Does anyone else start with a cold dark plane?

[OldAirmail]

I admit that I do start on the runway with the parking brake engaged, but otherwise I have to turn the fuel selector, turn the magnetos, start her up, etc., the whole nine yards.

Most of the time I don't have a flight plan, I just go for a joy ride.

I don't think that most people do all that stuff, but I'm just wondering if anyone else does it too.

[Capt_Cronic]

yep, I start up cold and dark whenever possible

[OldAirmail]

Glad to know that I'm not alone.

[bretched]

have all my flights start cold and dark.. took me a bit to figure out how to set it up.. but from the help of the forum here, now have it permanently set to start cold and dark...

[OldAirmail]

[Flacke]

Hi, I really enjoy getting my Carenado Piper Seneca 2 twin-engine out my hangar and starting "cold and dark". Its like a real world flight. I check everything, then do my startup routine beginning with FUEL ON, then start on the left of the side panel for starting engines and then move on until the airplane is running and everything is set for flight. I do a good controls "free and correct" check and away I go.
I enjoy the Seneca for low and local or else high Alt. IFR trips. Its a versatile airplane and it really flies, handles, and performs like a real light-twin.

[OldAirmail]

I feel much the same. Going thru the procedures helps me to feel part of the plane, part of the flight.

I'm using switches for most of the start-up. If I skip something like the fuel selector switch, or the fuel pump switch, then the engine will crank, but not start. Love it.

When I have someone over I'll get them flying and then say "don't turn off this switch". I'll then flip the fuel pump switch to the off position shutting down the engine. Me bad.

Anyway, it's all fun.

[Flacke]

OldAir, I smiled when I read your last post. It sounds that you and I enjoy the same things. When we have some people over to the house its not long before we are flying. I find that people are thrilled when they find out that they can "fly" an airplane. My Sons Wife was able to land a Cessna ON THE RUNWAY which of course is pretty difficult for a first-timer. The fact that she listened to my coaching and applied what I told her to do was the key to her success. She was so excited with her success and I heard later that she told her Parents all about it.
I like real airplanes but on a cold and stormy night at home it sure is good to get into my Seneca and go sight-seeing somewhere in the world with FSX.

[Dave T]

Same here cold and dark which can be a problem when night flying no virtual torch especially on aircraft with lots of switches like Concorde.

[Fozzer]

Cold and Dark..... ....

...just like it is in England at this time of the year.

Any-who... ...

I go through the whole rigmarole after I have wheeled my Cessna 150/152 out of my hangar.

The recommended "walk around" doesn't usually work with a Flight Sim!... ...

The full "control" check, observing the movement of the Ailerons, Rudder, and Elevator.
Follow the start up procedure in the Pilots Handbook, and paying particular attention to the various gauges in front of me, particularly the Cylinder Head and Oil Temperature gauges....making sure they are up to temperature!
...are the Fuel Tanks full?...
Check the Magnetos..... and also the Carburettor Heat control...extremely important!!
Radios working, and dialled-in?
Don't be in too much of a hurry to take off!
Brakes working OK?...I may need to stop quickly after landing!

Line up...check all the gauges again....

...everything is in the green, and the Tower says; "Go for it"!...... ...!

But always remember....

This Flight Simming malarkey is all in the mind... ....its not real!....Unlike Real Flight, there is no way you are going to die if you get something; "wrong".... ....

...trust me!.... ...!

Paul.... ...!

[OldAirmail]

True, it's all in the mind.



This is from the most memorable book that I ever read in school.

An Occurrence at Owl Creek Bridge by Ambrose Bierce, 1890.

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EHqnSX4SJ_A[/youtube]

[B0ikat]

I'm a "boot-n-scoot" guy.

[OldAirmail]

It's like eating Chinese food: some use a fork, some a spoon, some chopsticks.

There's no right or wrong way, the point is to enjoy it.

[Tug002]

Cold and dark for me also. I have never been in an aircraft that sat in a hanger and was already warmed up and running

Keep smiling
Tug

[Fozzer]

...... ....!

The funny thing is.... ....

....although I go through all this daft, "Cold and Dark" rigmarole every time I fire up my Flight Sim, ..... ....in actual fact, knowing that the experience is not for real; most time all I do is close down my 2D Cockpit and just enjoy exploring the scenery scrolling below me!

....Been there, done it on all the initial technical stuff since Flight Unlimited II and FS '98 and got it all sorted, all I want to do now is explore the wonderful add-on scenery that approaches the "real scenery" in the areas that I daily explore!

I just compare my Flight Sim scenery to that which I see on my You Tube Motorcycle Tours now!

Accurate "Scenery" takes my priority in the Flight Sim now!

I want to be there!..... ...!

Paul....somewhere in Monument Valley....in a Cessna 150/on a Harley Street Glide!.... ....!