I am still in the early stages of learning the 737NGX, although I have had experience with everything else PMDG has released in the FSX versions.I think using Real World Weather and also loading Winds Aloft adds quite a bit to the FSX experience, so I am deliberately flying the -800 into cold fronts etc. to see how it reacts in really bumpy weather.So far, it hasn't turned out as I had hoped.I have not been unable to make a successful descent and landing into the really bad stuff using Autothrottle and VNAV. I can do it (most of the time ) by turning AutoThrottle off and using LNAV and and level change, with a great deal of throttle motion and speed brake work , but things really get busy.Yes, i do have the "Effects of Turbulence on Aircraft" etc. disabled.Switching over to an an FSX flight plan and using ATC to guide you works too, but that throws away a big part of the "complex" add-ons.Anyone else playing around with the rough weather and getting down successfully?Tom Hill

Are you entering the winds into the FMC? That plays a big role it its ability to hold the path during the descent.Most people who want real weather with the plane go the Active Sky + registered FSUIPC route too by the way - costs a bit, but its far better than the default weather.

Are you entering the winds into the FMC? That plays a big role it its ability to hold the path during the descent.Most people who want real weather with the plane go the Active Sky + registered FSUIPC route too by the way - costs a bit, but its far better than the default weather.

Thanks Ryan;I agree-just about anything is better than the default weather, and I deliberately pick out cold fronts and other turbulence generators to select my destinations.No, I am not entering the winds into the FMC; I have not looked at what is involved to get that data, but the problem is gusts, not navigation. . You can turn off the turbulence and thermal effects, and that stiops most of the airplane motion. However, the Autothrottle and Pitch using VNAV (I'm guessing-I don't fully understand the cause) just cannot respond fast enough to keep the airplane under control in really bad turbulence. I wind up with the speed suddenly jumping 100 knots after I have the flaps set for final approach if turbulence is bad. if using realistic settings, there go the flaps.Appreciate you taking time for the reply-know your schedule is full.Tom HillI am not familiiar with Active Sky, but seem to recall something earlier about another problem that show up with a registered copy of FSUIPC. Although the cost is not a problem, I'll probably just hand fly the descent in that kind of weather rather than add more programs. However, I am ;printing out your answer for future reference just in case I change my mind.

I wind up with the speed suddenly jumping 100 knots after I have the flaps set for final approach if turbulence is bad

I don't think pilots in real life would be very pleased with this kind of weather, perhaps they would not be even attempting flying into such an airport. A sudden change of speed by a mere 30 kts on final approach has been known to bring down an airliner. It seems you are not only insisting on flying into heavy turbulence but turbulence is one of the worst simulated items in FSX.

Ryan,Just in case anyone else reports something similar:I found out what the problem was. (The usual cockpit error). The turbulence was causimg the flight model to disengage VNAV occasionally during descent, as it is supposed to do if the path deviates out of limits for some preset time. I was not watching this closely enough, and delay in re-engaging VNAV or taking other corrective action was getting me into approach maneuver requirements beyond the capablilty of the flight model.Since I started paying attention to this, the VNAV profile seems to work O.K., even in very heavy weather.

I don't think pilots in real life would be very pleased with this kind of weather, perhaps they would not be even attempting flying into such an airport. A sudden change of speed by a mere 30 kts on final approach has been known to bring down an airliner. It seems you are not only insisting on flying into heavy turbulence but turbulence is one of the worst simulated items in FSX.

Michael,I like your dog picture.I essentially agree with everything you said. I am deliberately flying into heavy weather with the 737, and real life pilots would not do this if they could avoid it. I also agree that Real World Weather (as well as ground friction) are not realistic in FSX. However, since this is just a game, though an exceptional one, I use it for entertainment and sometimes do not follow what would be good real world flight practice.As an example, one of my other favorite flight sim actions is to fly tail draggers into crosswind landings, something else that real world pilots would normally try to avoid.(FSX crashes are easily repaired at no cost)That said, thanks for your very valid comments.Tom Hill

IRL auto-throttle can be dire. You always have the option of manual thrust, then just monitor the overall speed trend and make small thrust changes as necessary.Best regards,Robin.

IRL auto-throttle can be dire. You always have the option of manual thrust, then just monitor the overall speed trend and make small thrust changes as necessary.Best regards,Robin.

Can you expand on that please ?Fred.

IRL auto-throttle can be dire. You always have the option of manual thrust, then just monitor the overall speed trend and make small thrust changes as necessary.Best regards,Robin.

Robin,I have done that on several occasions. Auto-Throttle seems to get frustrated if the wind speeds and directions keep changing (as in turbulence) , and if it won't handle VNAV that is my usual out. I got used to that on some of the earlier airliner models that required you to use manual thrust control and follow the required vertical path indicator during descent. I also often switch to manual power control at the start of the glide slope, because it gives me a quicker reaction time in case of surprises.However (see my post to Ryan above) I have found that just switching VNAV back on when it drops out, and occasionally switching to manual power and/or using the speed brakes to recenter the pointer has pretty much solved the problem I was having in VNAV mode during heavy weather..Thanks for your input.Tom Hill

Can you expand on that please ?Fred.

Not sure about 737, but DC-10 is near useless, F-100 chases the speed in certain situations (unpleasant), MD-80 is slow/hunts. Given the nature of what it is, I can only imagine that where wild speed fluctuations are concerned, auto-throttle response generally will be crap.Best regards,Robin.

Not sure about 737, but DC-10 is near useless, F-100 chases the speed in certain situations (unpleasant), MD-80 is slow/hunts. Given the nature of what it is, I can only imagine that where wild speed fluctuations are concerned, auto-throttle response generally will be crap.Best regards,Robin.

Maybe it is because the 737's FMC is now at a fairly advanced stage..........since U10.7 upwards.Afterall that is what is controlling the A/T's.For eg. at 450 ft rad alt, the alignment mode is enabled. ( Fail OP autoland. )This provides rudder compensation for decreasing large crab angles produced by crosswinds.The automatic correction enhances the pilots runway perspective and provides optimal position for the rollout.In a strong crosswind the aircraft lands in a slight crab. Sideslip is limited to 5 degrees.( This mode is not annunciated. )Fred.