How do you start the HondaJet HJet HA-420 cold and dark in MSFS?
Start the FlightFX HondaJet HJet HA-420 cold and dark in MSFS 2020 or 2024, with engine order, N2 cue, GPU handover and failure fixes.
To start the FlightFX HJet—the Honda HA-420 HondaJet—from cold and dark in Microsoft Flight Simulator 2020 or 2024, establish battery or GPU power, leave both power levers at CUT OFF, start engine 2 first, introduce fuel at positive N2, then start engine 1 and confirm generator power before removing the GPU.
This procedure is for the FlightFX HJet. Another HondaJet package may model its switches differently; our guide to HondaJet add-ons and compatibility helps identify the installed aircraft. If a FlightFX update changes a label or automation step, follow that build’s in-sim Normal Procedures checklist.
HondaJet HJet cold-and-dark start sequence
The FlightFX normal start order is the right-hand engine 2 first, followed by the left-hand engine 1.
- Spawn at a parking stand
Select a ramp, gate or parking position rather than a runway. A runway start normally loads the HondaJet running or prepared for departure; our parking-stand setup instructions for MSFS explain how to obtain a genuine cold-and-dark spawn.
- Secure the aircraft and verify CUT OFF
Set the parking brake. On the centre-pedestal power-lever quadrant, place both power levers fully behind their detents at CUT OFF. Confirm the cockpit levers agree with the physical throttle hardware rather than assuming the bottom of an axis equals cut-off.
- Configure the electrical panel
On the labelled electrical switch panel, set BATT 1 and BATT 2 to ON. Set GEN 1 and GEN 2 to their normal ON positions so each starter-generator can assume the electrical load after its engine reaches idle.
- Connect external power if required
Use the HJet’s ground-services control to connect the GPU. Wait until external power shows as available, then place the EXT PWR or GPU control in its on position. A visible ground-power cart alone does not prove that the aircraft’s electrical bus is powered.
- Allow the HondaJet displays to initialise
Wait for the engine and electrical indications to become readable. Confirm usable fuel aboard and check that neither power lever has moved out of CUT OFF while the avionics were loading.
- Switch the beacon on
Set the anti-collision BEACON on before operating a starter. Leave other exterior lights configured for the stand and local conditions.
- Start engine 2
On the labelled ENGINE START section of the switch panel, operate the ENG 2 START control. Watch the right-engine indication and wait for positive, steadily increasing N2. That visible N2 rotation is the cue to move the right-hand No. 2 power lever from CUT OFF through its detent to IDLE.
Monitor for light-off, an orderly ITT rise, oil pressure and continued N1/N2 acceleration. If N2 remains at zero or stops increasing, do not introduce fuel.
- Wait for engine 2 to stabilise
Allow engine 2 to reach a stable idle. Confirm the starter indication clears and the No. 2 starter-generator begins supplying power before starting the other engine.
- Start engine 1
Operate the ENG 1 START control. When the left-engine N2 indication is positive and increasing, move the left-hand No. 1 power lever from CUT OFF to IDLE. Again monitor ITT, oil pressure and spool-up until the engine is stable and its starter has disengaged.
- Transfer from GPU to generator power
Verify on the electrical indications that both starter-generators are online and carrying the aircraft buses. Deselect external power and disconnect the GPU only after this handover is confirmed. Leave both battery switches on.
- Complete the after-start checks
Remove ground equipment, check the flight controls, set take-off flaps and pitch trim, configure lights and anti-ice, and resolve abnormal cautions before releasing the parking brake.
When should the HondaJet power lever move from CUT OFF to IDLE?
Move the applicable power lever to IDLE only after its starter has produced positive, continuously increasing N2 on the engine display.
N1 can lag during the first part of the start, so use N2 as the cue. Do not copy an N2 percentage from a Citation, CRJ or another business jet: starter design, FADEC logic and checklist thresholds are aircraft-specific. If the installed HJet checklist supplies a numerical cue, that figure takes precedence.
Watch the virtual lever as it crosses the cut-off detent. If it snaps back, moves by itself or fails to reach IDLE, stop the attempt and correct the controller assignment rather than repeatedly pressing START.
Is external power required to start the HJet?
No. The HondaJet can be started from adequately charged batteries, while a GPU supplies steadier power for a longer avionics setup.
Use a battery start when no GPU is available and the engines will be started promptly. Use external power when route entry or cockpit preparation will take longer. Never disconnect it merely because an engine is running; first confirm that the corresponding generator has accepted the bus load.
Does this HondaJet procedure work in MSFS 2024? Yes, with three checks
Yes—the same engine order and positive-N2 fuel-introduction cue apply in MSFS 2024, but the initial aircraft state, assistance settings and controller profiles can differ from MSFS 2020.
- Cold-and-dark state: load Free Flight at a parking position. An activity, runway spawn or saved aircraft state may override the shutdown condition.
- Assistance: disable automatic engine starting and checklist assistance that completes cockpit actions for you. Otherwise MSFS may move a lever or energise a system during the manual procedure.
- Ground power: connect and select the GPU through the HJet’s own ground-power interaction. In MSFS 2024, seeing a cart beside the aircraft is not a substitute for an available indication and a powered electrical bus.
- Controller profiles: inspect assignments separately in MSFS 2024. A profile that worked in MSFS 2020 may not have transferred cleanly, and a gamepad, throttle or unused lever can carry an unwanted fuel-cut-off or mixture command.
When a FlightFX build changes a control label, state-saving function or ground-power interaction, use its in-sim checklist rather than forcing an older sequence.
한글로: 혼다제트(HJet) 콜드 앤드 다크 시동 방법
FlightFX HJet은 Honda HA-420 혼다제트이며, 기본 시동 순서는 MSFS 2020과 MSFS 2024에서 같습니다.
- 주기장에 로드한 뒤 주차 브레이크를 걸고 양쪽 파워 레버를 CUT OFF에 둡니다.
- BATT 1/2와 GEN 1/2를 ON으로 설정하고, 필요하면 GPU를 연결한 뒤 사용 가능 표시를 확인합니다.
- BEACON을 켜고 ENG 2 START를 작동합니다.
- 오른쪽 엔진의 N2가 0보다 높아지며 계속 상승할 때 2번 파워 레버를 IDLE로 옮깁니다.
- 2번 엔진이 안정되면 ENG 1 START를 작동하고, 왼쪽 N2가 상승할 때 1번 레버를 IDLE로 옮깁니다.
- 두 발전기가 전기 부하를 담당하는지 확인한 뒤 GPU를 해제하고 애프터 스타트 점검을 완료합니다.
엔진이 켜지지 않거나 바로 꺼지면 영문 엔진 시동 문제 해결 안내를 확인하십시오. MSFS 2024에서 항공기가 콜드 앤드 다크로 로드되지 않으면 영문 MSFS 2024 콜드 앤드 다크 설정 안내가 관련 상태와 보조 기능을 설명합니다.
Why will the HJet engines not start or stay running?
Most FlightFX HondaJet start failures come from insufficient electrical power, a virtual power lever that is not truly in CUT OFF, or another controller repeatedly sending a fuel-control command.
| Symptom | Corrective action | Retry only when |
|---|---|---|
| Starter does nothing | Return the applicable lever to CUT OFF. Confirm both batteries are on or the GPU is connected, available and selected. Remove duplicate starter commands from other controllers. | The electrical displays are powered, the cockpit lever shows CUT OFF and the starter responds without moving the other engine. |
| Engine rotates but does not light | Verify usable fuel, positive N2 and that the correct lever crosses the cut-off detent to IDLE. If N2 is not increasing, return the lever to CUT OFF and stop. | N2 rotation is healthy and the lever remains visibly at CUT OFF until the fuel-introduction cue. |
| Engine starts, then dies or the lever returns to CUT OFF | Put the lever back in CUT OFF and disconnect the throttle or gamepad temporarily. Remove overlapping throttle-cut, fuel-valve, mixture, condition-lever and engine-master assignments from every connected device. Then calibrate the detents and test with the mouse. | The virtual lever stays in IDLE without axis noise or another device commanding cut-off. |
| N2 hangs or ITT rises abnormally | Immediately return that engine’s power lever to CUT OFF. Follow the HJet aborted-start procedure; continue dry cranking only if its checklist instructs it. Let N2 return to zero and ITT cool before considering another attempt. | The cause has been identified and all indications have returned to the checklist’s safe limits. Do not make repeated attempts after another hot or hung start. |
| Electrical power disappears when the GPU is removed | Reconnect or reselect external power if possible. Confirm GEN 1 and GEN 2 are on, allow the running engine to stabilise, and verify on the electrical page that its generator is carrying the bus before trying the handover again. | The generator indication and bus power remain stable before external power is deselected. If the generator will not connect, stop and use the HJet checklist. |
| Displays remain black | Restore battery or GPU power first and check display brightness. Do not cycle the engines to fix a display when the electrical page itself is unpowered. | The aircraft has a confirmed electrical source and the fault can be isolated to an individual display. |
A mistake we see constantly is mixing the manual procedure with the simulator’s automatic engine-start command. Use one method or the other; an automatic command can move fuel controls while the pilot is trying to follow the manual sequence.
Stop and consult the HJet Normal Procedures or abnormal-start checklist after a hot start, hung start, persistent generator failure or a second unexplained shutdown. Repeatedly adding fuel or pressing START can deepen the fault rather than clear it.
What should be checked before taxi?
Before taxi, both engines must be stable at idle, both generators must be carrying the electrical load, and all ground equipment and abnormal cautions must be cleared.
- Engines: normal idle, ITT and oil-pressure indications
- Electrical system: generators online, buses powered and GPU disconnected
- Battery switches: left in their normal ON positions
- Ground equipment: removed, with doors and panels secured
- Flight controls: checked for the required movement
- Take-off configuration: flaps and pitch trim correctly set
- Avionics: route, departure data and navigation source checked
- Lights and anti-ice: configured for the conditions before releasing the parking brake