F4F-4 Wildcat from the Premier Collection

Flying the F4F-4 Wildcat

Install the Wildcat to your FSX \SimObjects\Airplanes folder or your FS2004 or FS2002 \aircraft folder. If you haven't already done so, follow the instructions on our installation page.

Press the 'S' key to see the 2D cockpit; press the 'S' key again to see the 3D cockpit and twice more to see the helicopter from the spot plane view. Here's a quick walk around:

  • Press 'E' to start the engine.
  • Press the stick forward and back to see elevators move up and down.
  • Shift + 'E' to see the canopy slide open and closed
  • Ctrl + Shift + 'C' to see the cowling progressively close
  • Ctrl + Shift + 'V' to see the cowling progressively open
  • In the 3D cockpit view you'll see the stick and pedals move.

Takeoff
Taxi out to the runway. In this tail dragger, it may be difficult to see over the engine so you may have to zip and zag to see your way to the runway.

On a runway, you won't need flaps. Give it full throttle. When you reach about 65 knots, push foward slightly on the stick to lift the tail wheel off of the runway. At about 100 knots, pull back on the stick and you'll become airborne.

When abeam the end of the runway, retract the landing gear ('G') and climb to desired altitude.

Landing

You can approach at about 120 knots. Lower landing gear ('G').

On short final use full flaps (F8). Approach speed is about 100 knots.

When over the numbers, cut the engine so as to land onto the main gear. As you bleed off speed, the tail will settle onto the runway.

Revision 6288