7500.

Yes I know, but I didn't want to splat out put it out like that. To everyone else: Watch this please: http://www.youtube.c...h?v=DV_2m1LkIr4 (It's still being processed) Why do I keep getting that beeping noise??? I mean, I'm not getting this at all! The plane sure is hard to understand.

The Boeing 737 Technical Guide' by Chris Brady is pretty much the 'bible' when it comes to understanding the real 737, so if you are curious about the real thing, then that would be the book for you. What is nice about it, is that you can just dip into the section you want and get a concise and informed guide to the part you want to know about. It also has a very comprehensive breakdown of what everything on the FMC does. But keep in mind that although it does have a chapter explaining exactly how to fly a 737 air test, it is most definitely not a 'how to fly a Boeing 737' book, since it is really aimed at real-world 737 pilots who want to know a bit more about the aircraft they fly, thus you might consider it as something to perhaps pick up later when you are more au fait with the PMDG NG and want to go the extra step toward really knowing the thing in detail. So... If you just want a book that 'shows you how to fly a complex modern Boeing airliner properly in MS Flight Simulator', including how to program all of the FMC and start up the engines etc, then Mike Ray's Flying the 700 Series Flight Simulators' is definitely the book you want, since it is aimed squarely at novice flight simmers who want to get into doing it all 'properly'. It does that really well, since it also explains all the 'pilot jargon' you see on these forums and that makes it easy to learn all the stuff that seems complicated when you first get hold of a fancy toy such as the PMDG 737 NG. Reading it, studying the excellent diagrams, flying the exercises in it, and doing the little 'pop quizzes' that are dotted throughout its pages, will turn you into a pro at driving an airliner such as the PMDG 737 NG, and it what is more, it's a good fun read that you will enjoy immensely since it is also quite funny in places. Seriously recommended if you are finding all the stuff in the NG a bit overwhelming. It takes all the difficulty out of learning 'how to do it properly', and you definitely won't be sorry that you bought it. Al

Do you have the NGX? Do you think you might be able to make a video of a REALLY short flight, perhaps Munich to Zurich? Please. It would make my day. I can lend you Fraps.

Edited September 26, 201114 yr by linux731

You are getting the beeping sound because you are trying to run the aircraft systems while still on battery power. Fire up the Auxillary Power Unit or connect the Ground Power Unit to the aircraft. ;) Don't worry, you will get the hang of it. Half the fun is learning all the systems.

Thank you from the heart of my bottom

That is funny! :0)

Do you have the NGX? Do you think you might be able to make a video of a REALLY short flight, perhaps Munich to Zurich? Please. It would make my day. I can lend you Fraps.

Yes I do have the full version of FRAPs, and I do have the PMDG 737 NG (by the way, you can't 'lend me FRAPs', it is a commercial program - lending it to me would be illegal, suggesting stuff like that on Avsim's forums will get you banned). Anyway, I'm not sure what you mean by making a video of it, what would be the point of that? If you mean a tutorial video, there are quite a few already kicking about. Here's my favourite (warning, this one contains a lot of foul language, but it is hilarious): http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6WUb7fOvIAI Al

Yes I do have the full version of FRAPs, and I do have the PMDG 737 NG (by the way, you can't 'lend me FRAPs', it is a commercial program - lending it to me would be illegal, suggesting stuff like that on Avsim's forums will get you banned). Anyway, I'm not sure what you mean by making a video of it, what would be the point of that? Al

Well I didn't mean it like that. Nevermind. I'll have to learn this myself. For now I'll keep my default 737.

Hey all, On the topic of this, I'm still very new to the FMC and am used to using a GPS. How exactly do pilots know where they are? Without shore lines and map images I find it hard to work out exactly where I am in the world, let alone how to find the closest airport (short of the radio button, but that's cheating!). Also, is there a way to get an image of airways? I find things easier to understand when I can visualise them! Are there just too many to depict in an image of say, the UK? Thanks :)

There are a number of programs that you can run along with FSX and that show your aircraft on a moving map. One is FSCommander - it is free but runs only for 30 minutes at a time unless you pay (it is cheap). Some even allow projecing your aircraft on a Google Earth map. Henri

Some even allow projecing your aircraft on a Google Earth map.

Vataware?

Diego, This guy, Alan Bradbury, is giving you SOLID advice. Try it his way. You are being treated like a "brother" on this forum.Be happy you haven't run afoul of the "RTFM" crowd. Don't quit: it really is easy: you just have to take the time to LEARN.I assume you're a smart person because, you ask questions, this is what intelligent people do.So follow "Chock's" advice about buying Mike Ray's book: Mike Ray was a real jet pilot.Who do you want as your teacher? Someone who has been there right? Give yourself a chance.

Diego, This guy, Alan Bradbury, is giving you SOLID advice. Try it his way. You are being treated like a "brother" on this forum.Be happy you haven't run afoul of the "RTFM" crowd. Don't quit: it really is easy: you just have to take the time to LEARN.I assume you're a smart person because, you ask questions, this is what intelligent people do.So follow "Chock's" advice about buying Mike Ray's book: Mike Ray was a real jet pilot.Who do you want as your teacher? Someone who has been there right? Give yourself a chance.

I've seen a quote on one of the video preview on YouTube for AoA. (Angle of Attack), "So you expect people to spend $70 on the plane and $80 to learn how to use the plane? You must be joking." -LuckyBambooExpert That's how I feel. I understand I may not get the best out of the .pdf tutorials, but I will survive.

Ryan wrote the PDF tutorial for people with little complex aircraft experience to get up flying without too much hassle. I recommend you folow it multiple times, untill you can do it in your head, that's how I learnt my first complex aircraft.Also when you think your getting it try changing the flowen route. Still follow the procedures but fly between different airports. This really helps to learn the plane. And might also answer some of your other questions regarding complex aircraft.Good luck.

Don't sweat it Diego, you just need to follow the tutorials in the manuals the NG comes with and you'll be fine. I know you are keen to fly the PMDG NG, but don't rush it, take your time, get a big cup of coffee and work your way through the tutorials methodically, it won't take too long. And don't be put off by the people who are less than helpful, none of them were born with the ability to operate an aeroplane, they tend to conveniently forget that. If you'd been around when the old FS9 737 NG was first released, you'd have seen literally dozens of those people posting all over the internet about not knowing how to start engine number two. Al

Don't sweat it Diego, you just need to follow the tutorials in the manuals the NG comes with and you'll be fine. I know you are keen to fly the PMDG NG, but don't rush it, take your time, get a big cup of coffee and work your way through the tutorials methodically, it won't take too long. And don't be put off by the people who are less than helpful, none of them were born with the ability to operate an aeroplane, they tend to conveniently forget that. If you'd been around when the old FS9 737 NG was first released, you'd have seen literally dozens of those people posting all over the internet about not knowing how to start engine number two. Al

The problem with the tutorials is that they're 3 hour long flights. I don't want to sit in my computer for 3 hours. I prefer smaller flights, such as Los Angeles to San Francisco. I've seen some people on VATSIM (VATAWARE) doing the EGKK (or EGLL) to EHAM.

You can just do the take off, and then get it up to cruise, after that you'll be pretty clued up on how it works. No need to fly it at cruise for three hours, you could simply end the flight right there, or of course you have accelerated time in FS too. Al

Thanks for the links :) will those books be suitable for FSX? They seem like pretty serious manuals! Are they not a bit advanced for even the NGX?? I think I will buy one if not. Thanks

You have to start somewhere Luke. Yes they are serious. Then again, you "chose" a serious hobby. It might take months to years for you to get the hang of it, but once you master the NGX you´d be amazed how "at home" you´d feel in an actual NG flight deck. And delving into this deeper stuff will help you a lot with your rw training, specially if you choose to go for IFR rating. You´d be amazed how many dollars worth of training flight hours I saved during my PPL rating thanks to VATSIM and serious online simming. That applies for a lot of people now that w have the benefit of very advanced flight sims.

"So you expect people to spend $70 on the plane and $80 to learn how to use the plane? You must be joking." -LuckyBambooExpert That's how I feel. I understand I may not get the best out of the .pdf tutorials, but I will survive.

Before the NGX was released the only jetliners I ever flew were the default 737s that came with FSX and FS9, which, mildly put, were rudimentary. Sure, I had plenty of experience with general aviation aircraft (my favourite type of flying) and the J-41 (my only other PMDG aircraft), but I didn't know the first thing about a properly simulated 737. I jumped in at the deep end, so to speak. But guess what? After following and flying the tutorial flight twice, once during the day once at night, I was really surprised how easy to use the 737 and how logically designed the whole cockpit and the FMC was. Many things are self explainatory, other things can be read on the forum, and some more things can be found on Youtube. An engine start tutorial for the old PMDG 737 for example, which is close enough get the NGX up an running. On the the very next day after first installing the NGX I knew what every switch does and how to program flight plans, how to start up the engine, how to fly the aircraft using the autopilot or manually, how to land it etc. The 737 may be hard to master, mostly due to all the rules and procedures that are being commnanded by airlines and the FAA or similar institutions, but it's very easy to learn. Boeing certainly didn't design the aircraft to make it hard for pilots, and soon you will realize that what looks like an impenetrable forest of knobs, switches and buttons is in fact a very easy to manage cockpit that is a lot of fun to fly in. You don't need to invest in an extra training to use the aircraft, to have fun with it and to do proper flights, but it can be helpful if you want to go the whole nine yards and learn the proper prodecures and reasons behind the checklist items. This concludes my motivational speech. Dig in!