If you want a quick explanation of how to start the plane, read the tutorials. Period.

 

If you don't have any past experience with a realistic simulation like this then I'm sorry but there is mo magic start button here. You need to learn the technical steps needed to get the IRSs aligned, establishing electrical power, getting air into the engines and starting them, etc etc.

 

The tutorial will explain what you need to know to get the plane in the air. The 2000+ pages of manuals are not intended to teach you HOW tow fly the plane so much as how and why everything in the plane works. You don't need to read them but you DO, positively, need to read the tutorials. You may be able to find a youtube video that explains it quicker but I don't know any off the top of my head.

EZCA will help you with spot views of anywhere you want to be with the NGX. It's from 'Flight 1' and is worth every penny. You can even get your money back if you don't like it within 30 days, so you have nothing to lose and everything to gain by sticking with it and the NGX.

 

Best simulation available in so many ways.

 

I can vouch for this - if you're not using TrackIR (and even if you are) this addon is absolutely invaluable. There's something about how it moves around the cockpit that doesnt break the realism, like traditional panning does. Also, it upgrades your mouse looking to a far smoother version. 100% endorse ezca with the NGX.

Its a good plane man. Your gonna like it. I fly this one almost exclusively. Tutorials will help you allot. Its really not that hard to get used to.

And PMDG backed their product with not one but two extensive tutorials, which has been mentioned multiple times.

 

 

Sent from my iPhone...typing errors imminent

 

Well, I only have one - that is all that came with my disc. It is entitled 'PMDG 737 NGX. Manual' and deals almost exclusively with the FMC. What is the other one called and I will ask PMDG to send me one.

 

If you want a quick explanation of how to start the plane, read the tutorials. Period.

 

If you don't have any past experience with a realistic simulation like this then I'm sorry but there is mo magic start button here. You need to learn the technical steps needed to get the IRSs aligned, establishing electrical power, getting air into the engines and starting them, etc etc.

 

The tutorial will explain what you need to know to get the plane in the air. The 2000+ pages of manuals are not intended to teach you HOW tow fly the plane so much as how and why everything in the plane works. You don't need to read them but you DO, positively, need to read the tutorials. You may be able to find a youtube video that explains it quicker but I don't know any off the top of my head.

 

I am afraid my past experience with simulators (as opposed to the real thing) is confined to the FS2004 PMDG 737. That seemed reasonably real to me (and, apparently PMDG, according to what they said about it at the time). It seems that I am a manual short.

Did you not find the pdf manuals where Patrick directed you to? That's everything anyone gets with it.

 

You can buy the manuals here if you like... http://www.precisionmanuals.com/ProductCart/pc/viewCategories.asp?idCategory=20

 

If you didn't find the tutorials, you can get it here: http://www.precisionmanuals.com/pages/downloads/docs.html You don't need to be registered to download.

Well, I only have one - that is all that came with my disc. It is entitled 'PMDG 737 NGX. Manual' and deals almost exclusively with the FMC. What is the other one called and I will ask PMDG to send me one.

 

If you patched to SP1c it installed Tutorial #2 for you, and in the same folder that Tutorial #1 sits in.

It sounds like you haven't patched your airplane.

I have to agree about the manuals. An example: there are yards of text telling you how the anti ice system works but as far as I can find, not a clue as to when you should use it. I'm working on the basis of between +5 and -10 and if it's really cold & damp I put the wing anti ice on too.

From memory the manuals told me when I should use it (though not in the section of how it works),

 

IIRC on ground at or below +5C with visible moisture, in air at or below +10C TAT to -40C SAT with visible moisture. I could be off a little bit as this is off the top of my head.

I have to agree about the manuals. An example: there are yards of text telling you how the anti ice system works but as far as I can find, not a clue as to when you should use it. I'm working on the basis of between +5 and -10 and if it's really cold & damp I put the wing anti ice on too.

 

I could be off a little bit as this is off the top of my head.

 

Almost there ...

 

PMDG-NGX-FCOMv1 Supplementary Procedures SP 16.1 Adverse Weather (pp 257 onwards) ........

 

---------------------------------------------------------------------------------

 

""Icing conditions exist when OAT (on the ground) or TAT (in-flight) is 10°C or below and any of the following exist:

 

•visible moisture (clouds, fog with visibility less than one statute mile (1600m), rain, snow, sleet, ice crystals, and so on) is present,

 

or

 

•ice, snow, slush or standing water is present on the ramps, taxiways, or runways.

 

CAUTION:Do not use engine or wing anti–ice when OAT (on the ground) or TAT (in-flight) is above 10°C.

 

Engine Anti-ice Operation - On the Ground

 

Engine anti-ice must be selected ON immediately after both engines are started and remain on during all ground operations when icing conditions exist or are anticipated.

 

CAUTION:Do not use engine anti-ice when OAT is above 10°C.

 

Engine Anti-Ice Operation - In-flight

 

Engine anti–ice must be ON during all flight operations when icing conditions exist or are anticipated, except during climb and cruise when the temperature is below -40°C SAT.

 

Engine anti–ice must be ON before, and during descent in all icing conditions, including temperatures below -40°C SAT.

 

When operating in areas of possible icing, activate engine anti–ice before entering icing conditions.

 

CAUTION:Do not use engine anti-ice when TAT is above 10°C""

 

---------------------------------------------------------------------------------

 

Remember - the ENG Start Switches go to CONT before Ice Protection is switched ON & they remain ON until Ice Protection is switched OFF. Wing Anti-ice is rarely used IRL & the procedures regarding it are more complex; especially if used in flight prior to landing....this is all covered later in the same chapter.

 

The SAT is always displayed on PROG Page 2/4 in the CDU @ LSK2R

 

I appreciate the sentiment regarding finding info in the manuals...if like their real-life counterparts they had the indexing already there I am sure many more people would use them.

 

Seriously though ... despite this it really is worth sticking with it....they are a veritable goldmine of info.

 

HTH.

If you patched to SP1c it installed Tutorial #2 for you, and in the same folder that Tutorial #1 sits in.

It sounds like you haven't patched your airplane.

 

I have enough experience of the software world to know that the first thing you do after buying a piece of software is to download the amendments. If there is a less reliable element of production than software, I should be interested to know what it is.............

 

I am grateful to you - many thanks - for drawing my attention to Tutorial No.2: hidden between pages 29 and 21 seem to be the bit and pieces I am looking for.

 

I shall spend some of today trying to make the thing work but if not by tonight then back it will go.

 

I notice, incidentally, that in the bowels of the interminable small print, is a note that you cannot speed up the 737NGX by more than eight times. If this is the case it is a severe setback. On the 737NG you could set the FMC to to nearest navigation point to the point of descent and speed the thing up by 64 times. The fuel warning system would tell you that the tanks were empty but as long as you cancelled this off, there was nothing to worry about and the position returned to normal when you reduced to normal speed.

 

The interest in Flight Simulation is the take off, climb to cruise, descent and landing. The bit in between can be safely dispensed with.

Thanks all of you who tried to help on the anti-ice procedures.

 

I can assure you it's not a case of RTFM - or not exactly anyway - I've had all of the documents open and searched for relevant terms - clearly not the rights ones though. Anti ice probably doesn't find anti-ice.

strange i did a search on the pdfs and found heaps of entries when i entered anti ice and clicked seach

Thanks all of you who tried to help on the anti-ice procedures.

 

I can assure you it's not a case of RTFM - or not exactly anyway - I've had all of the documents open and searched for relevant terms - clearly not the rights ones though. Anti ice probably doesn't find anti-ice.

 

I gave you a document & page number ... did this not help?

many thanks - for drawing my attention to Tutorial No.2: hidden between pages 29 and 21 seem to be the bit and pieces I am looking for

 

I'm not sure exactly where you were looking, but this is where I find all my documentation for the NGX:

 

Start menu -> All Programs -> PMDG Simulations -> PMDG 737NGX

 

 

 

Tutorials #1 and #2 are right next to each other.

Or you can access all of these manuals from the actual folder they were installed to, which is:

 

Flight Simulator X -> PMDG -> PMDG 737 NGX -> Flight Manuals

 

Back to the original poster and his questions.

 

Read the manuals, do the tutorial flights, watch some of the better videos available online and as for FS2Crew...

 

Buy it.

 

Oh... and enjoy. :biggrin:

Well. After eight hours and a considerable amount of tobacco, I have succeeded in getting the engines to start.....................

 

Back to the original poster and his questions.

 

Read the manuals, do the tutorial flights, watch some of the better videos available online and as for FS2Crew...

 

Buy it.

 

Oh... and enjoy. :biggrin:

 

I appreciate the sentiment but it does seem to me that if your purchase a relatively expensive piece of software - expensive in relation to similar offerings by other software houses - the least they could do is to provide coherent instructions on how to get of the ground (figuratively and literally). Except to hone one's basic skills and gain a deeper understanding of the technical side of matters, buying additional manuals and printing out reams of paper should not be necessary in the first instance.

 

One can draw a fair contrast with a 767 simulation - I forget the manufacturer - where the manual tells you in clear and simple terms how to switch the thing on, taxi out, take off and navigate your way from one part of the globe to another. The deeper stuff one can take in afterwards at one's leisure. I think PMDG could well look at this aspect: it would certainly do nothing to deter sales and could well enhance them.