Hi folks,from what i saw until now you are about to create an outstanding product, and despite my wife calls me another time crazy, my credit card is ready to buy the 737NG.The only little flaw i saw is, does your FMC model a "direct-to" function or is this unrealistic in regards to what the real FMC is able to perform?Cheers and keep upHolger Dallmeyer

Holger-Glad to hear you are looking forward to the airplane!The FMC is being modeled directly after the FMC installed in the airplane. We are using the manufacturers manuals and some after market texts to model it's functionality as completely as possible.If it's in there.....It's in there..... (with a few MINOR exceptions!)

Hi Holger,According to my poor knowledges , on the Boeing's FMCs, the "DIRECT TO" function is managed via the LEG page of the FMC.Have a good time !Rapha

Not to be argumentative here or a PAIN in the ### .. I just looked in a UAL 737-500 AOM .. and there is a "DIR INTC" key where there is a "blank" key on the NG FMS pic posted here. Also took a quick peek at a 737-700 flight deck on Airliners.net ... blew it up and there is a DIR- INTC key Row 2/Col 1. I didn't think Smiths would change such a successful piece of equipment. BUT .. at the same time, I suppose there might be options NOT to have the DIR INTC key.Whether you implement a DIR/INTC Key is immaterial to me, honestly. I KNOW I will be HAPPY. I believe there is a ton of complicated logic behind the INTC part. The DIRect part, I believe, simply creates a turning point (current location) and creates a new heading to the indicated DIRECT TO waypoint, and once EXEC is pressed, turns the a/c onto the new path. As Raphael points out, this can usually be accomplished on the LEGS page (on the PIC 767, for instance, and the PSS 747 and 777).I am really looking forward to your SURE TO BE AWESOME new 737, and as some one of the forum readers indicated, "credit card ready"Best wishes for a happy weekend!!!

Well let me post an official Boeing picture of their 737-700 CDU for you to have a look at, what I see is a MENU key. It is correct that each airline *might* have differn't orders for certain items etc. Anyways, for a DIR TO one only needs to line select a particular route entry or add one into the scratch pad and choose the left TOP LSK and activate the modification. You can also remove waypoints in your active route to accomplish the same thing or just by-pass any inbetween waypoints by moving up the waypoint (if it is already on your active route of course), I won't go into route discontinuities just yet. There are many reasons for a direct to command, some include weather not so nice along the active route or ATC vectoring etc, whatever the reason, the FMC will fly from its current location direct to the newly entered waypoint or fix and continue along the active route. http://forums.avsim.com/user_files/13467.jpg[h5]Best Wishes,Randy J. Smith[/h5][h6]Are You Ready For The Next Great one? PMDG's 737NG is almost here![/h6][h3]" A little learning is a dangerous thing"[/h3] [h5]AMD XP 2200 |MUNCHKIN 512 DDR RAM |ECS[/b ][i] K7S5A MB[/i] |GF3 64 MEG @ 215/545|WIN XP PRO |MITSUBISHI DIAMOND PLUS 91 19"[/h5]

I checked both my Honeywell and Pegasus FMC guides and no where in either of these is a Direct TO or Direct INTC key... they are a tad old mind you...Liam

Here's the NG FMC, there is no direct INTC key ,the menu key is where the blank key exists on the PMDG screenshot. Funny thing though ,is that I do remember seeing an FMC with a DIRC-INTC key, I can't remember if it was on a NG or not, or maybe an older implementation of the FMC or possibly an option.http://forums.avsim.com/user_files/13526.jpg

Gents-The reason it's blank is that we haven't decided which version we're going to go with. Once that's decided, be assured it'll be one or the other.

A bit off topic but still...Will the display option shown in the above picture be modeled too?I know their are other topics about this but I want it to know for sure...

http://forums.avsim.com/user_files/12616.jpg

Basten-(Yes- you are correct- this has been answered a half dozen times! :-lol )The 800/900 package will, in combination with the 600/700 package give the user the option of changing the display layout between the two options Boeing makes available to customers.Unlike the real world, you will be able to switch between them freely and at will, regardless of which airplane you are flying. (In the real world- it is hard coded to the airplane...)Regardless of screen setup- we are not modeling the lower DU (at this time)for engine displays as it does not fit cleanly within the display parameter capability of MSFS...We will consider modeling at a future date- but currently it is not planned.

Haha yeah lol :-lol *:-*But now everything is clear for me... can't wait!!

http://forums.avsim.com/user_files/12616.jpg

The older Honywell-Smiths FMC revision that's in the 300-500 series had the DIR TO button. (See the Dreamfleet 737) The NG series's FMC from everything I've read operates almost exactly like the Pegasus units that are in the 757/767, 747-400 and 777. The DIR TO button is completely redundant in the newer FMC because all you have to do to go direct to a waypoint is type it into the LEGS page scratchpad, then line select it into LSK 1L (the top) and EXEC it. It's even easier if the waypoint is already in your programmed route (which it is 90% of the time) - all you have to do is press the LSK next to the WP, then press LSK 1L, EXEC it and the plane turns direct immediately...Ryan