I posted this in response to a post below, but thought I would raise it as a separate post as well as the MCP is driving me nuts because I can't seem to use it properly! All help appreciated.My take-off procedure is to set flaps 5...advance throttles to 40% N1...allow power to stabilise...release parking brake...engage TO/GA...rotate on call...end up at 20+ degrees pitch at around 160-170 knots...I leave things this way until 1000' AGL...reduce flaps...and then begins my fight with the Autopilot (MCP). I first make a real hash with ALT HOLD and/or VS to get the thing leveled out at 5000'. I either start to climb at 4000'+ or just level out. I then further make a hash of getting the thing up to 250KIAS. Here, I am not sure if I should be using the N1 autopilot function or SPEED function. Any help/ideas/useful things to read out there?! As an English flier, I tend to use the MCP to fly by rather than the RTE function of the FMC as I do not have the relevant SIDS/STARS/Navigation Database.Quite a mess as you can see! All advise ideas appreciated...Many regards,Paul Mallows...

Also meant to ask, where can I get some Standard Operating Procedures for the B737-700? I don't mind which airline, but I would be fascinated to see some.Cheers in advance guys - its amazing how being able to ask questions in these forums improves my enjoyment of simming!Take it easy,Paul Mallows...

Paul,I know next to nothing about the MCP other than setting a few parameters and enabling the thing at take off. One thing I did notice is that what ever attitude you are at when you engage the A/P, that will determine your rate of climb. The 20 degrees pitch up at take-off is probably why you're climbing at 4000+' Try 15 degrees and see if your rate of climb is more reasonable when you engage the A/P.I spend too much time painting to learn how to correctly fly this beastie;-)

Hi Paul,You mentioned 160-170kts but didn't mention if this was the speed being commanded on the speed tape. Also, did you set V2 in the MCP speed window prior to takeoff? If not, you should and then fly the speed being commanded on the PFD, which is (I believe) V2 plus 20 until flaps retraction altitude. This is how I do it and I haven't had the problems that you describe.There are also a couple of other things worth noting. First of all, if you'd like a reduced climb rate, use a reduced thrust takeoff and climb setting. When conditions permit, I always use TO-1 or TO-2 and CLB-2. Also, before turning on the autopilot, ENSURE that the flight director bars are centered and the aircraft is properly trimmed to hold that attitude "hands off". This way the autopilot doesn't have to play "catch up" with the flight director or trim when it's engaged.That's about all that I can think of. I hope this helps to solve your problem. The takeoffs, initial climbs, initial leveloffs and accelleration to 250 has always been really smooth for me in LVL CHG or VNAV.-Shaun