by MattNW » Sat Jan 15, 2005 8:27 pm
The airplane may have trouble starting for a number of reasons. What's it doing or not doing? Is it cranking but not firing or just not cranking at all.
If it isn't cranking then something in the electrical system is causing the problem. Like Mr.Mugel said, check the battery by looking at the Amps guage. Also check the switches and make sure that the ignition is turned on and the alternator switches are on.
Another problem is that some freeware planes don't have all the necessiary switches to do a cold start. Try loading the default Cessna and starting that then switch airplanes to the new one. That should get you running unless it's one of the more complex models.
If it's cranking and not catching then it's something to do with fuel. Either a fuel shutoff valve is blocking fuel flow or the tank is empty. Also, some add on planes need the throttle cracked a tiny bit to start.
Not long after I got the sim I was flying out of an airport in Colorado in the Cessna 182. Every time I would start the engine it would run for a few seconds and then quit. I finally figured out that I had the mixture set to full rich and the altitude of the airport was about 4,000+ ft. I leaned it out a little and it started up fine. ;D
In Memory of John Consterdine (FS Tipster)1962-2003