Just thought I'd share something...So for the last month I been flying -700 routes.Nothing else, although joy rides into 2000 foot runways in the -600 don't count . Anyway, I thought I would do a charter in the Delta -800, which I haven't touched in a while...As I entered the cockpit, I realized the differences between the 7 and 800 cockpit(mainly the Air conditioning system), Set up from cold and dark no problem, all is well...Until I started taxiing, I could not get the darn thing to stop! I overran EVERY taxi way in the airport, even had to make an Aeroflot 767 go around because I miscalculated where I was going to brake! Finally(safely) on the runway, takeoff wasn't an issue, cruise the same way, descent was slightly difficult, couldn't get her to slow down as easily, but that was under control with excessive spoiler deployment...Thought things couldn't be better, until about 400 feet AGL. Decided to land manually, and took off autopilot. There was about a 10 knot crosswind, and the A/P corrected that when it was on, and manually I just looked at the plane, the runway, and the wind speed indicator for reference. Bad idea for a guy that can count the number of manual NGX landings he's done on his left hand! overshot the runway about 150 feet, and rammed into an American 777...shut the sim off and breathed very deeply for about a minute, then closed my eyes and slept in shock of the worst landing I'd ever done...(except for landing the -600 at Olympic Field, that was bad... )Hoped you enjoyed my screw-ups,And just cause I have nowhere else for it:

check that the brake failure hasnt been activated in the FMC

I always land the -800 manually in the very last minute or 30 seconds of flight.If do you like that, beside " feeling " the plane and having a reality closer approach to the sim, you will notice that each landing is different from the previous one, sometimes they are really different sometimes similar.IMHO the autoland should be used in very foggy conditions only.

Its a great aircraft to learn for sure. Lots to take in

I am surprised that the majority on here seem to autoland!I only use the autoland system once in 500 landings or so

It's too hard to land it properly. It always hangs 1-2 feets above the runway after the flare.

It's too hard to land it properly. It always hangs 1-2 feets above the runway after the flare.

IMO 90% of the enjoy of 737 NGX and in general of every aircraft is landing them manually. ( landing not with a crash of course )The first times you have to get familiar with her, above all because 737 NGX requires a peculiar flare but once you get used to it you will enjoy NGX 95% more than doing autolandings.If you rely on autolandings you will be never able to fly an airplane and if the instruments fail you would kill hundreds of passengers and yourself, is that what you want ?

I am surprised that the majority on here seem to autoland!I only use the autoland system once in 500 landings or so

lol I haven't used it in the 200 or so landings I've had to date. dunno what the attraction the autoland has...the rest of the flight is on autopilot...its like hooking up with a chick and getting someone else to do the deed! errr....maybe not a good example but you know what I mean?? most flights I watch on youtube are manually landed from about 1000 or 500 ft. I take over from about 1000 ft and manually land. otherwise whats the point of sitting there and letting the A/P do everything for you.

IMO 90% of the enjoy of 737 NGX and in general of every aircraft is landing them manually. ( landing not with a crash of course )The first times you have to get familiar with her, above all because 737 NGX requires a peculiar flare but once you get used to it you will enjoy NGX 95% more than doing autolandings.If you rely on autolandings you will be never able to fly an airplane and if the instruments fail you would kill hundreds of passengers and yourself, is that what you want ?

I never landed with autoland. I did about 30 landings with NGX. And much more with wilco 737-400-500. 500 is the best =) You can feel the distance from the runway better, and you get higher pitch after flare. On 800 you get 0-1 percent pitch and the speeds like on 767. Horrible wings...

I am surprised that the majority on here seem to autoland!I only use the autoland system once in 500 landings or so

I always autoland a)when Im in a hurry b)when its night, although going to start practicing some night landings, soon.I tell you that HUGS is a fantastic learning tool, and modeled well, to!

I always autoland a)when Im in a hurry b)when its night, although going to start practicing some night landings, soon.I tell you that HUGS is a fantastic learning tool, and modeled well, to!

autoland, manuland, autoland, manuland.I do this, satisfies both needs ^^

I disengage the AP at 1000ft AGL (stabilized) or once the runway is visual ("contact"), whichever earlier. I also like to perform visual landings when wheather, traffic and local procedures allow it, at this point I could disconnect AP from anywhere between 5 miles and 20 miles out, or even further. I usually also fly with the FD armed and MCP engaged in LNAV and LVL CHG then VNAV on departure, usually up to between 7000-FL100. The 737 is a good ol' lady that deserve som manual handling, imo

IMO 90% of the enjoy of 737 NGX and in general of every aircraft is landing them manually. ( landing not with a crash of course )The first times you have to get familiar with her, above all because 737 NGX requires a peculiar flare but once you get used to it you will enjoy NGX 95% more than doing autolandings.If you rely on autolandings you will be never able to fly an airplane and if the instruments fail you would kill hundreds of passengers and yourself, is that what you want ?

lol I haven't used it in the 200 or so landings I've had to date. dunno what the attraction the autoland has...the rest of the flight is on autopilot...its like hooking up with a chick and getting someone else to do the deed! errr....maybe not a good example but you know what I mean?? most flights I watch on youtube are manually landed from about 1000 or 500 ft. I take over from about 1000 ft and manually land. otherwise whats the point of sitting there and letting the A/P do everything for you.

Amen Gentlemen!

I never landed with autoland. I did about 30 landings with NGX. And much more with wilco 737-400-500. 500 is the best =) You can feel the distance from the runway better, and you get higher pitch after flare. On 800 you get 0-1 percent pitch and the speeds like on 767. Horrible wings...

"Horrible wings"? You mean extremely efficient wings don't you? In that case that makes them one of the best wings on any commercial airframe!And guys landing without the hugs is more fun imo, much more "real down to earth feel! " :(.I sometimes disengage autopilot from 10000ft, A/T off turning onto the approach,!

I started by disengaging AP & A/T at 100ft then, when comfotable that i could acheive a proper landing manually from that point, i started working back. 150ft, 200ft, 250ft,...... I am at present practicing manual from 1500ft. It gets a bit repetative but it works for me and suddenly i notice that i no longer have the float problem at flare and with the help of the HUD i acheive a lot of nice greasers. Once i am proficient from loc capture, i am going to practice without the Hud.Thanks to SP1 i was able to set up a saved flight two waypoints back from intercept and just keep loading that flight. Until SP1 this wasn,t possible for me.

As soon as I got the plane, the same as I do for any plane, I left the automatics (A/T & A/P) off, and flew some circuits, touch & go's, and very short flights to get the feel of the plane. Once I was comfortable with that, I flicked on the A/T, and then finally let George help out. It is just as important to be comfortable with the automatic systems. Off course, a Boeing is a Boeing, is a Boeing, but there are always minor differences.I love hand flying, and will usually do so up to 10,000ft, and then from the intercept to land. That said, I always do an autoland once a month or two, to maintain facility in that.Folks that only use the A/P (or never use the A/P) are really missing out. In a sim, it just a squandered opportunity. In the "real" air, it is dangerous.* Orest