Hello,For all of us simulator building nuts, I have just been speaking with a friend of mine who flies the 737NG, and he's just told me that Boeing has changed the manufacturing contract to another company, and the MCP on the last NG that his company has received (Air Europa) has a different MCP. The layout is quite the same, but the design is different; with larger pushbuttons, blue illumination, and other differences he wasn't able to describe for the time being.How's that for all of us who have spent months trying to develop a realistic MCP?

Useful info for those who wish to develop a state-of-the-art up-to-date 737 cockpit, but I would assume that the majority of people building the 737NG would prefer to base their cockpits on something that's widely available, and hence easy to reproduce. As far as I'm concerned, as I'm also building a 737NG, is that although my sim is based on a newer version of the NG, it's not required to be so up-to-date is has components in there which many pilots have never ever seen before!As I said, although the info is useful, I doubt there will be many people who would be bothered by it, and will press on with what's already out there :) And for those who DO decide to use the new panel, good luck, and share the info please! :D

Actually this new MCP you are talking about my friend was developed month back many guys have them available already FDS for example, good advantage is that they use the large Jay-el/Korry type switches square ones which they are now relativelly easy to find from SIMSPARES.COM for example and the panel is more Boeing like so for added realism is easier, while the old type of switches that the NG MCP used to have are much more difficult to find or replicate, the small square ones... SO I think this new MCP is even better for simmers cause it would be easier to make.Roberto

Thanks for the info,Truly speaking it did not bothered me hearing that changes, because I have never paid atention to build the exact mcp of 737NG. One can notice the distinctive changes in time through the previous version of 737s not only in MCP but also everywhere in cocpit. So it is not worth insisting on every details unless won't use it as cocpit familyrisation.As with research doesn't end in aviation; changes in cockpit layouts are inevitable. Even more many home cokcpit builders tend to build much more instinctive cocpit designs possibly help decrease workload of crew hence increase safety.The days are not so far away that aircraft manufacturers be inspired by home flightdeck builders whose will set the industry standart.:) :)Happy new year everybodyRemzi Ozturk

Heres a pic for those 737 builders who are interested to see the differenceCheersGaz