So last night, around 10pm GMT I started up a flight and set "Cold and Dark Cockpit" only to find that I could not see any of the buttons or switches on the overhead panel. The labels weren't no help either as they would not show when hovering over a would be button.My question is,if your starting a flight at night how do you start from a cockpit with the electric off? In the default planes you can still see the over head panels.

So last night, around 10pm GMT I started up a flight and set "Cold and Dark Cockpit" only to find that I could not see any of the buttons or switches on the overhead panel. The labels weren't no help either as they would not show when hovering over a would be button.My question is,if your starting a flight at night how do you start from a cockpit with the electric off? In the default planes you can still see the over head panels.

Turn on the dome light.

How do you do that, if you can't see anything.

How do you do that, if you can't see anything.

You should at least be able to tell where most of the switches are. I use trackIR, not saying you should memorize the whole overhead if your new but at least know where lighting, EXT PWR, Batteries, emergency power etc are located. Using trackIR helps as you get used to looking up at the overhead, but the 2D panel should be just as simple.In the real world ground engineers would have been onboard long before you, and configured the aircraft with basic power, if you want to replicate being a ground engineer you could design a add on called Virtual flashflight to help with those late night C Checks.

I only bought the md-11 yesterday.I was hoping there was some kind of torch shortcut or something. I only programme in PHP, MySQL.ANyway I'll be doing some flights today, so I'll use that time to familirize myself with its location.

Best thing to do is load the aircraft using the 'Long turnaround' option, this is the most likely state you will find the real aircraft in, and it doesn't take that much to get it to that state from cold and dark, (Bat on, Ext power connect)It's rare that I find myself in the sim late at night pitchblack on the flightdeck unless I'm shutting down and about to close the sim.

I have the the same problem, I find either I will just find it in the dark in VC (I know where it is pretty accurately in reference to seating) or use the 2D panel as it usually is a little brighter and I can see it. Though the dome light doesn't work very well until the engines are started for me (FS limitation apparently) so sometimes I also use the thunderstorm or emergency lights to see better if I need them.