I'm quite new to FSX and PMDG. Have to say the J41 is terrific - thoroughly absorbing, educational and entertaining. So many thanks!Am working through all the excellent documentation. Here's what's defeated me in the tutorial:1. After apparently successful engine starts, switching the standby pumps off and switching from GPU to batteries/internal power generation seems to produce total engine shutoff! There's enough fuel, pressures good - I simply can't work out what I'm doing wrong ... Doesn't seem to be any fuel cutoff valve to check either (I think!).2. Similarly, something unexpected happened when I decided to wait and watch for the left engine's Start button to pop out/extinguish automatically and the Grnd Start switch to centralise itself to Air Start, after torque had stabilised at 60% (as per the AOM). What actually happened is that the engine ran at 100% torque for a while, and then just shut down when the Start button popped and the Grnd Start reverted to Air Start.It must be something I've missed, but having attempted to follow procedure by the book three times without success, it seemed sensible to ask wiser heads for advice :( Thanks!Best wishes,David

A lot of issues with the JS4100 seem to be caused by the different steps users take when loading the airplane (such as loading a saved flight, loading from a default aircraft etc). Try this way:* Start FS, load the default trike at the location where you want to start your flight in the JS4100.* Shut down the trike using the on/off switch, leave everything else alone.* Load the JS4100.

A lot of issues with the JS4100 seem to be caused by the different steps users take when loading the airplane (such as loading a saved flight, loading from a default aircraft etc). Try this way:* Start FS, load the default trike at the location where you want to start your flight in the JS4100.* Shut down the trike using the on/off switch, leave everything else alone.* Load the JS4100.

Thanks trisager, much obliged.The on/off switch you refer to: is it to be found on the trike itself?Best wishes,David

This button (in the 2D panel - it is on the pedestal in the VC).

This button (in the 2D panel - it is on the pedestal in the VC).

Tom,Thanks. This is really helpful. I'll let you know what happens.Best wishes,David Abrahams (I'm learning!)

Dave, next thing to try if you are still working this problem is to uninstall/reinstall FSX SP2 (or Acceleration). This has solved some weird problems.

Thanks Dan. Your further advice duly noted and appreciated.Best wishes,David Abrahams

you don't have to do this. get the little JSColdandDark utility posted somewhere on this board. load, press Tab+Q and all is quiet. the problem you mentioned occurs sometimes when you switch the pumps off too soon. Happened to me in cold weather. leave the pumps on a bit longer. Rgds. Marten

you don't have to do this. get the little JSColdandDark utility posted somewhere on this board. load, press Tab+Q and all is quiet. the problem you mentioned occurs sometimes when you switch the pumps off too soon. Happened to me in cold weather. leave the pumps on a bit longer. Rgds. Marten

Marten, thanks. Much obliged.Best wishes,David Abrahams

Well, gentlemen, still having unexpected problems with engine starts in the tutorial, I'm afraid :( My objective is to achieve a correct tutorial flight load, so that engine start works as it should. I've noticed a couple of other weird things too ...1. Loaded the trike at KHPN as recommended, switching its engine off, then ESC button, ending that flight and then loading the J41 tutorial (i.e. didn't load "straight" J41 at KHPN, but loaded the tutorial situation). Did this both before and after reinstalling FSX SP2, without resolution to the problem.2. Still the same sudden shutdown of engine once RPM hits 60. 3. Noticed that the Pilot/Copilot role assignment switch doesn't differentiate correctly: both are either Pilot or Copilot.4. The tutorial doesn't start the plane dark, but with avionics already on line ... along with a couple of other switches that the tutorial implies should be off, but are already on.Now I could take Marten's advice and just use the cold and dark utility - which could clearly work to resolve the startup problem - but it concerns me that there might a more fundamental underlying issue with the installation which it might be best to resolve first. Can anyone shed further light on this? First of all, should the tutorial actually start up cold and dark or not: what I'm getting is cold but certainly not dark, with both attention getters flashing as well as the other items noted above.Hmmm :( Will be much obliged for any further thoughts!DavidDavid Abrahams

1. Loaded the trike at KHPN as recommended, switching its engine off, then ESC button, ending that flight and then loading the J41 tutorial (i.e. didn't load "straight" J41 at KHPN, but loaded the tutorial situation). Did this both before and after reinstalling FSX SP2, without resolution to the problem.

Don't end the trike flight using ESC, David - just load the JS4100 from the FSX menu after loading the trike.As you mention, the JS4100 does not load completely cold and dark. That's just the way it is. Move the switches to the correct cold/dark position manually, or use one of the user-supplied utilities that can do it for you.

Don't end the trike flight using ESC, David - just load the JS4100 from the FSX menu after loading the trike.As you mention, the JS4100 does not load completely cold and dark. That's just the way it is. Move the switches to the correct cold/dark position manually, or use one of the user-supplied utilities that can do it for you.

Oh, I see, Tom. Thanks for the guidance. I'll try the correct procedure now!By the way: odd that the tutorial doesn't start cold and dark. Should do IMHO.Best wishes,DavidDavid Abrahams

Well, well, Marten, Tom and Dan ... You really helped! Together with Wombat's Coldanddark, startup went PERFECTLY! Long may things continue thus :( I managed to stall the engine when attempting my first ever start-unlock procedure (perhaps by going too far into beta?) but presumably I'll get better at that ... :( The only other thing I still notice is that the Pilot/Copilot role selector lights remain identical: either both green PILOT or both white COPILOT. Surely, the idea is that one is green when the other is white? (Do tell me if you think needs a separate topic - and forgive me if I'm breaking protocol here).Again, many thanks for your kind assistance. :( Best wishes,DavidDavid Abrahams