Just purchased the 737NGX two days ago. My question is this. While I am learning to use the FMC I would also like to fly for my VA. So, using the default 737-800 this is how I would fly the FP. Take off and once airborn and flying the heading of the take off runway...no problem. Once I received the heading ATC would give me I would enable the NAV button and the aircraft would turn to headings that ATC would tell me to turn to. I just had to make sure that I did climb etc. when ATC would instruct me.

My questions is since there is no GPS/Nav switch on the NXG, how would I do this? I have both flight directors turned on but I can't enabel LNAV.

Is there a way to fly the same manner I used with the default 737-800?

Thanks in advance.

Bob G.

This is nothing like the default plane.

 

Please do the tutorial flights - you will learn heaps.

Thanks for the reply. It does take time to learn how to use the aircraft and I am reading the tutorial's. My question was while going through them, is there anyway I may use the aircraft like the default aircraft?

Hello Bob,

 

Short answer is no. The default aircraft have a lot of systems simplified. The NGX actually simulates them.

 

In an abbreviated tutorial, you program your route via the FMC, there is no GPS. If ATC gives you headings on departure, dial the heading they give you on the autopilot in Heading mode. Really simple.

Once they tell you to go direct to a waypoint and resume your own navigation, select this waypoint in your FMC and select NAV

Thanks Will. I will just have to take the time and learn the FMC. Until then, I will use the default aircraft. Shame, waste of money on my part. I am positvie it is a great aircraft, if I knew what I was doing.

Lol, my suggestion is to fly lots and lots of localised circuits. Fly it manually, then with autopilot on heading mode, and finally with FMC control.

I know it sounds corny, but bring up the tutorial (Print, or use another monitor, iPad, smartphone) and have it next to you and fly the first tutorial. I say this so you actually use the NGX without feeling you wasted money plus you'll get a crash course in FMC.

 

Then I'd suggest hand flying till your comfortable. Then when you feel good about it, try tutorial 2.

 

The more you fly the faster you learn IMO. Also keep the manual near you when you cruise so you can read a little bit.

 

Just my thoughts...

hey Vineguy, after you got all the answers that you should learn to run the FMC (which is kind of true for the NGX), no one really answered you directly

on the question you asked.

to answer your question,

The reason why you can't seem to be able and switch on the LNAV is due to the fact that there is no Flight plan in your FMC.

the LNAV (and the VNAV) are based on the FP in the FMC, not derived by any other flight plans like FSX flight plan you might have loaded

for this particular flight as you would usually do with the default Aircraft, which has an effect on the plane's flight route in many cases.

the only reason why you would also load an FSX flight plan in addition to loading up the FMC with one rather manually inserted or saved FP file based,

is for the ATC to have something to go with. rather it is the built in one or a 3rd party ATC like VoxATC, etc. it doesn't really matter

they are all pretty much work the same way.

 

that brings us back to the others that called out that you better learn how to use the FMC and it's not really complicated once you get the hang of thing.

 

 

Don't give up on it right away , you would fall in love with it, the NGX, once you get it.

there are many Tutorials on the NGX FMC and the NGX in general on Youtube.

I found many of them amazingly done and easy to follow.

I knew nothing on teh NGX when I got it, but few youtubes and forum questions and now I am confident flying with the bird

online in the heart of Germany where Control is strict & dens traffic.

besides, we are all here to help you out if needed.

good luck.

Thanks for that info Joel. I have read the tutorials and looked at most of the You Tube videos on how to program the FMC. Is there one that you may think is the best on how to program it? I have looked through all the manuals that come with it, but none that I can find really deal with the panels and what each switch does etc.

What I would really like to do is be able to take off, climb to cruise and then be able to have the aircraft on auto pilot and when I get to TOD take over control and land.

Or, is there a short flight plan and how to load it into the FMC so I may practice? The one from EGKK to EHAM is way over my head at this point.

Bob G.

I would start with this:

http://www.youtube.c...ser/FSXpilot767

 

it is a 12 Episodes Tutorials

from:

PMDG 737 NGX Full Tutorial | Episode 1 | Basic Instrumentation

to:

PMDG 737 NGX Full Tutorial | Episode 12 | Go-arounds/ Missed Approaches

 

he has many more NGX tutorials apart from his famous 12 Episodes tutorials. .

 

try them out.