Hi

 

Because of great advices which Avsim community provided to me I decided to buy PMDG 737 NGX some time ago. While later I also bought 600/700 expansion and I have to admit - I don't want to sit in any Airbus ever again. I love this piece of art.

 

But I was searching for a good plane to perform long routes and started to think about 747 PMDG. Still it is not the newest plane and plane looks are also important to me. Than I have noticed 777 and it looks like it will suit my needs.

 

For now I finished lot of flights (same amount of takeoffs as landings ) with my NGX, I know how to use mos of FMC features, I know how to SIDS and STARS, I am able to do complete flight from c&d to shutdown and I learned how to use the plane with fs2crew and yesterday also starte with service based failures as I am using emergency NGX from fs2crew too.

 

I also have to mention that for most of the time I am not flying sids or stars - I generate my route in FSCommander, use simroutes.com to export it to fsx and PMDG format and than fly with default ATC and headings during approach and take off (I like it an don't want to change it now)

 

So basically - will I be able to fly 777 in a similar way and will it be lot of material to learn (is it very different from NGX)? Is there any fs2crew support planned?

 

Thanks in advance for the answers

Basically, I would say it boils down to this:

 

You would be able to fly the 777 using the knowledge you gathered while using the NGX. However, you'd be missing out, A LOT.

The 777 is NOT a big NGX. It is an entirely different animal, but you will feel right at home in the flight deck. Basically the flight deck will look somewhat familiar, procedures are somewhat the same.

But a lot of details will differ quite a bit. If you'd keep doing it the same way you're doing it now, you wouldn't get your 90$ worth, in my eyes.

 

And yes, FS2Crew will come along, sometime after the release of SP1.

I agree with KriVa, you should be able to learn the basic operation of PMDG 777 rather easily with your knowledge from the 737NGX.

 

The overhead panel layout does differ quite a bit, however thanks to all the modern automation it's very easy to use.

 

Of course probably you will get out more from the simulation if you spend some time reading the manuals but completing a simple flight from point A to point B doesn't require that much learning from anyone who is already familiar with modern Boeing's.

Ok and what do You exactly mean by that? To me learning new systems or their behavior is not an issue. Just want to fly compatible to ATC. Yes, the default one this just makes my flight sim experience OK for the level where I want to be.

 

So can You give some examples of those differences? Or 747 would be a better choice?

The 747 and the 777 are much more alike than the 777 and the 737 are. If you want a 747, wait for 747v2, which should be out in quite a few months. If you want pretty much the same experience now (long flights, more modern systems,...), get the 777.

If you can afford both, get the 777 now, start learning it, and buy the 747v2 later on.

 

The 777 is as compatible with the way you're flying now, as the 737 is, I'd say.

Ok. I am not a person who goes through every page of fcom. In NGX I learn most things by myself and went through tutorials but still the way of gameplay which I described suits me most. I also knew what to do during APU severe failure and performed some go arounds and rejected take offs. It's just I don't want to fly it 1:1 with real procedures as this is not my target now. I think for now I will hold on to 737 and make a call later. Thank You!

If you use Fsx ATC for take off and approach why do you think the 777 will be any diffrent?, you get vectors so you will be useing heading hold etc not full VNAV/LNAV

You can use the 777 or any aircraft that way even the MS747/737. Why do you think the 777 is going to need SID and stars any more so than a NGX ?

 

If you want to use the 777 that way, why not as you use the 737 that way. Since you know how you use vectors and use them all the time I don't even know why your asking the question.

 

I do not feel the need for FS2Crew with the 777, as the automation takes away a lot of what the 1st officer does, IMHO the 777 is more interesting that the NGX as the work load seems perfect.

I have both and prefer the 737. The 777 is too automated although I do use it for my long range flights. I don't regret getting the 777, but I have a feeling that once the 747v2 comes out it may take the place of the 777 for long haul flights. The 777 will improve with the sp1 release, fs2crew will be added in when pmdg releases the sdk and I believe the 777 will be added to topcat fairly soon. These features will help increase the immersion of the 777. I don't regret buying the 777, but if I was in your position I would wait for the 747v2 release unless you want to fly the 777 which is a modern airliner. If you can fly the 737ngx then you will easily learn the 777, but the planes are quite different in how they react in the air.   

NyxxUK:

 

I am using lnav/vnav on crz, vnav + hdg on takeoff and other configs according to situation. I didn't express myself well - I actually like to fly the plane not only watch how it flies.

 

So for example I always perform manual landings in my NGX and hate do stuff like autoland.

 

NGX gave me many things over default one - fmc (setting takeoff performance, setting speeds and altitudes according to approach plates (on this rare situations when I don't fly ATC for example LOWI and all other stuff I can perform there, realistic flight model, realistic failure model and ability to go through all checklists in real way - so each button really does something.

 

So no, it's not that I am starting engines flying. Vectors and landing without taking care of anything else.

 

The reason why I was asking was because I've heard that there are differences. Except for the obvious ones like size, way of taxiing, runway requirements, different engine characteristics, different flight model and so on, I was wondering how much does it differ from interface POV.

 

But I think I have some clear picture now so I will buy this plane when fs2crew is out for it (I like to speak during flight and IMO voice comm with crew creates the immersion). Until than I will expand my fleet with airbus x. Thanks all. Also will take 747v2 into consideration. Thanks again!

Don't wait for fs2crew your really dont need it, and I would say you do need it with the NGX.

 

So IMHO just buy it, it's stunning.

 

I have made my own check list that runs from a long stay state to leaving the aircraft, if you buy the 777 and want a copy just PM me.

If you like to hand fly there's nothing particularly different about the 777 other than how much automation you're turning off to do this, ie. more than with the NGX.

 

In the end its just an aircraft. They all do the same thing. The only difference is that modern ones are set up to automate more than previous generations of aircraft, as much for fuel efficiency as for safety.

 

The only thing that a hand flying style would do with the 777 is make your default "style" less in sync with the "standard" method for flying it than with the 737. Even so, in real life hand flying visual approaches with a plane this big is part of the equation.

 

No reason to let its complexity or automation detract from its appeal to your personal preference. 

 

Now, I haven't flown the 777 yet, but I have flown other big birds versus the smaller birds. In principle its not about whether you can fly the aircraft stripped down, its more like the more complex it is the more you can STOP flying it by hand lol. XD

Thank You for all complex informations.

 

The only part when I like to hand fly them is takeoffs (engaging autopilot after gear up, flaps up and at appropriate height and than during approach I switch off the autopilot at minimums when it's an ils approach and a bit earlier when I'm being told to land visual approach. Before buying NGX I was thinking to go one of QW planes but in the end I started to love FMC and flight planning features. About the fs2crew - it just adds immersion, whenever I can say "flaps 5" and hear a nice voice response or "abort abort abort" and see that someone reacts - that is just purely awesome. and the verbal checklists and going together through flows makes my child dreams about being a pilot come true at least in the area of sim limitations.

 

So as I said - now I have a bundle pack of fs2crew for NGX with emergency and for Airbus X and the last one will be my second pay ware so I can actually make use of fs2crew which I already have. After I will learn it I will decide on 777 or 747v2. Also some turboprop would be nice as I am preparing to get fs global and ftx vector so I will also use lower altitudes (thinking anout J41 from PMDG as it has fs2crew support too)I guess I will spent lot of my savings for this sim next year but yeah... Who doesn't it is funny - few months ago I was driving my truck in ETS2 and using all the features of my trains in TS2013/14 but now I can say; I am proud to be a simmer as this one is a real challenge. My friends were laughing that I am "wasting time" on sims. Tommorow they are coming to see the full flight and asked me to explain them some of the features of Boeing as they would like to learn more about plane which they fly as a passenger. So big kudos to PMDG, FS2Crew, ORBx and all other companies which took a lot of money from me but gave me amazing experience in return