How do I start the HJet HA-420 from cold and dark in Microsoft Flight Simulator?
To start the HJet HA-420 from cold and dark in Microsoft Flight Simulator, set the parking brake, switch on the batteries, connect external power if available, turn on the beacon, then start each engine one at a time and move the throttle out of cut-off as the engine spools. After stabilisation, confirm generators, avionics and flight controls before taxi.
What is the cold and dark start sequence for the HJet HA-420?
The HJet is a FADEC-managed light jet, so the flow is simpler than an airliner but less forgiving than a default piston aircraft. We want reliable electrical power first, then a clean engine start, then the usual after-start checks.
If your HJet cockpit labels differ slightly, that is usually down to add-on updates. The order below still applies.
- Spawn cold and dark at a parking stand
Start from a ramp or parking position rather than the runway. Make sure the aircraft is actually shut down, not in a partial ready state, and set the parking brake before you touch anything else. - Confirm the throttles are in cut-off
Before engine start, both thrust levers should be fully aft in the shut-down or cut-off position. This matters in the HJet because a mis-set hardware throttle can stop the engine lighting off properly or can shut it back down straight after start. - Apply battery power
Switch on the batteries so the aircraft has essential electrical power. Let the displays and core systems wake up fully rather than rushing straight into engine start. - Connect external power if available
We recommend using external power whenever the airport stand provides it. The HJet’s glass cockpit draws a fair amount of power, and sitting on batteries alone while you load avionics or programme the route can leave you chasing low-voltage warnings. - Turn on the beacon
Switch on the anti-collision beacon before engine start. That is standard ramp safety practice and it also helps you keep a proper flow instead of skipping ahead. - Check fuel and basic system status
Verify you have usable fuel on board and no obvious cautions on the displays. In most HJet setups, the fuel system logic is largely automatic, but we still want to confirm there is nothing abnormal before introducing a start command. - Start the first engine
Use the engine start control for one engine only, usually left first. As the engine begins to spool, move the corresponding throttle out of cut-off to idle when the aircraft’s FADEC logic expects fuel introduction. Watch for a normal rise in engine indications, stable oil pressure and no excessive ITT. - Let the first engine stabilise
Do not rush the second start. Give the first engine a moment to settle at idle so the electrical system and engine indications are stable. - Start the second engine
Repeat the same process for the other engine. Again, monitor the engine display for a normal light-off, temperature rise and stable idle once the start is complete. - Bring the aircraft onto engine power
Once both engines are stable, check that the generators are online. Some HJet versions do this automatically; others may need a quick confirmation on the electrical page or panel. If you used external power, disconnect it now. - Complete the after-start checks
Check flight controls free and correct, set flaps as needed for departure, set trim, configure lights, and make sure the avionics are ready for taxi. If you are using the G3000 or a custom avionics suite, this is also the right point to confirm your flight plan, departure runway and performance data.
Which switches matter most in the HJet?
| System | What to do | Why it matters |
|---|---|---|
| Parking brake | Set it before power-up and start | Prevents the aircraft creeping as soon as engine idle thrust comes in |
| Batteries | Switch on first | Needed to boot essential systems and begin the start sequence |
| External power | Use if available | Keeps voltage stable while displays and avionics initialise |
| Beacon | Turn on before engine start | Standard safety item and easy way to keep your flow disciplined |
| Engine start control | Start one engine at a time | Reduces the chance of a bad start and makes faults easier to spot |
| Throttle position | Move from cut-off to idle at the correct point | Too early or too late can interrupt the start logic |
| Generators | Confirm online after both starts | Ensures the aircraft is no longer relying on battery or GPU |
What is the easiest reliable flow to remember?
We usually teach it like this: brake, batteries, power, beacon, first engine, second engine, generators, GPU off, after-start checks. If you remember that order, you will avoid most of the usual HJet start problems in MSFS.
Why won’t the HJet start properly in Microsoft Flight Simulator?
If the engine cranks but does not light off, or it starts and then dies, the cause is usually simple rather than mysterious. These are the first things we would check.
- Throttle hardware conflict: a mapped throttle axis, reverse axis, or idle cut-off binding can fight the in-cockpit lever position.
- No stable electrical power: batteries were left on too long before start, or external power was never connected.
- Fuel not being introduced correctly: the throttle was not moved out of cut-off at the right point in the start sequence.
- Assistance settings interfering: auto-start, checklist assist, or other helper systems can leave the aircraft in a half-managed state.
- A previous failed start was not cleared: if the engine start logic gets confused, fully shut the aircraft down and begin again from batteries off.
Hardware controls are a very common culprit
On jets like the HJet, a bad controller binding causes more trouble than a missed cockpit switch. If your physical throttle is sitting in a position the aircraft reads as cut-off, the engine may never settle at idle even though it looks correct on screen.
If you suspect that, pause and check the control bindings for throttle axes, reverse thrust, mixture-style commands and any cut-off or fuel shut-off assignments. Clearing the conflicting binding often fixes the problem immediately.
Do different HJet versions use the same procedure?
Broadly, yes. The exact button names, panel layout and automation level can shift a bit between updates, but the core logic stays the same: power the aircraft, set the start configuration, start one engine cleanly, then the other, and confirm electrical handover from GPU or battery to the engine-driven system.
That is why the built-in checklist can still be useful even if you already know the flow. If a particular update renames a switch or moves a page in the avionics, the checklist will still point you at the correct item.
Before taxi: what should be checked after both engines are running?
- Generators online and external power disconnected
- No abnormal cautions on the engine or electrical displays
- Flight controls checked full and free
- Take-off flap setting selected as required
- Pitch trim set for departure
- Avionics and route confirmed
- Taxi and nav lights configured for movement
If you want the shortest practical answer, it is this: power the aircraft properly, start one engine at a time, manage the cut-off-to-idle step correctly, then verify generators before taxi. In the HJet, that gets you from a true cold and dark state to a clean, repeatable start with the fewest surprises.