The "manual" that comes with the Wilco 737PIC software (the FS2004 edition anyway) leaves something to be desired particularly when it comes to the instructions for starting the engines and programming the FMC!The difficult to read switch setting labels, particularly on the overhead panel, contributed heavily to the fact that it took me two hours to get the engines started from a "cold and dark" setup the first time! I was able to start the engines a couple of more times ("only" taking an additional hour to accomplish!). I'm still not exactly sure, in fact, just how I manged to get the engines started! The very brief instructions didn't exactly make the process clear (which buttons to press/switch, whether or not you had to pause before pressing the next switch, etc.). I don't recall having ANYWHERE this much trouble starting the engines on a Dreamfleet B737-400 (I'm still ticked that Dreamfleet didn't port it's B737-400 over to FS2004)!The instructions for programming the FMC were similarly brief and rather vague to say the least. For example it doesn't mention that flight plans how to save a flight plan. In fact, at one point the instructions say that reloading the FMC/CDU has to be redone every time which I took to mean that flight plans could not be saved in the 737PIC FMC. They actually can (I found out out to do this by reading the PMDG NG FMC manual!). The 737PIC manual also doesn't tell you how to remove a route discontinuity. I also had to find out how to do this out by reading the PMDG FMC manual! The 737)PIC manual was also vague about using the LNAV and VNAV functions to fly an entire flight plan (it only mentions using the LNAV function to fly to a specific location...).I'm assuming that all FMCs in addon aircraft that come with one, assuming they are fully functional (for FS purposes anyway), are programmed the same way, correct?! Assuming all this to be true, then the FMC manual for PMDG's NG 737s and Dreamfleet's B737-400 FMC manual can be used to program the 737PIC FMC. right?

Yup, with a very few exceptions, all Boeing 737s have a Smiths Industries FMC. They have changed over the years as computers have improved, so the one in a 737-400 might have less memory than the one in a 737-800, and probably a slower processor, and they might have different screens and such, but they are all essentially programmed in the same fashion.It is worth noting that there are actually two main types of FMC CDU in Boeing 737s though (CDU=Computer Display Unit - i.e the bit you press the keys on, the FMC is actually the Flight Management Computer inside the avionics bay which the CDU keypad is linked to); Of the two varieties, there is the CDU, and the Multifunction CDU. You can tell the difference between the two by looking at the keys: Multifunction CDUs have a MENU key that accesses ACARS, DFDAU and other fancy stuff, they also have a Space Key on the keypad so you can type stuff into the ACARS (ACARS is kind of like a fancy email messaging system built into the thing). The less well endowed standard CDU has a DIR INTC key and no space key on the keypad. You'd be more likely to find a simple CDU on a 737-300, which was the first 737 to have a CDU, although these days there is a good chance even a 737-300 would have been upgraded with a fancier multifunction system.So on real 737 FMCs these days, the main differences are in the software they have installed in them. Which means you will see the occasional difference in capability from one 737 model to another (even the same models). Another difference is that airlines have to choose the options they want enabled on their FMCs (and some options are expensive, so a few airlines don't choose every option for their FMCs). On the real FMC in the 737 you can 'hack' into some of the options that have not been enabled by simultaneously pressing the same buttons on both the pilot and co-pilot's CDUs (a bit like pressing a few keys on a Playstation controller to enable cheats), but of course that's only in the real thing, and pilots are not supposed to know that!The manual that comes with the Wilco/PIC 737 is a very chopped down version of Mike Ray's 'Flying the Boeing 700 Series Simulators' book, which is highly recommended. Don't let the crappy abridged version you get with the 737 put you off the full book, which is excellent and well worth getting hold of. Another option (if you have FSX) is the Wilco 'Aviation and Mission Pilot in Command 737' add on which Wilco brought out a few months back. See the AVSIM review by none other than myself. Basically it is a series of FSX missions which teach you how to set up and fly the Wilco 737.You'll probably find this site has everything you need to know and more: http://www.b737.org.uk/Try here too, and look under the 'my aircraft' menu: http://www.smartcockpit.com/Hope that helps a bit.Al

Yeah, the manual is pure garbage, but salvation is at hand!http://wilcoguides.blogspot.com/2008/10/pa...reparation.html

These days it is always worth looking on youtube. For instance, feed 737PIC into the youtube search box and on the first page it comes up with an 8 minute tutorial on getting the engines going from cold and dark.Bryn

Yup, with a very few exceptions, all Boeing 737s have a Smiths Industries FMC. They have changed over the years as computers have improved, so the one in a 737-400 might have less memory than the one in a 737-800, and probably a slower processor, and they might have different screens and such, but they are all essentially programmed in the same fashion.It is worth noting that there are actually two main types of FMC CDU in Boeing 737s though (CDU=Computer Display Unit - i.e the bit you press the keys on, the FMC is actually the Flight Management Computer inside the avionics bay which the CDU keypad is linked to); Of the two varieties, there is the CDU, and the Multifunction CDU. You can tell the difference between the two by looking at the keys: Multifunction CDUs have a MENU key that accesses ACARS, DFDAU and other fancy stuff, they also have a Space Key on the keypad so you can type stuff into the ACARS (ACARS is kind of like a fancy email messaging system built into the thing). The less well endowed standard CDU has a DIR INTC key and no space key on the keypad. You'd be more likely to find a simple CDU on a 737-300, which was the first 737 to have a CDU, although these days there is a good chance even a 737-300 would have been upgraded with a fancier multifunction system.So on real 737 FMCs these days, the main differences are in the software they have installed in them. Which means you will see the occasional difference in capability from one 737 model to another (even the same models). Another difference is that airlines have to choose the options they want enabled on their FMCs (and some options are expensive, so a few airlines don't choose every option for their FMCs). On the real FMC in the 737 you can 'hack' into some of the options that have not been enabled by simultaneously pressing the same buttons on both the pilot and co-pilot's CDUs (a bit like pressing a few keys on a Playstation controller to enable cheats), but of course that's only in the real thing, and pilots are not supposed to know that!The manual that comes with the Wilco/PIC 737 is a very chopped down version of Mike Ray's 'Flying the Boeing 700 Series Simulators' book, which is highly recommended. Don't let the crappy abridged version you get with the 737 put you off the full book, which is excellent and well worth getting hold of. Another option (if you have FSX) is the Wilco 'Aviation and Mission Pilot in Command 737' add on which Wilco brought out a few months back. See the AVSIM review by none other than myself. Basically it is a series of FSX missions which teach you how to set up and fly the Wilco 737.You'll probably find this site has everything you need to know and more: http://www.b737.org.uk/Try here too, and look under the 'my aircraft' menu: http://www.smartcockpit.com/Hope that helps a bit.Al

Thanks again, Al! It helps alot! As a matter of fact, I do have Mike Ray's "Flying the Boeing 700 Series..." book. His, "Simulator and Checkride for the Boeing 737 super Guppy". You've giving me good reason to get them out and actually read them (G)!Scott

Yeah, the manual is pure garbage, but salvation is at hand!http://wilcoguides.blogspot.com/2008/10/pa...reparation.html

Thanks for the suggestion (loved the "pilot and dog" quote, too)!

These days it is always worth looking on youtube. For instance, feed 737PIC into the youtube search box and on the first page it comes up with an 8 minute tutorial on getting the engines going from cold and dark.Bryn

Thanks, Bryn! You can be sure I'll check out YouTube asap!Scott