Hello everyone, i have recently just purchased this software, I would like to know how i can use the default GPS on this aircraft?.. I did hunt around for ideas and i did read a post about editing the panel.cfg.. But after i did this nothing had changed in flight sim... I'm not certain with the FMC but intend to study it.. In the meantime i would like to use the normal GPS to fly this lovely aircraft.I will appriciate any help i'm givenThank you. Regards, Mike.

I know others will chime in here, but let me be the first to say that you really need to learn the FMC. This is a technical plane, and you will be immensely satisfied when you learn to fly her properly. It may take a while, but it is sooooo worth it!

Yep, thank you for that :( but in the mean time do you know how i can possibly do the gps?..Also one other thing.. on the FMC will it tell me the flight time how long is left in the air .. after departure?

Yep, thank you for that :( but in the mean time do you know how i can possibly do the gps?..Also one other thing.. on the FMC will it tell me the flight time how long is left in the air .. after departure?

I'd suggest using the PMDG support forum here. If anyone can help you, they can. But... I have to ask... Why spend the bucks on the 747, knowing that it's a highly intricate systems simulation, when you could accomplish what you're after with Project Opensky freeware? Without systems simulation, the PMDG bird is nothing but a pretty model.Jon/KSEA

I know others will chime in here, but let me be the first to say that you really need to learn the FMC. This is a technical plane, and you will be immensely satisfied when you learn to fly her properly. It may take a while, but it is sooooo worth it!

Just for the record, I picked up the PMDG 747 yesterday at Best Buy. I printed the tutorial and figured out quicky how to get the plane configured for takeoff using the FMC. I think I did not entirely enter the flight plan into the FMC correctly, but i happen to have Copilot Pro by Abacus and the EZ GPS works in the 747 just fine in the mean time until I get throught the rest of the materials. The odd thing is that it does not work in the MD-11, but I have since figured out how to fully program the FMC in that bird so not a problem. I know there is a free gps somewhere but I forgot the site, it is similar to the EZ GPS though.P.S. Sorry I Alex I meant to latch onto the original poster's quote, by I do agree with your statement, everything programmed correctly into the FMC and really makes simluation shine.Update: I may have spoken to soon. I just loaded up the 747 and this time the EZ GPS did not seem to be working right. Sorry for jumping the gun!

PMDG is a lot of money for a reason. A lot of the cool stuff you can do with the plane is in the FMC. Trust me, follow the tutorial PDFs you get with the plane and read them. There is a lot of material there, but it is a fun read. You will learn a lot about all the individual systems and learn how great a tool a truly professional FMC can be. And then fly the plane. Fly it and fly it often, and after a few weeks you will feel right at home, and when you step back in the VC of a default airplane with the default GPS, you will not believe that is how you used to fly. At least that is how I feel.

PMDG is a lot of money for a reason. A lot of the cool stuff you can do with the plane is in the FMC. Trust me, follow the tutorial PDFs you get with the plane and read them. There is a lot of material there, but it is a fun read. You will learn a lot about all the individual systems and learn how great a tool a truly professional FMC can be. And then fly the plane. Fly it and fly it often, and after a few weeks you will feel right at home, and when you step back in the VC of a default airplane with the default GPS, you will not believe that is how you used to fly. At least that is how I feel.

What is pretty cool also is that I got the MD-11 about 2 weeks ago, became pretty well versed with the FMC, and then picked up the PMDG 747 at Best Buy for $30 just two days ago. I had never really taken the time to learn the FMC before getting the MD-11, but due to that experience, learning the FMC (although a bit different) in the 747 took literally one run through the basic tutorial and then a couple of hours. Although there is still more unexplored territory, I feel like I have learned more in the last week than I have in the last 5 years of "serious" simming. I really agree that taking the time is well worth it, and I am starting to become obesessed with the FMC and am starting to think I "can't live without it." I too was the kind of guy who being a real world private pilot, did not want to have to invest too much time in flight simulator learning. I will tell you that learning these systems really doesn enhance the experience, and is quite a bit of fun.

What is pretty cool also is that I got the MD-11 about 2 weeks ago, became pretty well versed with the FMC, and then picked up the PMDG 747 at Best Buy for $30 just two days ago. I had never really taken the time to learn the FMC before getting the MD-11, but due to that experience, learning the FMC (although a bit different) in the 747 took literally one run through the basic tutorial and then a couple of hours. Although there is still more unexplored territory, I feel like I have learned more in the last week than I have in the last 5 years of "serious" simming. I really agree that taking the time is well worth it, and I am starting to become obesessed with the FMC and am starting to think I "can't live without it." I too was the kind of guy who being a real world private pilot, did not want to have to invest too much time in flight simulator learning. I will tell you that learning these systems really doesn enhance the experience, and is quite a bit of fun.

I love the FMC and find it difficult to fly the default 737 or 747 without it. The three main addon planes I fly is the Flight1 Super 80, which simulates a very old and basic Boeing FMC, the Level-D 767, which is more advanced and has some more features, but the FMC that is in the PMDG 747 is absolutely awesome. The GPS, the abiltiy to which screen is on the EICAS. I love using the 'Fix' feature so I can have my display look as much like the table for the approach or landing I am flying. And it is true, once you are well versed in the Boeing FMC, it only takes a little time to become familiar with it implemented on another aircraft.Now just a couple weeks ago, I was able to try out the Citation X on a buddy's rig, and let me tell you, that FMC took some getting used to. Radically different, but I think a lot of it is not simulated. And I still really want to get the MD-11, but the fact that it is quite expensive, and knowing the new 737 NGX is coming early next year, I keep holding off, but I may have to indulge myself this winter and buy it.