SWA used to not have autothrottle and VNAV on their 737s, but some of the NGs do have it now from what I understand.This may come as a shock to some simmers, but usually VNAV is not in use close to the terminal area. Once ATC starts vectoring you around, LVL CHG and HDG SEL are much more convenient than sitting their with your head in the FMC trying to reprogram in a busy approach environment. The presence of the "banana" green arc on the ND basically gives you a "manual VNAV" of sorts anyway - pilots can use this to conduct the entire descent using V/S. You just dial the altitude and make sure you keep the arc on the waypoint you were told to cross at whatever altitude and it'll hit it. You can often get a much smoother descent this way by very slowly rolling the V/S wheel forward instead of the more sudden initiation you get when VNAV PTH captures. It's more comfortable for pax doing it the V/S way.

Yeah Ryan, And do I ever miss than "banana" green arc in the MD-11. I'll be happy to get it back in the new NGX along with the FPV...:))Regards,jack noulet

SWA used to not have autothrottle and VNAV on their 737s, but some of the NGs do have it now from what I understand.

SWA has AT and VNAV capablity on _most_ NGs now. They also have VNAV capability on some -300s. Last I heard, the only real limitation for the AT was on HGS T/O and Landings.

It would be cool if there was an option on the ngx to have no a/t or vnav so people can more realisticly pretend to be a SWA pilot!

A really cool thing on the NG2.0 would be the ablity to chose which AP options are active. Some airlines don't use speed intervention, others don't use altitude intervention, and others have the entire VNAV switch blanked over.

dosent the MD11 have a green arc or something similar?

Nope. However, she has a much superior vertical navigation ability. Her PROF mode can even handle the difficult ZIGGY arrival into Ontario CA KONT. Amazing.

But can it do the KAYOH into SNA :(

After many years of being involved with our FS version, I finally flew on a real 737NG last night from KSFO to KPHX. I've had NG flights scheduled three times in the past (including the outbound leg of this trip) but SWA switched all three out for an old analog 300. Finally worked out this time though!Wasn't that much different from the 300s and 500s I've been on a million times aside from that huge winglet. The engine noise seemed like it had a bit more of a low frequency rumble component to it, but that could have just been where I was sitting.Here's a pic sitting at Gate 31 just prior to pushback.

How did you like those 17 inch wide seats!? I enjoy being the captain of PMDG Southwest 737-700 from the comfort of my office chair more than riding in the passenger cabin of the real thing. Also FYI, Southwest has a number of-300's with winglets. Not sure about the -500, however.

count me in as well :) i'm going to paris tomorrow and due to the strike of Lufthansa i got rebooked to Austrian Airlines and they replaced the A319 for the 737-700 :) looking forward to fly with it. I doubt that i can get the jumpseat :) br, alex

How did you like those 17 inch wide seats!? I enjoy being the captain of PMDG Southwest 737-700 from the comfort of my office chair more than riding in the passenger cabin of the real thing. Also FYI, Southwest has a number of-300's with winglets. Not sure about the -500, however.

I didn't notice anything that different about the seats honestly.I was on a 300 with winglets on the way out there on this trip. It was one of the last ones delivered to SWA in fact.