Hi,will the pdf manuals be available before the aircraft is released to get to know the systems?

The Boeing manuals will not be available for download.

Unfortunately, PMDG is not allowed to provide the manuals separately, without buying & installing the NGX.There's threads around, where actual PMDG staff said this.

Thats too bad, but anyway, I will have to start learning with the bird in my hands.That should be quite nice regarding the last videos ;)Thanks a lot for the answer!

Just google "737 fcom"

http://forum.avsim.n...ost__p__1887779

(snip!) I can confirm for anyone concerned, that the Flight Crew Operating Manuals Vol 1 & Vol 2, plus the Flight Crew Training Manual will be included with the product in PDF format. We are still working out details on the QRH availability. I think it is likely that the only change you all will see is that we do not make these documents available as a free download from our website. This is being dictated by the people who own the manuals- and as such we shall comply- even if it isn't our first choice.(/snip!)

Doesn't answer the full question - but might help. :)

Personally if you can afford it, I say get the printed manuals. It is a million times easier when you need to look up something while flying the aircraft. Especially when alarms start going off on you. Just today I accidentally broke the APU during a stop over in HNL. 1) Follow the instructions on how to operate the APU and don't play with the start switch while the thing is running :( 2) I needed FCOM vol. 1 a lot! With the APU out, I needed to use the ground starter. There are actually 2 separate checklists for that. One to start the left engine and a separate one to then start the right engine. On top of that you need the procedure on how to configure the air system to run on the ground starter, not the ground air conditioning; that's yet another separate checklist. Nevertheless, rest assured that if you buy the NGX, you will one way or another have the manuals you need to learn and operate the aircraft.

Once you've decided to get the full manual set you're already halfway to owning an iPad 2 so you might as well get that and just put the PDFs on there.

Well, I rather like paper, so I am stuck with getting the manuals from PMDG or printing them out myself.I am still not quite sure what to do, though, because shipping costs to germany are quite a bit high, as mentioned in some forums. The number of 100$ floats through the air...

Personally if you can afford it, I say get the printed manuals. It is a million times easier when you need to look up something while flying the aircraft. Especially when alarms start going off on you.

Much easier to quickly locate a certain subject appearing in manuals comprising thousands of pages, by using the .pdf search feature.

Yes, true, but the "feeling" of having a printed manual...I don't know how to describe it, I just like it much more that way ;)

Personally if you can afford it, I say get the printed manuals. It is a million times easier when you need to look up something while flying the aircraft. ...

For me its much, much easier to search a pdf for an error message rather than looking through a paper version of the same document. EDIT: I guess I should have read the entire topic before replying, as opherben had already made the same point

got the manuals, love them. Im not sure the 3500+ would destroy my poor printer hehe.

For those saying that it is easier to use the PDF search feature: That might be somewhat true, but really you just have to know HOW to use the printed manual. Once you understand the correct way to look up and find something, the use of the manuals becomes very easy and natural. Personally I love having the printed manuals. It's a much better feeling IMO to be able to reach and grab the manual, flip through the pages, follow along with your finger, highlight, etc. It's rather impulsive and it feels right. And like said before, once you understand how to look something up in the FCOM or QRH, you can have what you need in a matter of seconds. Again, this is just MHO, you can decide for yourself. I have a review of the manuals here: http://forum.avsim.net/topic/320780-in-depth-review-of-ngx-manuals/

Electronic/printed manuals each have their pros and cons. As an iPad 2 owner, I have to say that it is awesome having FSKneeboard with all of my charts and checklists and all of the manuals on one lightweight slate device.