Messerschmit Me 262 Startup from Cold & Dark

Switch on all of the electrical switches on the electrical panel, found on the right hand side of the cockpit.

• Starting from the bottom right, press the black cylindrical switches in until there are none left.

You should now see some needles of the instrument panel come to life.

The Me 262 engines are spun up using a small combustion engine. To monitor the engine RPM more closely you can increase the RPM needle sensitivity by pressing the RPM switch. In the real world this button needs to be held down, here it remains on until you press it again.

• Press the RPM switch
• Pull the starter handle up to start the engine starter
• Monitor the RPM increase on the engine instruments

To start the engines we need to introduce fuel and have an ignition source. In the real aircraft you need to press and hold the ignition button on the throttle lever. Because this cannot be done with the mouse input we simulate an automatic ignition for the engine as long as the engine starter lever is pulled.

• Move the fuel lever forward to allow fuel flow to the engine
• Move the throttle lever from cut-off to idle to introduce fuel to the engine
• Monitor the RPM and temperature increase on the engine instruments
• Press the RPM switch on the right hand console again to reset it back to normal flight range.

• Set the flaps for takeoff by pressing and holding the red flap pushbutton, labeled “Landung” (Landing).
• Look out to the wing to check the flap deflection and stop holding the button when first red line (2nd line in total) becomes visible. This is equivalent to the 20° flap angle.

You can also takeoff with flaps up but the takeoff distance is significantly higher.

For takeoff in the Me 262 a slight pitch up trim is desired.

• Move the pitch trim lever aft (or forward) to set the pitch trim to about 1-2° nose up.

Check the flight controls before takeoff.

• Move the elevator up/down
• Move the ailerons left/right
• Move the rudder left/right

The original engines on the Me 262 needed careful handling to not overheat. But our aircraft is actually a replica aircraft and is not actually equipped with the original engines.

• Gently move both thrust levers forward to set takeoff thrust

Depending on the flap setting and pitch trim setting the aircraft either rotates quite easily or needs some effort to get airborne. With the recommended 20° flaps and 1-2° nose up trim it flies of the runway quite nicely.

• After reaching an airspeed about 180-200 kph (100-105 kt) gently pull the nose up by pulling the elevator up.

In the real aircraft the landing gear buttons need to be held down to actuate the landing gear. We’ve simplified it, so that a single press of the button is enough to retract the landing gear. And because the pitch trim lever visually covers the landing gear extension button from the pilots viewpoint you can also alternatively press the labels on the panel for “Ein” (gear up) and “Aus” (gear down).

• Press the blue gear button to retract the gear

• Retract the flaps by holding the blue flaps button, labeled “Flug” (flight).
• Check the landing gear is retracted
• Reduce the engine thrust

• Press and hold the red flaps button (“Landung” - “Landing”) to extend the flaps. For the initial approach we recommend using 20° of flaps, just like for takeoff and full flaps for the final approach.
• Press the red gear button to extended the gear or press the white label “AUS” on the panel.

• On final approach maintain an airspeed of around 200 kph or 108 knots.
• Slowly reduce to idle thrust when you are close to the ground