Before Leaving the Airplane

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Last check list before leaving the airplane (Prepar3D® v4 screenshot).



On a real mission, before leaving the airplane, complete the required airplane form.


Verify the following cockpit control positions:



  1. Parking brake – Check APPLIED ("CTRL+." keys).



Left console, seat and wing panel:

  1. Trim control switch [1, fig. 5-4] – Check CENTER.

  2. Intercom switch [2, fig. 5-4] – Check OFF.

  3. Face mask heater switch [3, fig. 5-4] – OFF.


  1. Jettison trim switch [4, fig. 5-4] – Check OFF.


  1. Vent suit heater switch [6, fig. 5-4] – OFF.


  1. Pressure suit ventilation knob [4, fig. 5-4] – CLOSED.


  1. Radio function selector switch [1, fig. 5-8] – OFF.


  1. Tank jettison circuit breakers [1-2, fig. 5-6] – OFF/OPEN (aft).


  1. External tanks jettison auto-manual switch [3, fig. 5-6] – Check MANUAL.


  1. External tanks jettison safe-arm switch [4, fig. 5-6] – SAFE (guard down).


  1. External tanks jettison buttons [5-6-7, fig. 5-6] – Check all (normal).


  1. Fuel selector switch [8, fig. 5-6] – Check EXTERNAL.

  2. Speed brake handles [13-14, fig. 5-4] – Check AFT.

  3. Wing flap switch [9, fig. 5-4] – Check UP.


  1. Alternate SAS switch [16, fig. 5-4] – Check OFF (guard down).


  1. RAS (amber) indicator lights [10, fig. 5-4] – Check all OFF.

  2. Vent, pressurize, and jettison control lever [11, fig. 5-4] – Check VENT.


  1. Throttle [12, fig. 5-4] – Check OFF.


  1. SAS (land) disengage switch [77, fig. 5-1] – OFF.


  1. SAS (autopilot) power switch [78, fig. 5-1] – OFF.

  2. Jettison stop switches [59, fig. 5-1] – Check STOP.

  3. Auxiliary launch switch [60, fig. 5-1] – OFF (guard down).

  4. Ventral jettison button [67, fig. 5-1] – Check (normal).

  5. Landing gear handle [65, fig. 5-1] – Check OUT.


  1. Oxygen selector and gauge (on the left side of the seat) [18, fig. 4-2] – OFF.



Main instrument panel:


  1. Ignition-ready (green) light [2a, fig. 5-1] – Check OFF.

  2. 23-second caution (amber) light [2b, fig. 5-1] – Check OFF.

  3. Idle-end caution (amber) light [2c, fig. 5-1] – Check OFF.

  4. Valve malfunction caution (amber) light [2d, fig. 5-1] – Check OFF.

  5. Stage 2 igniter malfunction caution (amber) light [2e, fig. 5-1] – Check OFF.

  6. Turbopump overspeed caution (amber) light [2f, fig. 5-1] – Check OFF.

  7. Engine vibration malfunction caution (amber) light [2g, fig. 5-1] – Check OFF.

  8. Fire-warning (red) light [47, fig. 5-1] – Check OFF.

  9. Helium release selector switch [1, fig. 5-1] – Check OFF.


  1. Propellant emergency pressurization switch [68, fig. 5-1] – Check OFF.


  1. Ammonia tank pressure-low caution (amber) light [66, fig. 5-1] – Check OFF.


  1. Liquid oxygen tank pressure-low caution (amber) light [70, fig. 5-1] – Check OFF.

  2. Engine master switch [63, fig. 5-1] – Check OFF.

  3. Engine reset button [62, fig. 5-1] – Check (normal).

  4. Engine precool switch [61, fig. 5-1] – Check OFF.

  5. Engine prime switch [56, fig. 5-1] – Check STOP PRIME (DOWN).

  6. Turbopump idle button [54, fig. 5-1] – Check (normal).

  7. Igniter idle switch [53, fig. 5-1] – Check OFF.

  8. Fuel line low caution (amber) light [64, fig. 5-1] – Check OFF.

  9. H2O2 compartment-hot caution (amber) light [58, fig. 5-1] – Check OFF.


  1. Pilot's O2 low caution (amber) light [6, fig. 5-1] – Check OFF.


  1. External tanks jettison ready indicator (amber) lights [4, fig. 5-1] – Check both OFF.

  2. SAS pitch function switch [5, fig. 5-2] – Check STD BY.


  1. SAS roll function switch [6, fig. 5-2] – Check STD BY.

  2. SAS test switch [7, fig. 5-2] – Check OFF (middle).

  3. SAS yar function switch [8, fig. 5-2] – Check STD BY.

  4. SAS yaw function switch [9, fig. 5-2] – Check STD BY.

  5. SAS caution (amber) lights (four) [1-4, fig. 5-2] – Check all OFF.


  1. Alt SAS switch [11, fig. 5-2] – Check OFF.


  1. Alt SAS on (green) light [10, fig. 5-2] – Check OFF.


  1. RAS pitch function switch [13, fig. 5-2] – Check OFF.


  1. RAS roll function switch [14, fig. 5-2] – Check OFF.

  2. RAS yaw function switch [15, fig. 5-2] – Check OFF.


  1. RAS auto cutoff switch [16, fig. 5-2] – Check OFF.


  1. RAS out (amber) light [12, fig. 5-2] – Check OFF.


  1. Retractable pitot handle [80, fig. 5-1] – IN.


  1. Skylight hatch open (amber) light [73, fig. 5-1] – Check OFF.


  1. Automatic ignition sequence start button [76, fig. 5-1] – Check (normal).


  1. Ready-to-launch switch [52, fig. 5-1] – OFF.


  1. Engine timer [11, fig. 5-1] – Note time. RESET.



Main instrument panel (electrical, hydraulic, and cockpit):

  1. Emergency battery switch [23, fig. 5-1] – Check OFF (guard down).


  1. Hydrogen peroxide transfer switch [24, fig. 5-1] – Check OFF.


  1. No. 1 generator-out (amber) light [20, fig. 5-1] – Check OFF.

  2. No. 2 generator-out (amber) light [25, fig. 5-1] – Check OFF.

  3. No. 1 and No. 2 generator switches [21, 26, fig. 5-1] – Check OFF.

  4. APU No. 1 switch [17, fig. 5-1] – Check OFF.

  5. APU No. 1 warning and caution lights [28, 29, 31, fig. 5-1] – Check OFF.

  6. No. 1 ballistic control switch [18, fig. 5-1] – Check OFF.

  7. No. 2 ballistic control switch [27, fig. 5-1] – Check OFF.

  8. APU No. 2 warning and caution lights [28, 29, 31, fig. 5-1] – Check OFF.

  9. APU No. 2 switch [30, fig. 5-1] – Check OFF.

  10. Cabin pressure altimeter [41, fig. 5-1] – Check.



Center pedestal (service panel):


  1. External power switch [22, fig. 5-3] – OFF.


  1. External power (green) light [23, fig. 5-3] – Check OFF.


  1. External tank option switch [26, fig. 5-3] – ON.


  1. Unlimited fuel option switch [27, fig. 5-3] – ON or OFF (your choice).



Center pedestal (research instrumentation panel):


  1. Data switch [1, fig. 5-3] – OFF.


  1. Data (amber) light [2, fig. 5-3] – Check OFF.


  1. Calibrate button and (green) light [3, fig. 5-3] – Check (normal).


  1. Physiological instrumentation switch [4, fig. 5-3] – OFF.


  1. Blood pressure switch [5, fig. 5-3] – OFF.


  1. Ball nose power switch [6, fig. 5-3] – OFF.


  1. Ball nose test button [7, fig. 5-3] – Check (normal).


  1. Telemeter master power switch [18, fig. 5-3] – OFF.


  1. Telemeter commutator motor switch [17, fig. 5-3] – OFF.


  1. Telemeter FM switch [8, fig. 5-3] – OFF.


  1. Skylight hatch switch [19, fig. 5-3] – Check OFF (skylight hatch closed).


  1. Star tracker switch [20, fig. 5-3] – Check OFF.


  1. Instrumentation master power switch [15, fig. 5-3] – OFF.


  1. Radar beacon switch [14, fig. 5-3] – OFF.


  1. Stable platform instrument switch [10, fig. 5-3] – OFF.


  1. Tape recorder power switch [9, fig. 5-3] – OFF.


  1. Cockpit ram-air knob [11, fig. 5-3] – Check OFF (in)


  1. Ram-air lever [16, fig. 5-3] – CLOSED.


  1. DC voltmeter selector switch [13, fig. 5-3] – OFF.



Right console and wing panel:

  1. Canopy emergency release handle [32, fig. 5-1] – IN.

  2. Stable platform switch [33, fig. 5-1] – OFF.

  3. Nose ballistic rocket heater switch [34, fig. 5-1] – OFF.

  4. Ventral arming switch [35, fig. 5-1] – Check DE-ARM (guard down).

  5. Cockpit lighting switch [39, fig. 5-1] – OFF.

  6. Indicator, caution, and warning light test switch [38, fig. 5-1] – Check OFF.

  7. Fire-warning light test button [37, fig. 5-1] – Check (normal).


  1. Windshield heater switches (two) [36, fig. 5-1] – OFF.

  2. Canopy internal handle [1, fig. 5-5] – Check AFT and UNLOCKED (canopy open).


  1. Windshield antifogging (yellow) handle [2, fig. 4-3] – Check CLOSED (vertical) position.


  1. Windshield purge (gray) handle [3, fig. 4-3] – Check CLOSED (vertical) position.


  1. All breakers on the breaker panel – Check PUSHED IN (closed).


  1. Pressure-cooling lever [9, fig. 5-9] – OFF (aft position).


  1. Blower switches [10, fig. 5-9] – OFF (middle position).


  1. Cabin helium source shutoff valve switch [11, fig. 5-9] – OFF.


  1. APU nitrogen cooling switch [17, fig. 5-9] – OFF.


  1. Alternate cabin pressurization switch [27, fig. 5-9] – OFF.



Congratulations on your new high-speed (or high-altitude) record!