to me.
@@CakePrincessCelestia r/woosh
I have over 200 hours in the DCS F-18. It’s not hard to understand everything going on during startup once you learn what to look for.
2:43 Right glove:Check
3:01 Left glove: Check
6:30 Something something: Good to Go
8:24 Look Ma, no hands: Confirmed
9:05 Rock, Paper, Scissors: Complete
9:10 Hair: Check
10:00 Salutes
Easy day.
Can confirm, 100% accurate
You deserve to be admiral
5:32 - "Hey, look! A penny! Check this out: a shadow bird!"
7:19 - "Dude, I'm working with fighter planes - mind blown!"
lmfao this deserves a million likes
A shoutout to all the crew outside the fighter that we can see at the beginning of the video. I was one of them here in Italy, and what most people don’t realize is that they do their job at one inch from their very dream of life, but most of them don’t actually get to know what’s going on inside the cockpit, ever. I think one way to thanks them for their job, is to give to every and each one of them the possibility of a ride in a fighter jet before their career ends.
The folks on the ground are every bit as important as the guy in the cockpit, if not more so. The whole process of taking a fighter from cold and dark to in the air is such a beautifully choreographed sequence, just a joy to behold professionals at work.
Yes...yes...YES!!
MrGilRoland absolutely spent 5yrs working those jets never got a ride in one. But I did get to fly a T-34 with my Divo from Nas Key West to Marathon a few times..
I was a maintainer in the Australian Air Force and spent most of my time fixing F-111s. I got a ride before I got out. It made me properly appreciate how fast things actually happen in the air.
@@rgking03ify That must have been exciting getting to fly a T-34 from NAS Key West to Marathon a few times . Were youin the Navy or the Air Force ? I'm an Air Force Veteran of the Vietnam Era / Cold War Era's .
"there's not gonna be any audio"
*proceeds to play 13 minutes of beautiful jet sound*
he said there wouldnt be any commentary
Texas Patriot he was being funny bud
Jeez
Sound of freedom!!
Sam 88 love that noise!
Sounds like my vacuum
Totally inaccurate. I happen to know that Kenny Loggins 'Danger Zone' is always playing in the background, during takeoff and while performing barrel rolls.
Julesmo Fake news; that only applies when it’s an F-14
@@alyssadavenport629 lmao u gotem
Bullshit. Everyone knows that F14 engine sound is kenny loggins-Danger zone
@@alyssadavenport629 Tomcats!!
@@alyssadavenport629 in the sequel he flys a Hornet.
Casually hopping into one of the most powerful machines on earth and just doing your thing like it's no big deal… I can't even imagine… Mad respect to you guys
Multiplayer AND no framerate hit when he turned on the mirrors!
Seriously though, this video just made my day. Thanks for sharing and keep digging these up!
shit, I spawned as ground crew again.
Must be fake, this runs at more than single digit fps in Veeeee Orre! :D
i can almost hear the "deedle deedle" sound during the startup. Awesome video man some of us DCS lads crave for this stuff, Thank you
Hope they implement hand signals in DCS VR 😍 Would be really cool on a carrier!
@@benshakespeare268 They're making a supercarrier DLC with full crew animations
+1! I´m one of those who crave for this kind of video. My childhood dream. Thank you for this.
The kneeboard card?
The engine startup not the kneeboard lmao
I love videos like this!
No crappy music playing over the audio. Just the sight and sound of it all.
I could almost smell the exhaust in my mind.
The guy on the ground throwing all kinds of Gang signs 😂😂😂
Haha, yeah, im watching mostly what HE will do next lol.
Man I can still remember most of those signals, and it's been over 20 years since I used them.
mike mckenzie lots of people in the comments wanting to know what they mean. Care to share? The only thing I think I know is signals below the belt are for ground crew and above the belt for the pilot. I know what the “diamond shape” of the hands moving up and down rapidly means “taxi straight” and a hand off to one side or another means “taxi turn this way”. Right?
E: Two hands on then off the helmet means “lee me see your hands” and calls the pilot to grab the bars and show his hands aren’t on the controls. That’s because they’re about to walk under the jet and moving the stick could take someone’s head off (elevators, ailerons, etc), right?
A diamond shape with the hands and then pointing both hands at another crew member means “plane is under their control now”, or does it mean just to pay attention to them?
Hands “butt to butt” or whatever is a signal to remove the “chalks”? Idk what their called lol.
Around 8:56 is that a “make it rain”? Lmao
@@F3PIZZA when he's squatting and shows 3 fingers that's to start the apu. Then he waves 2 fingers to start up engine 2. And I didnt see if he did it or not but after that I'd tell pilot hands off im going out of sight which is hands on head then pit them in air. Then cross under nose to the other side. Then waves 1 finger to start engine 1. Hands of again and cross back to engine 2 side. Then he puts hands in front of him openlike a mouth then closes them that tells pilot close flaps. At that point he gives hands off again and goes to check the hydraulic gages. He comes back and gives him the sign for go to half flaps. Then he goes out infront and does the sign for flight control check with his arm acting as the control stick. Then he comes back to the side and does the final check signals to lower tail hook lower launch bar and extend refuleing probe.
@@F3PIZZA oh and below belt or above belt dont matter if your going to be around or in airplane you pay attention to all signals.
Very nice Mover, I was a helicopter crew chief almost 40 years ago. I still love the sound of a turbine winding up and then lighting off. The smell of jet fuel burning always takes me back.
Thanks for posting this. I couldn't figure out how to get mine to start!
"Filmed on a potato cam"
Best potato cam of 2012 if you ask me!!!
Looks fantastic lol. One of the best incockpit gopros I've ever seen. Perfectly lined up. Not too shaky. Great angles.
I'd love to hear you explain what all you're doing during startup including the various hand signals.
that would be awesome !
@@conan670431 those hand signs explained... etc
NapFloridian Agreed
Exactly what I was thinking about the hand signals
A voiceover version would be SWEET
Watching this after playing DCS makes me feel happy I can basically keep up with what's going on.
ikr
I need that game so bad! That's awesome 😁
Grey Shrike it’s worth the money
@@fox2102 Better! It's free! (or at least the base game is)
@@tehanperera4 Yeah but that's how they get you. Next thing you know you've bought the Huey - $50, the F-15C - $15, the harrier -$80, and the F-18 - $80. Then of course you really need head tracking so you buy a trackir or a VR headset - $100. Then you can't get by with a simple joystick or a controller because the DDIs and MDFs take up half your controls as it is so you buy a hotas - $120+ and the next thing you know you're watching C.W. Lamoine's f18 startup videos like I basically know what's going on because of DCS.
Absolutely love watching the communication between pilot and ground crew. What an awesome video!
I watched the 10 Percent Series about you, binged watched everything. Great stuff
PC/AT VFA125 2005-2008. VFA147 2008-2011. The amount of launches I did in those years on A+, B, C, and D's as a PC/Troubleshooter/Final felt like thousands lol... Great footage, sir! Even for 2012 it's pretty clear. Was definitely work back then. But man I miss it now. Impossible not to. Nothing like it. Enjoyed the channel for a long time. But it's these types of videos that I truly enjoy. Cheers, Mover!
I’m an a10 crew chief and I appreciate this video and seeing your guys POV compared to my POV on the ground
CW every time I watch a flying video it makes my heart beet faster. Last time I flew in the back seat which was over 50 years ago (F4C) it makes me feel like it was yesterday. Keep up the good work with you videos.
Potato Cam? I thought that was pretty good quality actually, I've seen much, much worse out there. Definitely not what I would call a potato cam. When TH-cam started becoming a big deal I thought I would upload some video of the Blue Angels at Miramar I shot with a Canon mini DV (digital video tape) camcorder. I reviewed what I'd shot and was so embarrassed I never uploaded it. You could actually see the horizontal lines! It was bad. Thanks for the video, much appreciated.
This was prolly back in 2012 bro
No music. No voice over. Just the sound of freedom. Outstanding!
I am not a jet pilot, nor have I ever been. The only flying I have done is in gliders in the Uk. I find this stuff fascinating. I have to take my hat off to the pilots and not forgetting those amazing guys and gals on the ground. They look so professional and deserve much recognition. Thank you all for your service and keeping the world safe
I love videos like this! I've always dreamed of being a pilot but for me that's all it will ever be, just a dream.
Same me friend 😥😥😥😥 it painfull that you know the dream to be fighter pilot that all you have and can do 😥😥😥😥😥 may be in next life we can be pilot bro
In 2004-05 I was working the FBO at KHIB (Hibbing, MN) and a River Rattlers F18 flew in to spend the night! I was the only one working and had never worked a fighter. The pilot parkek, I chalked him, and he then ask me to push a button to drop his ladder. I had no clue. He wound up jumping down himself. He did give me a River Rattlers patch which I still have today. SO cool! I am now an Air Traffic Controller and love working the fighters in the overhead and what not!
No commentary, no music....perfect.
Just wish the DCS mirrors weren’t so trash lol
Hey Wags... You guys did an AWESOME JOB recreating the Hornet. Simply outstanding.
I see what you did there
Thank you CW for all the vids you post! Wanted to be a fighter pilot since I was a kid, didn’t work out for me but can live vicariously through these videos, THANKS!!!👍😎
I find it interesting that you could look up at the clouds on the way into work and think "I will be flying amongst them in a few hours". Alternatively when your up there you might be thinking in a few hours I will be walking the dog amongst those trees or driving home over that bridge. Incredible. The cockpit to me seems very tight. Not how I imagined. When you play sims you kind of take it for granted there is plenty of room. But I guess I was wrong again. These videos are an incredible insight to another world. Great inspiration and myth busting for young ones who are determined enough to fly.
Morning, -27 C in CYEG, having my first cup of coffee and enjoying your awesome videos. All the best from Edmonton
I love the ‘Hornetski’ paint jobs, they look amazing!
Was hoping to find an explanation for this in the comments, why the Russian star?
SavannahPhotographic They are US Aggressor Squadrons. There aim is to mimic Russian fighter tactics to enable pilots to sufficiently train for air to air combat. They paint the aircraft they are using to look Russian, hence the star.
Ravus Ursi fantastic! Thanks for the info 😊
SavannahPhotographic You are most welcome.
i agree. the paintjob they have on is my fav.
Raw video, no comments, but thank you so much! This video is gold!
This is so badass. The knowledge and skills it takes to get to the point is magnificent. Nice job, almost as good as an USMC aviator. Gotta love that close air support as a 0369.
Super dope video Mover! I’ll be applying to two ANG units at the end of this year! VTANG and a heavy unit (146th airlift).
Thanks for always inspiring us!!
@11:28 "I used to drag race here back in high school, that air traffic control tower is exactly a quarter mile away. On green I'm going for it"
Tokyo JZA80 Had a Pilot buy a 1968 Pontiac Firebird from my boyfriend in the early ‘90s. He decided to do just that and ran the blasted thing into the landing gear of a F-15 of some variation. Not a good scene. We kinda felt bad for selling it to the dude lol
Tv 5150 You’re 100% right...but all we could think was “Damn 20 is obviously not mature enough for a big block-he damn near killed himself, his passenger & gracious knows who else!”. I’ll say this- it made me think hard every car I sold from that sale forward! Until the paperwork is done, it’s my decision to give someone that “bullet” for their brain (or lack of) gun.
I figure at least two sprinters we didn’t sell to one immature 40 something & one immature 18-20 yo. They both went to much less powerful cars and in less than two seasons one ended up with a busted femur that gave him a limp/issues for life and the younger wadded his up in hot laps a month after purchase. Caused himself a broken ankle & wrist. I knew it was their doing... but was DAMN glad it wasn’t in one of our cars!
Great video Mover. Love the POV stuff. Always love hearing a dozen Hornets starting up, during Maple Flag in Cold Lake. Never gets old (for me anyhow).
Thank you very much for posting this. My brother flew Hornets in the Navy back in the late 80's, early 90's. I never had the chance due to life getting in the way to see him fly up close and personal except for one time when he was ferrying an old stripped down hornet from Florida out to California to be used in a static display. This was before Nine Eleven and I was able to go out to the flight line with him at what is now the Naval Joint Reserve Base here in Fort Worth, Texas. The only other up close and personal I got was when he was in Primary flight school in Beeville Texas in the T-28 Trojan. Yep, before the Texan II. So I thank you for posting this because it gave me a glimpse into a part of his flying career I did not know much about and it was neat to see what you go through to just get things moving. I am a fairly new subscriber to your channel but I have enjoyed it very much. Thank you once again. Take care.
Super cool! Rumor has it that because Mover never knew which F-18 he was going to get- that he installed Velcro strips and camera mounts in ALL the aircraft.
Can only image the feeling of acceleration and power..I was crewmen on S2E many years ago and took off/made arrested cable landing that were a hole lot slower...they had twin R1820’s....those were the days! Thank you for sharing.
better quality than most "HQ" and "HD" videos on YT
I hope I can still watch your videos while I’m attending the Citadel. I don’t know what I would do without your knowledge.
You'll have full access to the internet and everything while you're there. Idk what you think your getting yourself into😂 but it's an academy. Not like you'll actually be in the military going to basic.
@Clyde Oyler rough compared to what? It sure as fuck isn't rough compared to actually being in the military lol
Awesome! It's fun watching this and thinking about all of the people on the DCS twitch channel taking 10 seconds to do the start-up... battery, apu, left, right, full mil to taxi. And they're usually are the ones that complain about how a minor system missing is killing their immersion :)
The crew watching and thinking "You're taking it in one piece, better bring it back that way".
Very cool video. I have two questions...
1) Back then, were you flying the same aircraft each time out? I used to fly for a 135 outfit and we had three aircraft of the same model--each was quite different from the others, even though they were the exact same model. I always wondered how much difference there was between aircraft in the fleet.
2) You have probably said this in one of your other videos, but how capable was the autopilot in those aircraft...and did you use them much? I can't imagine hand-flying those things on a long mission, and then having to shoot an approach to minimums in IMC. Pretty nice to have an autopilot to at least allow you to get set up for the approach.
Thanks for posting the video--very interesting to see the process of start-up and taxi. Seems like it took a fairly long time to get moving, but it's a complex aircraft too of course.
1) No. In the military you fly what maintenance has available for that event/go. Sometimes it's the same jet. Sometimes it isn't. Yes, some aircraft had gremlins that others didn't.
2) Hornet has altitude hold, attitude hold, heading hold, can intercept a course, or fly sequenced waypoints. You can't fly a coupled approach with it. (It also doesn't have a civilian ILS, so back at home station you were either flying a TACAN approach or PAR/ASR).
C.W. Lemoine Ah, makes sense. At least you could let the A/P fly the thing while you got set up for the approach...which can of course be a huge advantage, as you’re sharp when it counts ( FAF inbound).
Thanks for your post.
@@CWLemoine DCS uses the F/A 18-C I believe, don't have that one yet but I do access the F/A 18-E in another simulator. Would the preflight checks and startups be mostly the same from F/A 18 variants?. There's plenty of guides based on C models but not much real life guides on E models. Thanks in advance.
Possibly the coolest human ever. Thanks for your service and videos!
Beautiful video.
I’ll never forget my first takeoff.
I like that the video did not have audio,made you watch carefully.I noted the teamwork and precision of the hand signals to the pilot.,so I imagine they are looking for hydraulic leaks,positioning and integrity of the external parts of the aircraft Then accelerating the engine..Being that it is a multi million dollar aircraft,the ground crew would be like the right hand for the pilot,and would be interesting to know how long they train before allowing them to be on the crew,they have to know so many things about what to look for,so the aircraft is safe to take off,looks like a very serious job to me.The instrument panel,looked like it was downloading information(?),not sure.Then the radio communication with the pilot too,everything going on at once.Pilot salute,ready for take off.I am learning and am grateful for you sharing and letting us fly with you......
Hi Mover, another great video thanks for sharing, nice to see the full start-up to taxi. I used to work at Dunsfold in the UK on the RAF Harrier interesting watching the signals to the crew and the similarity of UK and US ground crew. Sadly Dunsfold seesed production in 2000. Though I am now working in the automotive business it is aircraft that still remain special to me as this is what I grew up doing and so thank you for this video reminding me of some great times.
Not the best quality? I'd watch in 240p. It's a freakin inside view for an F/A-18. Awesome. Thank you.
I Have this jet in DCS world it takes me a fortnight to start up the beast. Thank's for the video mate, From Scotland Glasgow.
This seems equally cramped, old, haggered, and half baked as my start up and taxi in my Bonanza. I love it!
Your fingers are covered!! Love these oldies!!
When the first jet rolled... amazing how fast we can see from your perspective. Wow!
God that must be so amazing, having the feeling of the power between your legs and then just lifting off the ground. Truly looks like you are a bird. The feeling of just floating through the air so freely. Im jealous
Finally someone recording VR with their right eye lol.
Underrated comment! :D
I definitely love the f18 engine start up sounds , my country had only 8 units of f18, it was the f18d the US marines standards bought it about 20 years ago, the way they fly it in the rutine and in the Air show are very satisfied me.
I was in VFA-204 too from 2005-2007! I've watched a few of your videos and just realized that!
Breathtaking video!! Many thx for sharing it with us
BZ to the Plane Captain and crew, very professional.
Thanks for the vid Mover.
Thanks for the vid Mover - really enjoyed it.
What I found interesting was how much sound the canopy blocks, how much the jet shakes on take off, the amount of ground crew is around at start up and the amount of checks to get the jet out.
Obviously Ready 5/Alert 5 etc. planes will have a lot of this prechecked but still...
Thank you for keeping your hands up while the AOs were arming that CATM 9X on Station 1. I enjoy watching your videos!
Thank you for the upload Mover!
Hey man, You did such a good job on this video. I love the fact that you didn’t add music. Hearing the actual sounds make us realize how much it’s just a machine. Don’t have the comfortable feel of a Cadillac. 🤪. Keep posting videos like this one. 👍🏼👍🏼
Man, smacking that throttle forward and starting that roll must be like nothing else!! Boy hood dream, if only my eyes hadn't of let me down!!!
My grandpa was an F-4 pilot shot down and killed in Laos, age 26. I wish there was a GoPro footage of the back seat of an F-4 to see what it was like! Nice vid
If you close your eyes, you might think you're starting up on DCS. Amazing how accurate their sound fx are.
@Adithya R Digital Combat Simulator. Look it up. They have a 1 to 1 Simulator of the F-18C along with many other jets for the PC. If you ever want to know what it's like to fly the F-18, this is as close as you'll get to the real thing.
Loved all the hand signals! Do the ground crews and you talk this way during lunch!
I’d love to know the hand signals Mover,, I’d like to marshal my husbands Radio controlled CF-18 for him when he flys it lol ,,
Your videos are awesome!!
T pose on the carrier for unfold wings
CVSiN I would just like to make a cool /funny video using perspective, and make it look like I’m going under the jet and in front of it doing what you guys do , I think it would be neat
@@TMB5BER The Stingers have probably done it. They're the DCS movie guys. They blended the real recordings and the DCS carriers and aircraft incredibly well in the latest one.
I'd like to see them too, really. It was reassuring to see that Mover takes almost as much time to start the Hornet as I do in DCS.... but then I realised he has all that ground crew interaction while I only have to read the checklist and hit buttons :0 Can I bribe him by saying I just bought Spectre Rising?
the only signal i know (because it is used in civil aviation too) is the signal at 8:52 before he closes the canopy. It means to remove the brake chocks. Ground asks him, pilot confirms and the signal is given to the crew at the main gear. For placing the chocks and confirm that to the cockpit it is the other way round (thumbs pointing inwards)
Sweet video! When fighters are scrambled in an emergency situation, are there any of these steps that can be skipped, or do they just go through them all faster?
PC says Hands off, Pilot proceeds to touch controls
haha thanks for the memories, I was in Lemoore back in 2007-2011
When?
This is superb Mover! Loved this watching you do the check we do in our Hornets in DCS, I just learned the FPAS check which I saw you doing, really nice not to have Check Trim all the time on my left DDI now. Wish we could have more of these! Top Stuff!
Love it man! So glad that I found you on TH-cam!
The one interesting thing that I picked up from all of the taxi to take off video... that the surface of the taxiway and even the runway sometime is not perfectly flat and smooth as many video games/simulators makes it seem to be. Even IRL commercial airplanes have big tires don't always give you that impressions of imperfect surfaces. Other than that, nice aggressor liveries there!
That is VERY cool to witness. Thank you greatly for your service and expertise. 🇺🇸
Thanks for sharing this, Mover. Great stuff!
When we had the F-106 in my Air Guard unit in the 70’s and 80’s, The crew Chiefs we’re allowed to start up and taxi for us specialists when we needed to do ground op’s checks after repairs such as brakes, nose wheel steering, leak checks, etc. etc. Specialists would sometimes ride the brakes if they were towing it in the hangar and we would do marshaling, last chance checks on deployments when we were short handed for crew chiefs. When we got the F-15, the pilots had to do the start and taxi. I was in the Navy and the Guard. Air Force calls them crew chiefs, and the Navy called them Plane captains. (Bill from Slidell).
Cop Flyer...I was in a Navy squadron back in 71-75. I was trained to be an aircraft electrician but decided that I wanted to stay out in the 'line' division and become a Plane Captain for our A-3's. I wanted to be where the action was and out on the line was the place to be. I loved it. My squadron was VAQ-33 stationed at N.A.S., Norfolk, Va. You mentioned the F-106's in your guard unit. There is a former F-106 pilot, Bruce Gordon, who has a channel here on Y.T. and he has some great stories about his time as an F-106 pilot. I highly recommend his channel.
9:09 That face staring back at us. Truly bad assed.
I am so entertained by the comments for this video. Especially the numerous ones saying "I have XXX hours in the DCS Hornet and can confirm this video is correct". I'm sure Mover sleeps better at night knowing his procedures have been verified as correct by such credible sources. As a licensed driver of an automobile, I can also confirm that based on the fact that your Hornet actually "slipped the surly bonds of Earth" that you correctly adhered to the start procedures.
Very cool video! I would love to hear the actual play by play commentary of what you are saying to your ground crew via hand signals, and just as important, what each of them are telling you with their hand signals! That would be awesome.
Apu start, engine 2, engine 1, half flaps, fcf check, close flaps, four down, drop hook hands off.. almost like yesterday
Awesome video, it did not disappoint me.
But one thing that really confuses me.
Navy Reserve F/A-18A+ armed with AIM-9X?
I searched up into the internet and found pictures of an Adversary Aggressor F/A-18A+ with an AIM-9X.
It was so confusing.
so proud of our young people...the hand signals are super cool
Thank you for the upload, sir.
But you know you're going to have to review this to tell us what all the hand gestures were.
pause at 1:24 "You looked"
Hey Mover! Thank you so much for posting things like this. Growing up and even now, being a fighter pilot was my dream job. Unfortunately I never got to see it to fruition but I really enjoy your videos, stories and perspectives. In your time in the F-18, did you ever do any training at CFB Cold Lake in Alberta?
Must feel awesome climbing in that beat.
So, mover, I was wondering if you could explain something to me. Why are the MFDs trickling down like that? Pretty much every video I see of someone flying in the hornet I always see that. Does this have to do with shutter speed and scan lines? That must be it, right? not that dissimilar from how video of CRT monitors used to do?
Then again, aren't these LCD displays? they shouldn't even have scanlines... IDK I'm just getting confused. Maybe someone who knows will be nice enough to explain. thanks.
Video technical quality not too bad, content quality is awesome!
Awesome video CW. Tech on the Canadian hornets here. I know... Yes we are still flying these machines ! Its interesting to compare the startup differences and cockpit upgrades we've had done. Have you ever flown along side with the RCAF ?
I trained with them when I was in the F-16 (they used to come down to Homestead every year), but never when I was in the Hornet.
This was an awesome video to watch, love it raw! Great coordination between pilot and ground crew! Thanks for sharing!
Painted the Carlies for VFA 131 from 00 to 04, and then hydrualic and structure mechanic on the Super Hornet for my last 6 years in. Miss it a lot
Don't forget the item 1A on EVERY pilots checklist; "Cool piloty looking watch"...CHECK! (Looks down at a vintage Citizen "Wingmaster" purchased while on cruise years ago in the PI at Cubi Point lol! )
Hell yeah 🍺 2012 I was super fit with an 8 pack. Would have loved to gone up with you.
Man that was a super truncated final check.
But good to know what you guys are doing up there while I'm crawling around underneath. (Marine Structures/Hydraulics Tech '05-'13, doing it again since last year for the KAF).
You had an amazing potatoe in 2012. After spending many hours in the DCS F18 it was really cool to see this...not gonna lie, I think I tend to skip a few steps 🤫
Really love that kind of raw flying video!
YO! Just found this! I was an AO1 with that squadron from 2010 to 2014. Great time! Great Squadron!
That flat plain crank v8 sounding godly in the background
It's not a FPC car.
@@CWLemoine it's a Shelby gt350 I'm pretty sure is it not?
Edit: either thing sounds great
2019 C7 ZR1
@@CWLemoine well then, that thing sounds amazing good sir
Awesome C.W love to get a break down of the hand signals, i think i got the first 2 worked out correct me if i am wrong but i think he or she is giving you a visual ques to the engine fans spooling up after that i am lost.
Another question did you ever feel cramped or cluttered with all that paper work on your knees, i have sat in my van with my paper work on both knees obviously not driving as that would be dangerous would never do that, but i can barely operate any of the controls in my van.
I think the hand signals are just to confuse anyone watching. They're actually playing charades while the jet starts itself.
ShuRugal Oorus lol
@@ShuRugal LOL...there is a lot going on. I was ground crew for P-3's, which are four engine turboprop Navy sub-hunters. When out front, those hand signals are necessary because the noise excludes any other comms. I was communicating not only with the pilot, but also the ground crew. There were a couple of 'carts' connected to the aircraft as it powered up. Once started, those carts had to be disconnected and removed, flight surface movements verified, clear ground verified, wheel chocks pulled, etc. We tended to get pretty theatrical with our signals, so it isn't just for the camera.
Ah the NBG, my first tower from 03 to 05, how I do miss it.
Awesome video , thanks for sharing
Great video Mover, thanks for sharing!!