B-17 Checklist

493rd Bomb Group > B17 “Flying Fortress” > B-17 Checklist

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From the Pilot Training Manual for the Flying Fortress – p.55 – 56

Approved B-17F and G Checklist

BEFORE STARTING

  1. Pilot’s Preflight – COMPLETE
  2. Form 1A – CHECKED
  3. Controls and Seats – CHECKED
  4. Fuel Transfer Valves & Switch – OFF
  5. Intercoolers – Cold
  6. Gyros – UNCAGED
  7. Fuel Shut-off Switches – OPEN
  8. Gear Switch – Neutral
  9. Cowl Flaps – Open Right – OPEN LEFT – Locked
  10. Turbos – OFF
  11. Idle cut-off – CHECKED
  12. Throttles – CLOSED
  13. High RPM – CHECKED
  14. Autopilot – OFF
  15. De-icers and Anti-icers, Wing and Prop – OFF
  16. Cabin Heat – OFF
  17. Generators – OFF

STARTING ENGINES

  1. Fire Guard and Call Clear – LEFT Right
  2. Master Switch – ON
  3. Battery Switches and Inverters – ON & CHECKED
  4. Parking Brakes – Hydraulic Check – On & CHECKED
  5. Booster Pumps – Pressure – ON & CHECKED
  6. Carburetor Filters – Open
  7. Fuel Quantity – Gallons per tank
  8. Start Engines: both magnetos on after one revolution
  9. Flight Indicator & Vacuum Pressures – CHECKED
  10. Radio – On
  11. Check Instruments – CHECKED
  12. Crew Report
  13. Radio Call & Altimeter – SET

ENGINE RUN-UP

  1. Brakes – Locked
  2. Trim Tabs – SET
  3. Exercise Turbos and Props
  4. Check Generators – CHECKED & OFF
  5. Run Up Engines

BEFORE TAKEOFF

  1. Tailwheel – Locked
  2. Gyro – Set
  3. Generators – ON

AFTER TAKEOFF

  1. Wheel – PILOT’S SIGNAL
  2. Power Reduction
  3. Cowl Flaps
  4. Wheel Check – OK right – OK LEFT
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BEFORE LANDING

  1. Radio Call, Altimeter – SET
  2. Crew Position – OK
  3. Autopilot – OFF
  4. Booster Pumps – On
  5. Mixture Controls – AUTO-RICH
  6. Intercooler – Set
  7. Carburetor Filters – Open
  8. Wing De-icers – Off
  9. Landing Gear
    1. Visual – Down Right – DOWN LEFT
      Tailwheel Down, Antenna in, Ball Turret Checked
    2. Light – OK
    3. Switch Off – Neutral
  10. Hydraulic Pressure – OK Valve closed
  11. RPM 2100 – Set
  12. Turbos – Set
  13. Flaps 1/3 – 1/3 Down

FINAL APPROACH

  1. Flaps – PILOT’S SIGNAL
  2. RPM 2200 – PILOT’S SIGNAL

Back side of Checklist

AFTER LANDING

  1. Hydraulic Pressure – OK
  2. Cowl Flaps – Open and locked
  3. Turbos – Off
  4. Booster Pumps – Off
  5. Wing Flaps – Up
  6. Tailwheel – Unlocked
  7. Generators – OFF

END OF MISSION

  1. Engines – Cut
  2. Radio – On ramp
  3. Switches – OFF
  4. Chocks
  5. Controls – LOCKED
  6. Form 1

GO-AROUND

  1. High RPM & Power – High RPM
  2. Wing Flaps – Coming Up
  3. Power reduction
  4. Wheel Check – OK Right – OK LEFT

RUNNING TAKEOFF

  1. Wing Flaps – Coming Up
  2. Power
  3. Wheel Check – OK Right – OK LEFT

SUBSEQUENT TAKEOFF

  1. Trim Tabs – SET
  2. Wing Flaps – UP
  3. Cowl Flaps – Open Right – OPEN LEFT
  4. High RPM – CHECKED
  5. Fuel – Gallons per tank
  6. Booster Pumps – ON
  7. Turbos – SET
  8. Flight Controls – UNLOCKED
  9. Radio Call

SUBSEQUENT LANDING

  1. Landing Gear
    1. Visual – Down Right – DOWN LEFT
      Tailwheel Down, Ball Turret Checked
    2. Light – ON
  2. Hydraulic Pressure – OK
  3. RPM 2100 – Set
  4. Turbo Controls – Set
  5. Wing Flaps 1/3 – 1/3 Down
  6. Radio Call

FINAL APPROACH

  1. Flaps – PILOT’S SIGNAL
  2. RPM 2200 – PILOT’S SIGNAL
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FEATHERING

  1. Throttle Back
  2. Feather
  3. Mixture and Fuel Booster – Off
  4. Turbo Off
  5. Prop Low RPM
  6. Ignition Off
  7. Generator Off
  8. Fuel Valve Off

UNFEATHERING

  1. Fuel Valve – On
  2. Ignition On
  3. Prop Low RPM
  4. Throttle Cracked
  5. Supercharger Off
  6. Unfeather
  7. Mixture Auto-Rich
  8. Warm up Engine
  9. Generator On

SEQUENCE OF POWER CHANGES

INCREASING POWER

  1. Mixture Controls
  2. Propellers
  3. Throttles
  4. Superchargers

DECREASING POWER

  1. Superchargers
  2. Throttles
  3. Propellers
  4. Mixture Controls