Hey everyone, I will most likely post over at the forums for the maddog2008, but had a question if someone here can help. After starting the MD80, I can't for the life of me figure out how to get the generators on line. This forces me to stay at the gate of course and go nowhere. I thought after the engines are started, the gens should be on at that point. Resetting them does nothing. I have flown very complex aircraft, but this dog has me stumped. I also will have to read the manual further but any help is greatly appreciated. :) Merry Christmas everyone! Thanks in advance.

Hey everyone, I will most likely post over at the forums for the maddog2008, but had a question if someone here can help. After starting the MD80, I can't for the life of me figure out how to get the generators on line. This forces me to stay at the gate of course and go nowhere. I thought after the engines are started, the gens should be on at that point. Resetting them does nothing. I have flown very complex aircraft, but this dog has me stumped. I also will have to read the manual further but any help is greatly appreciated. :) Merry Christmas everyone! Thanks in advance.

Yes, they typically come online automatically after engine start. I'm surprised that resetting doesn't help. Out of curiosity, are you starting from APU or GPU/Air cart?

Hi Jeff, Thanks for your reply. This may sound ridiculous, but I think I tried both methods. I've been on the go so much lately, my brain is pretty tired. Is there a difference as to the Gens coming on line wether the APU or GPU start? I wonder if the GPU cart is connected, the engines spool and up and running, am I missing a step along the way after that? If I recall correctly, if I disconnect I loose power. This makes no sense to me as they should connect after engine start as you confirmed.

Hi Jeff, Thanks for your reply. This may sound ridiculous, but I think I tried both methods. I've been on the go so much lately, my brain is pretty tired. Is there a difference as to the Gens coming on line wether the APU or GPU start? I wonder if the GPU cart is connected, the engines spool and up and running, am I missing a step along the way after that? If I recall correctly, if I disconnect I loose power. This makes no sense to me as they should connect after engine start as you confirmed.

I ask because I have only ever started from APU. I know that if the APU is available while the engines are running, the engine generators are still used...if you cut an engine it will use the APU power for that side and not close the X-tie. Sorry, my brain's not working well tonight (mostly due to a few glasses of Christmas wine). I will play around with it, and see if I can get different results.

I believe if you disco the Gens from under the safety covers you WILL require maintenance no matter how many times you restart FS or the aircraft from a sim point. Kinda sounds like you did it. That's how good the MD is.Roman

I believe if you disco the Gens from under the safety covers you WILL require maintenance no matter how many times you restart FS or the aircraft from a sim point. Kinda sounds like you did it. That's how good the MD is.Roman

Roman has a good point. The reset switches aren't the capped red switches...if you use those, then you'll have to call maintenance to fix. The reset switches are directly below the red capped switches.Additionally, how are you loading the plane? Are you using a saved panel state?

Roman has a good point. The reset switches aren't the capped red switches...if you use those, then you'll have to call maintenance to fix. The reset switches are directly below the red capped switches.

Yeah if you've disconnected the gens then they need to be re-connected by maintenance crew.From the cold and dark panel state the Gen switches are already in the required positions. During engine start you should hear a 'CLACK' as each engine passes through about 40% N2. That's each gen coming online.

Thanks guys for your replies. Is the fix option the one that is under the Ground Communication? If so, for some reason now that is all grayed out and I can't access anything there. I finally decided to stop being stubborn and "Mr. Know It All"and fly the tutorial. Following the tutorial, the ground communications module was grayed out. I am very frustrated. I was able to start the engines the other day, but engine #1 would settle at 24% then shut down. The gens are definitely not connecting either. To save everyone here from wasting your time with me, could you tell me the best way to load this aircraft and any other suggestions that will repair the issues so I can start fresh and do it correctly this time once and for all. I have never in all my years been so stumped with an aircraft no matter how complicated. I surrender. I want in the worst way, to be able to fly this MD80 and learn as much as possible about this fascinating aircraft. I just need to get myself going in the right direction. Thanks in advance. I plan on reading more in the late morning, but at this point, until I get things fixed and figure the proper loading procedure, anything else will be a waste of time.

Thanks guys for your replies. Is the fix option the one that is under the Ground Communication? If so, for some reason now that is all grayed out and I can't access anything there. I finally decided to stop being stubborn and "Mr. Know It All"and fly the tutorial. Following the tutorial, the ground communications module was grayed out. I am very frustrated. I was able to start the engines the other day, but engine #1 would settle at 24% then shut down. The gens are definitely not connecting either. To save everyone here from wasting your time with me, could you tell me the best way to load this aircraft and any other suggestions that will repair the issues so I can start fresh and do it correctly this time once and for all. I have never in all my years been so stumped with an aircraft no matter how complicated. I surrender. I want in the worst way, to be able to fly this MD80 and learn as much as possible about this fascinating aircraft. I just need to get myself going in the right direction. Thanks in advance. I plan on reading more in the late morning, but at this point, until I get things fixed and figure the proper loading procedure, anything else will be a waste of time.

First up, I was in your shoes a week or two ago. I own almost any complex add-on under the sun and I'd never been beaten by one, I was ready to throw the towel in and go back to my beloved MD11.A few flights later I had it sorted and I'm SO very glad I persisted with it, it is a real honey of an airplane.Please for your own sake, stick with it, we'll get you up and running!To be honest, while the tutorial has its merits, I actually found it a little confusing. It seems to have you operate every system on the flightdeck under the guise of a preflight test, and I'm not sure that this is how it is done in the real world. Read it for context, but don;t get too bogged down in it.There is a 'quick 'n' dirty' guide to starting the aircraft on the maddog forums, I'd suggest searching for and trying that. Here is my own approach in the meantime (not neccesarily 100% correct but it works):In the addon manager, set all failures to infinity. ie never occurIf you have the pro version, check the inop list for any failed items. Delete any.Configure your aircraft as desired, then load it with a 'cold and dark' panel state.In FS, before you load the flight, verify that you have fuel onboard (fuel and payload menu)Load the aircraftBattery ONStart pump ON (this is by the engine start switches)APU, hold the switch to the start position (or use the wheel mouse to 'lock' it to the start position)The APU takes a few seconds before you'll see it spool up. Once it has reached 100% N1, flick the APU switch back to 'RUN', bring careful not to flick it to the OFF position!You should have the APU PWR AVAIL blue lights showing, flick on the APU source switches and you'll get all manner of alarms as everything fires up.Skip the FMC stuff, let's just see if we can get her started!On your audio panel down at your left knee, click on the 'INT' button (second from right I think?)Dial the corresponding volume up, the small arrow in the dial will be pointing upwardsNow right click on the MECH CALL button and the ground crew dialogue will open, hopefully not greyed out.Click on repair failures just to be sure everything is all good to go.The engine start is tricky in the MD, I use my wheel mouse to 'lock' the start switch into the start position, as I find the clicking and holding down didn't work well. Once the engine N2 RPM is past 22%, chuck the fuel on and it should light up.Hope that helps, if you're still stuck, head to the forums at flythemaddog.com and I guarantee you we'll get you some help, there are some guys there who really know their stuff - way more than I do - and can assist with most issues.

First up, I was in your shoes a week or two ago. I own almost any complex add-on under the sun and I'd never been beaten by one, I was ready to throw the towel in and go back to my beloved MD11.A few flights later I had it sorted and I'm SO very glad I persisted with it, it is a real honey of an airplane.Please for your own sake, stick with it, we'll get you up and running!To be honest, while the tutorial has its merits, I actually found it a little confusing. It seems to have you operate every system on the flightdeck under the guise of a preflight test, and I'm not sure that this is how it is done in the real world. Read it for context, but don;t get too bogged down in it.There is a 'quick 'n' dirty' guide to starting the aircraft on the maddog forums, I'd suggest searching for and trying that. Here is my own approach in the meantime (not neccesarily 100% correct but it works):In the addon manager, set all failures to infinity. ie never occurIf you have the pro version, check the inop list for any failed items. Delete any.Configure your aircraft as desired, then load it with a 'cold and dark' panel state.In FS, before you load the flight, verify that you have fuel onboard (fuel and payload menu)Load the aircraftBattery ONStart pump ON (this is by the engine start switches)APU, hold the switch to the start position (or use the wheel mouse to 'lock' it to the start position)The APU takes a few seconds before you'll see it spool up. Once it has reached 100% N1, flick the APU switch back to 'RUN', bring careful not to flick it to the OFF position!You should have the APU PWR AVAIL blue lights showing, flick on the APU source switches and you'll get all manner of alarms as everything fires up.Skip the FMC stuff, let's just see if we can get her started!On your audio panel down at your left knee, click on the 'INT' button (second from right I think?)Dial the corresponding volume up, the small arrow in the dial will be pointing upwardsNow right click on the MECH CALL button and the ground crew dialogue will open, hopefully not greyed out.Click on repair failures just to be sure everything is all good to go.The engine start is tricky in the MD, I use my wheel mouse to 'lock' the start switch into the start position, as I find the clicking and holding down didn't work well. Once the engine N2 RPM is past 22%, chuck the fuel on and it should light up.Hope that helps, if you're still stuck, head to the forums at flythemaddog.com and I guarantee you we'll get you some help, there are some guys there who really know their stuff - way more than I do - and can assist with most issues.

Standby, I'll make a video to make this easier. It'll be rough, but it will get the job done.This aircraft is definitely worth the effort!

As promised, here is a video I just did that takes the plane from cold and dark to both engines running. I left out a lot of stuff (signs, lights, flows, etc.), but hopefully this gets you rolling.I didn't provide any voice over narration, but you should be able to figure it out based on Mark's comment above and the manual. Hope this helps!!http://vimeo.com/8409337(Note: I would definitely watch this in full screen -- it's the button to the right of the volume. It's 720p, so it should be clear enough)

Thanks guys, I got her started and completed a short flight from KSEA TO CYVR. I can't thank you enough! The only thing now is it seems only with the Maddog, Active Camera will not work. Not a big deal due to the complex nature, I wouldn't use it unless I wanted to create a video and set my camera points up. The other thing I did differently here was after loading the panel and starting FS9, I chose the MD80 from the get go and went into the sim rather than loading the default cessna first and powering down. I think this might have been causing some of my issues. I will need to get a more powerful CPU now as I see a hit on my system. I saw options to lower some stuff, so I will play around with that to see what is having the greatest impact on my system. Thanks so much again for your help. It is appreciated more than words can say. this forum is like my daily read. If i don't at least visit everyday, I go through withdrawal..LOL If you have any other tips, let me know if that's OK. Thanks again. :)

Thanks guys, I got her started and completed a short flight from KSEA TO CYVR. I can't thank you enough! The only thing now is it seems only with the Maddog, Active Camera will not work. Not a big deal due to the complex nature, I wouldn't use it unless I wanted to create a video and set my camera points up. The other thing I did differently here was after loading the panel and starting FS9, I chose the MD80 from the get go and went into the sim rather than loading the default cessna first and powering down. I think this might have been causing some of my issues. I will need to get a more powerful CPU now as I see a hit on my system. I saw options to lower some stuff, so I will play around with that to see what is having the greatest impact on my system. Thanks so much again for your help. It is appreciated more than words can say. this forum is like my daily read. If i don't at least visit everyday, I go through withdrawal..LOL If you have any other tips, let me know if that's OK. Thanks again. :)

Hey Moss1,I've had the Maddog since release and my memory isn't what it used to be but I have my default aircraft the 172 with engines on AND Alternators on. I believe I remember from 2006 that if you used an engines on default then the Alts had to be on or the generators would not kick in. Maybe this will help...Great plane, by the way. :(

Yup; Your default flight aircraft must be setup with everything switched off; battery, all electrics, fuel, throttles and mixture both closed. Once that flight is saved - restart it, and then replace the aircraft with the Maddog: make sure everything here is also switched off: cold: dead: - then save this flight, and this will be the default CnD flight for the Maddog. Next - exit the sim, and start the Maddog Manager, setup your flight, load, etc., and tick the "start fs" as you exit the Manager. You will then select "Cold and Dark" and the scenario which you setup previously as the Maddog's default flight.THEN you will get a clean start. The "Quick & Dirty" guide will get you airborne without an engine failure or a trim issue. :(