After FSX has loaded the F-16 for a flight you’ll find yourself in a rather ‘dark’ cockpit. The engine is running and the Master Caution button is glowing but aside from that all is off. Quite an amount of users have posted questions on the forum asking what’s wrong, why the HUD and MFDs are off and how to switch them on. The Aerosoft F-16 manual describes every button and switch into detail and it even contains an F-16 PROCEDURES / CHECKLIST.

However it’s not clear for everyone how to start the F-16. So that’s why I came up with this easy step-by-step startup guide. It might not teach you how to startup a real F-16 but for this virtual one it will do just fine.

1

Now there are two ways to start the F-16. The easy way and the more realistic way. For the first, press Shift+2 to bring up the start menu. You’ll see the two pictures like above. The left one is to bring the F-16 to a complete cold and dark situation, the right one is to set everything on and running. So if you want the easy way choose that one. If however you want to do it a bit more realistic (still by far not as realistic as the real F-16) choose the left picture. Your F-16 is now really cold and dark with nothing running and the canopy open. Now how to startup that damn thing again? Below will follow a step-by-step quick guide on how to start it so you can taxi to the runway and fly into the blue yonder.

2

1) The first steps are on the leftside console. Set the Main Power switch to ON

3

2) Set Engine Feed to NORM

3) Set Main Power switch to POWER (two clicks)

4) Switch Master Light switch ON, then the Strobe Light switch to ON

4

5) Close the canopy with the Canopy switch

6) Lock and seal the canopy with the yellow Canopy Lock handle

7) To start the engine first press the Jet Starter

5

8) Watch the RMP going to 20% (on the right side of the right MFD)

9) Click the ident (cut off switch) to start the engine. (To shut off the engine use that switch as well)

10) Watch the RMP going to 60%, the engine is now running idle

6

11) On the Avionics Power panel on the right side, set the INS button to NORM

12) Next on the same panel switch all other swiches to ON, this will turn on the MFDs among other things as well

13) Next, on the Sensor Power Management Panel and the HUD Remote Control Panel (on the right side next to the Side Stick) all switches to ON

7

14) If all went well, this is how your Center Console should look like, with both MFDs on but with the HUD still off

15) To turn on the HUD, use the top left wheel on the ICP (Integrated Control Panel)

8

16) Back to the External Lightning Panel on the left side, switch the Navigation Lights on

17) Next, on the UHF Radio Control Panel (also on the left side) use the Com Main Switch to switch on the radio (to MAIN)

18) To display the correct amount of fuel on the fuel gauge set the Fuel Quantity Selector to NORM

9

19) Press the Master Caution button to reset it (should not be glowing after you pressed it)

20) You’re almost ready now to taxi away. Just a few more things. First set the seat arm to ARMED

21) Set the Landing Lights to TAXI (one right-click)

10

22) Release the Parking Brakes (set Parking Brake switch to OFF)

23) Now you’re all done and ready to go! For a more complete description on all panels and switches I refer back to the official Aerosoft F-16 manual.