"Cold Start" in FSX

[davesherb]

As I recall, there was a box you could check in FS9 that would set all aircraft in the "cold start" mode. When I bring up an Aircraft in FSX, it is running and it starts rolling, even though my throttle is 0, until I hit " Ctrl.shift ,F1". I have 2 questions:
1. How can I bring the initial throttle setting down?
2. How do I set FSX for a default "cold Start"?

Dave Sherb

[aputech]

Davesherb, I'm a GA pilot, so I know what you mean by wanting a cold start. More realistic. I just locate the aircraft where I want it to be, shut it down, and hit the ';' (semicolon key) to save the mode. I also check the box to make this saved mode my default flight for as long as I want, until I change to another cold start location or airplane. Hope this is useful.

:)aputech

[f16jockey_2]

I also check the box to make this saved mode my default flight for as long as I want, until I change to another cold start location or airplane.

Correct reply, except for saving the cold-start AC as default. Soon or late you'll have trouble starting whatever AC.

Wim

[aputech]

F16jockey, I've been cold starting my aircraft for several years and never ran into any problems. If you save a mode with everything shut down, and make it the default, it stays that way as a default when you start it up. In fact, all of my saved modes (more than 50 of them) have the aircraft powered down because I like the touch of realism it adds. If I'm buzzing around after a two-hour IFR flight and run into 'cumulo-granite,' ( I don't crash very often) the flight resets back to my starting point with a cold cockpit. Give it a try.
Whether this is true when you switch your aircraft to another during the default flight, I don't know; I usually stay with type until the flight is concluded. Have you run into trouble saving cold aircraft?

aputech

[mallcott]

It is well-known that saving a cold start flight as default can cause problems when you switch aircraft. What you do is create a cold start .flt for each aircraft you might want to cold start and save it separately. There are many invisible parameters saved in the typical .flt file you couldn't expect one cold start to fit all. If you don't ever change aircraft then providing the cold start option doesn't change then it ought to be safe to use as a default, but the day will always come when you switch and then no amount of faffing and fiddling works.
Would you still remember that the problem is the saved .flt then? And would you know how to get round it when Ctrl+E doesn't work?

[opaplano]

It is well-known that saving a cold start flight as default can cause problems when you switch aircraft. What you do is create a cold start .flt for each aircraft you might want to cold start and save it separately. There are many invisible parameters saved in the typical .flt file you couldn't expect one cold start to fit all. If you don't ever change aircraft then providing the cold start option doesn't change then it ought to be safe to use as a default, but the day will always come when you switch and then no amount of faffing and fiddling works.
Would you still remember that the problem is the saved .flt then? And would you know how to get round it when Ctrl+E doesn't work?

Just to clarify one statement you made re - "invisible parameters" --

Any FLT file can be opened with Notepad and everything is then "visible".

[f16jockey_2]

Have you run into trouble saving cold aircraft?

Yes, and trouble with fuel management as well. As many other posters had...
Should have been more clear in my post: you can save whatever AC in whatever condition (cold/engines running/in flight), but preferably not as the default flight.
You can save flights 'til you run out of disk space, so why bother overwriting the more or less SAFE FSX provided default flight ?

Wim

[mallcott]

Just to clarify one statement you made re - "invisible parameters" --

Any FLT file can be opened with Notepad and everything is then "visible".

True. But that rather defeats the object of a cold start if you have to manually alter the .flt to make it suitable, and still doesn't take into consideration aircraft that save additional or overwrite settings OUTSIDE the .flt file. or lines which are missing from jet saved .flts that are needed for props, or vice versa (magnetos being a single example).

[Fltsimguy]

If you wanna have a true cold start, or at least realistic, get Wilco PIC 737. It's pretty awesome.

[mallcott]

If you wanna have a true cold start, or at least realistic, get Wilco PIC 737. It's pretty awesome.

But NOT for a default startup.

[aputech]

Clear.

aputech

[acctutor]

Hi - So what am I doing wrong. FSX 737 @ BOS, cold and dark, jet way in position, saved as default flight. Re-start flight sim X, and the jet way has gone back to the park position, the engines are running, but the displays are dark??? I have tried every combination and I cannot start with a cold and dark plane. I am tearing what is left of my hair out in clumps

Bill Cooper

[f16jockey_2]

Don't use the 737 for the default saved flight. Safe aircraft are the Cessna and the Trike, with full tanks and engines running.
You should have saved the cold-n-dark 737 as a custom saved flight, not as default.

Btw. Not sure if the jetway's position is saved with a flight. Never tried that.

Wim

[acctutor]

Cheers Wim - just in time to leave some hair in place!!!

Bill

[Blades]

I use this found here at Flight sim...cdx.zip Every A/C I fly starts with cold and dark. You need to add fuel. Hope this helps.

Blades

[kingnorris]

Don't use the 737 for the default saved flight. Safe aircraft are the Cessna and the Trike, with full tanks and engines running.
You should have saved the cold-n-dark 737 as a custom saved flight, not as default.

Btw. Not sure if the jetway's position is saved with a flight. Never tried that.

Wim

Jetways don't save in the connected position.

Also, why not? I've saved 737 shut down flights as default and never had issues?

[mallcott]

Jetways don't save in the connected position.

Also, why not? I've saved 737 shut down flights as default and never had issues?

Of course they wouldn't. Passengers can't enter an unpowered aircraft. And unpowered aircraft wouldn't normally be at the gate, they'd be in parking area or hangar.

As for default choices. How can you possibly be sure that your shutdown scenario suits every aircraft, every time? Just thinking about default aircraft there are enough issues such as no battery switches, fuel tanks that can be set to both or either, APU's that don't unless the battery is working, etc etc etc. Now throw in addon planes with non-default function...

There are plenty of sound reasons for listening to Wim, the fact that he knows more than you being but one!