My own story with the 737NGX.. So far!

[Guest http404]

Hello,First of all, this ain't no criticism to the sim, rather, and as I state towards the end, This is the best sim I've ever had, seriousely.This is my first post using this account after my previous account was locked due to failed logins, (and failure to contact an admin)... :)I've spent a lot of time searching for that "best sim ever", for a modern Airbus, a modern Boeing 777, and the best I found thrugh the years was definitely the PMDG 747-400X, which kept me busy during weekends for quite sometime.Being someone who -for some reason- hate the 737's to the bones, probably due to an unrivaled history of accidents, I was reluctant to spare some US $70, what they said o be the best commercial add-on to date, and something i wasn't in love with.I was a bit challenged, though. It looked ridiculous to fly short hops between bus stops with a 747.When I purchased the 737ngx, the install file remained untouched for a month. Then I decided to install, to see ho unique this thing is, or probably it's just not for me.As I flipped through the "Introduction" pages, I said to myself: "Wow, my BI development seems simpler than going through all this."And without wait, I started the sim, hoping that my little knowledge would get me to get the cockpit to live by the end of the day.I was wrong, and disappointed. Framerates down to earth, literally. Overhead panel looks scary, same comment i made to my 737 pilot friend during the Dubai airshow. Figuring out how to setup the sim needed sometime to get used to.The sim stayed in the Hanger for another month, meanwhile, I went back to my original partner, the 747-400X, which had a less scary overhead panel, and morespace to move about.After spending sometime with the Operations manuals, the 737ngx was firedup again, and was ready for a first flight.Followed instructions on several forums to enhance the graphical experience, since I still have a historical Centrino dua-core pc wih 4GB of RAM and a 128MB of dedicated Graphix memory.Went through my own-tailored startup procedure, programmed FMC for a short 45 minutes flight, and throttled on.The flight was a domestic flight in Egypt, from Luxur airport (HELX), to the old Alexandria (HEAX).My mind was BLOWN AWAY with what i saw. The 737ngx seemed to taxi realistically, despite the FSX ground limitations. This aircraft won't tolerate my stupid inputs! LNAV won't engage if first waypoint isn't perfectly ahead of you. So flying the 737ngx manually did exactly as expected, little inputs and trimming and it simply follows.Fuel consumption was accurate as it seems, which later showed that I can do a 4 hour flight with full load, 147kt headwinds, and still have my reserver fuel in tanks :) *looking with pity at the fuel calculations of the *** Airbus A320, claimd to be the best Airbus at the time*My first landing was a VOR approach, manual final and landing, since Autoland messes up with my self-esteem, and I'm thankful to the control surface, that didn't give me nose-dives, nor nose-up-in-the-sky, rather, a realistic attitude throughout, even with a bit of crosswind.I did float a bit due to an excessive flare, since my eyes werent really scanning the PFD, but i eventually landed, cleared the runway and stopped somewhere.Bringing the 737ngx to gate and performing a complete shutdown took almost 25 minutes and lots of mistakes to learn from.Every single flight after that one, brought something I've never experienced in a sim before. Everything you do, would have an impact on something else. An inadvertent click on a generator switch during flight, would fail your Auto Pressurization.Flipping through the abnormal procedures manual, the solution is just right there, and IT WORKS.I am not even 1/10th through understanding the whole systems that are all usable in the 737ngx.Some failures really got me tensed as if I had passengers behind me. The auto pressurization failure brought me bad memories about the Helios 737 crash back in 2005.The aircraft's systems are real and serious, and PMDG deserves a hats off, from someone who knows what it takes to "program" something that works, wth no work-arounds.The Boeing 737ngx is now one of my favorite airplanes, it is a result of massive efforts and dedication, high-quality measurements, and years of development.A friendly note to all of the avid simmers out there: Please, do not rush a PMDG 777, I've seen some people literally whinning to the PMDG team (and others) to quickly "make" a 777. I for one wanted the 777 more than anything. Please understand what it takes, developing such a quality addon would take some time, really. Patience doesn't cost nothing, does it?For the time being, this 737 will be keeping you busy probably for a year, or atleast, till I get my PPL :).Well-done PMDG for the 737NGX.Now off to a MAdeira Challenge!Ahmed AbdesslamSoftware Engineer

[quadraspleen 7]

+10Great post. Almost exactly mirrors my experiences so far with NGX. Big-up to PMDG!

[flyaway719 3]

If the new microsoft flight, don't fly this plane the new microsoft flight, (is going in the xxxx can need I say more) !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Edited January 21, 2012 by flyaway719

[Fabo 213]

I did float a bit due to an excessive flare, since my eyes werent really scanning the PFD, but i eventually landed, cleared the runway and stopped somewhere.

Takes a bit of getting used to, that different viewpoint, especially after 747, eh? :) When I got 737, I had the same problem, flaring too soon and too much, after months flying everything else, but mostly widebodies.

If the new microsoft flight, don't fly this plane the new microsoft flight, (is going in the xxxx can need I say more) !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

What the?

[FSMuseum 39]

+10 Exactly my story. I USED to hate the 737 to it's wire-filled guts, and perffered the widebodies, like the PMDG 747. Before the NGX came out, I decided to give the Ifly 737NG for FSX a go, and I was amazed at it's functionality and different selections for options (Boy was I in for a suprise when I got the NGX!) and I started to appriciate the 737. It's simple to fly, very smooth in-flight, and can really get you around those short hops! When I first installed by NGX and took 'er for a spin, I couldn't believe my eyes. So many systems, so many options, a wonderful model: and it was all perfectly done. The textures are my favorite part of the model, because they're higher-res than anything I've seen before! I now fly my NGX everyday at least once, and I've noticed my 747 gathering dust since it. Thanks PMDG, you really deserve the $70 we all pay for the NGX and a good "Well done." Thanks PMDG! :(

[Leffe 4]

If the new microsoft flight, don't fly this plane the new microsoft flight, (is going in the xxxx can need I say more) !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

MS Flight ain´t a simulator like FS9 or FSX. It´s a pure arcad game./ Leffe

[cmpbellsjc 2,963]

If the new microsoft flight, don't fly this plane the new microsoft flight, (is going in the xxxx can need I say more) !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I have no idea what this means? Sounds like something Ferd would say.Sean Campbell

[Guest http404]

+10Great post. Almost exactly mirrors my experiences so far with NGX.Big-up to PMDG!

Thanks for the reply. Many backspaces/rewrites were not committed apparently, but the post was still readable, though :)I wonder if I can edit my own posts on this forum, coulnd't locate the Edit button anywhere.

Takes a bit of getting used to, that different viewpoint, especially after 747, eh? :) When I got 737, I had the same problem, flaring too soon and too much, after months flying everything else, but mostly widebodies.

Takes some sense and practice overtime, since your eyes must be definitely on your runway at touchdown.

If the new microsoft flight, don't fly this plane the new microsoft flight, (is going in the xxxx can need I say more) !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

FSX and the NGX are here to stay for the time being and probably for quite some time to come. MS Flight does not exist yet, and I am definitely not going to watch the wet paint getting dry.