mork56

As flytv alludes to..engine on and off are aircraft specific, although there is an option in the top left screen corner to setup the sim with the engines started.....

The flashing AP means you have enabled the flight director, you need to turn the servos on to enable the autopilot (press the AP button again on the multi panel). Until the AP light is on steady the AP is not controlling the aircraft. The flashing ALT means you have set an altitude on the multipanel and now need to tell the AP how to get there either by using IAS to maintain the set speed and increase the power to climb/reduce power to descend or use VS to set the rate of climb/descent.