Cold and Dark Cockpit for FS X

Henning Schaefer, 13.10.2006 <henning.schaefer@gmail.com>

This file is a replacement for FS X's default situation file (which is dropping you off in mid air over some airfield, and the first thing you need to do after launching the flight is to gain control over your diving ultralight). The file puts you onto the apron of the very same airfield (this time in the default 172), everything is switched off and your tanks are empty. OK, but why should that be an advantage? The fact is, this file is used as a template or "skeleton" for any other flight being created by the "Free flight" option. So, if you want to get on board of your airliner next time, the first thing will no longer be to shut down the engines, but to switch on the battery switch :-) So, what this file really does is:

Giving you a cold and dark startup on each single flight.

Now, why did I put you on the ground in the default flight? Well, I don't think you will like the idea of starting in mid air with your engine switched off ;) And remember, the "check fuel status" on your startup checklist does NOT lack purpose, don't forget to load enough fuel for your flight (just in case you are wondering why neither the APU nor the engines would start after installing this file)

INSTALLATION:

Well, there are actually two methods of installing this file: A "soft" and a "hard" version (the hard version is easier to accomplish, but will affect all users on your system).

First, the hard version:

- Backup your \MS FS X\flights\other\fltsim.flt.
- Copy the fltsim.flt provided along with this text into that very folder
- You're done.

Second, the soft version, requiring few more steps:

- Copy the fltsim.flt file provided along with this text into the "FS X Files" subdirectory of your home folder (My Documents on XP, Documents on Vista).
- Launch FS X and select to load a previously saved flight
- Select the Flight "Cold and Dark" from the list
- Launch the flight
- Make any adjustments you like (e.g. firing up the APU or anything you would like to be activated every time you launch a new flight)
- Select "File/Save Flight"
- Select the "Cold and Dark" flight from the list
- Select "Make this flight my default flight"
- Save your flight
- And finally, your're done.

REMEMBER: You don't need to perform all the two methods described above, but you should select one of them. The "hard" version is easier to perform, but the "soft" version gives you more flexibility.

Enjoy, and don't forget to take your startup checklist along with you!