In case anyone is interested in some more simming related stuff (instead of just more scenery): I modded the Q400 so it can start cold and dark. I can now use my Majestic ‘to do list’ to start and operate the Q400 in AFS2 (apart from the GPU and FMS related stuff, of course).

Dash-8 Q400 cold and dark mod on the IPACS forum

For anyone who is interested: the mod has been added to the Downloads section of the official forum. It also has been updated in the meantime.

Dash-8 Q400 cold and dark mod

And if you want to know more about it before clicking on the link 😉 here is the text of the included Readme:

Installation

1. Go to the folder \Steam\steamapps\common\Aerofly FS 2 Flight Simulator\aircraft\q400
2. Make a backup of the file q400.tmd
3. Drag the file q400.tmd out of the zip into the folder, overwriting the existing file you just backupped

When you want to remove the mod, simply copy the original q400.tmb file into the folder again, overwriting the modded one.

The included pdf called ‘Aerofly FS 2 Dash-8 Q400 cold and dark’ is made specifically for this mod. It isn’t an official checklist but more a kind of (personal) to do list and contains every step you have to take in order to go from cold and dark on the departure airport to cold and dark on the destination.

The text in green at the end of the list can be skipped if you want to leave the plane in a sort of turn around state.

Additional information

List of changes to default parking state (following the flow from top to bottom)
- all batteries off
- pitot static stby, 1 and 2 off
- windshield heat and plt side wdo/ht off
- engine start ignition switches off
- all exterior lights off- recirc and bleeds off
- bleed at min
- fasten belts off
- emergency lights off
- spoilers at taxi
- yaw damper off
- anti skid off
- all displays off
(- FMS is still on: the FMS isn't functional yet and what you see are static pictures)
- parking brake set
(- control lock is still off: I managed to turn it on in the take off state but not in this one)
- prop fuel off
- arcdu's both off (didn't manage to set transponder to SBY by default)
- mfd1 on sys (didn't manage to set it on doors by default)
- weather radar off
- steering off
- de-mist and vents on both sides closed
- NEW: all interior lights off

- this mod can only be used when you position the plane on a parking spot. You can't position it anywhere else and you also shouldn't reposition the plane during a flight! You also can't resume a flight after a restart of the sim just like that.

- this means that if you want to start a flight on the runway or in the air or resume a flight you have to remove this mod first (simply by copying the original file into the Q400 folder, overwriting the mod).

- when you use this mod and start a flight it will take some 15 seconds before power is fully down (because this mod turns things off that are on by default) so you will see some warning lights and hear some sounds at first.

- whenever AFS2 and specially the Q400 get's an update from IPACS this mod will probably be rendered useless.

Edited August 12, 20187 yr by Guest