Do you modify Cold and Dark initial state in the PMDG 737?

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1

I’m wondering if anyone modifies the cold and dark state of the 737 at all. I start all flights in this state but have found it useful to set certain functions and save them, to reduce the number of changes when preparing the aircraft..I have re-set

  1. TCAS to standby (it’s in an incorrect position on default)
  2. Bleeds off/Recirc fans off
  3. The trim wheel to 5.0 (as most of my flights seem to need trim about this setting) so this saves a lot of trimming!
  4. Ground cart physically connected but not active. After activating the FMC menu, I switch on the Master Battery, then switch on GRD PWR etc
  5. Front stairs at aircraft and front door open
  6. VOR 2 set to ON (saves binding a button to it), and I already bind a rotating knob to VOR 2 course.
  7. Panel and Flood lights partially on (around the cockpit)
    …and probably more..

what do others do?

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Can you put 737 in the title, since there are a lot of planes that you can start cold and dark. Thank you.

I like the GPU cart in the 737.

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thanks…will do

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I used to start at Cold & Dark, mostly to prove to myself I could do it, but now have it set at Taxi. I find enough to do setting up the autopilot, flight controls and FMC to keep me involved. However, I occasionally start at Cold and Dark just to hear the engines start. Always gives me a thrill.

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5

yes…love the low rumble on start!!

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Always completely cold and dark

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I wanted cold and dark all the time with ground power available so I saved that state and use that to load the state on all the PMDG aircraft I have. It is a nice feature

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I always fly the schedule of the same plane for a few days. So after landing I always save the state in order to have the plane configured exactly as I left it for my next flight. That’s depending on the situation a quick turnaround state, sometimes a shoutdown state and sometimes I switch off the plane completely (cold and dark).

Regarding your changes:

3: Tril Wheel: After every landing the pilots default the trim to 4.0 units. So leaving it at 5.0 is not correct.

4: It doesn’t make sense to leave the GPU on. The first step to switch the aircraft on I turning on the batteries. GPU on the bus is the second stage then.

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Engine bleeds and recirc fans stay on even for cold&dark.

That’s SOP for a lot of airlines to st the trim to a certain position. Usually it is done during the After Landing Procedure. 5 units for the NG, 4 for the Classic.

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Ok thanks for that…good to know

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I don’t leave it on, I just have it out so that I don’t have to enable it in the fmc.

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I like two options now to choose from - 1. A GPU based one mentioned above when starting at a gate or major airport, and 2. An APU one where I start at a remote airport without a GPU. Quite useful…