Find the best FSX cold and dark mod, when to use aircraft-specific panel states, and how to fix flights that load with engines running.
For a general-purpose cold start in Microsoft Flight Simulator X and FSX: Steam Edition, our best pick is the FSX Cold and Dark Cockpit Mod. It starts compatible aircraft parked with engines, electrical systems and fuel controls off, but complex add-ons should use their own saved panel states when supplied.
Why is this the best FSX cold and dark mod?
For stock aircraft and conventional freeware, this package is the strongest all-round choice because it provides a reusable cold-and-dark starting point instead of requiring you to shut down every aircraft manually. You can get it from our FSX cold-start mod download page.
The important limitation is that FSX does not have one universal system-state format. Basic aircraft generally inherit standard simulator settings, while advanced add-ons may control batteries, generators, fuel pumps, hydraulics and engine logic through custom gauges. Those add-ons can ignore or overwrite a global cold-and-dark state.
Which cold-and-dark method should you use?
Use the global mod when an aircraft relies mainly on standard FSX systems; use an aircraft's own panel-state loader when it models custom systems.
| Aircraft type | Best method | Reason |
|---|---|---|
| Default FSX aircraft | Cold-and-dark mod | Standard systems usually inherit the saved FSX state correctly. |
| Conventional freeware aircraft | Cold-and-dark mod first | It normally works unless the aircraft includes custom gauges or startup logic. |
| Complex airliner add-on | Supplied panel state | The add-on may initialise systems independently and overwrite the FSX state. |
| One regularly flown aircraft | Dedicated saved flight | A manually prepared state avoids changing the starting conditions for unrelated aircraft. |
Do not combine two state systems unless the aircraft documentation specifically requires it. Loading a global cold state and then applying an add-on state can produce contradictory switch positions or leave custom systems unpowered.
How do you install the mod safely?
Install it as a startup-state modification rather than treating it like an ordinary aircraft folder.
- Close FSX completely. Saved-flight and configuration files may not be written correctly while the simulator is running.
- Read the included instructions. Check whether the package adds a selectable flight or changes the default startup state.
- Back up affected files. Preserve any same-named saved flight or configuration file before replacing it.
- Use the correct FSX installation. Boxed FSX and FSX: Steam Edition can use different program and user-data locations, especially when both have existed on the same computer.
- Test with a default aircraft. Begin at a parking stand or gate rather than an active runway, then confirm that the engines, battery, avionics and fuel controls are off.
- Test add-ons separately. If a particular aircraft starts running, inspect its own panel-state or configuration menu before changing the global setup.
Our broader FSX mod installation checklist covers archive structure, backups and the common mistake of copying an extra outer folder into the simulator.
Why does FSX still load with the engines running?
FSX usually starts the engines when the wrong saved flight is active, a runway start is selected, or the aircraft's own initialisation routine replaces the mod's state.
- The flight begins on a runway: move the departure position to a gate, ramp or parking stand and reload the intended cold-start flight.
- A default aircraft starts cold but an add-on does not: the add-on almost certainly uses custom systems; select its own cold-and-dark state instead.
- Neither version of the aircraft starts cold: verify that the intended saved or default flight is actually being loaded and that the files were placed in the active FSX installation.
- Switches look off but systems remain powered: reload the flight rather than changing aircraft after loading. Aircraft swapping can leave parts of the previous state behind.
- The cockpit immediately loses power: cold and dark means the battery is initially off. Once switched on, complete the electrical setup promptly or connect external power if the aircraft models it.
What should you do after the cockpit loads cold?
A cold cockpit still needs the correct electrical, fuel, ignition and engine-start sequence for that aircraft.
For default and simpler aircraft, follow our step-by-step FSX cold-and-dark startup procedure. The PMDG 737 NGX is a special case: use its supplied state system and the PMDG-specific cold-start sequence rather than relying solely on the global mod.