Hi all,

 

 I purchased FSX a few weeks ago and and after many hours of watching videos on Youtube and searching forums and the web I dive right into the stock 737-800. I print out a stock checklist and proceed to do a short flight from KABE to KPHL.

 

I go through the checklist turning on the Autopilot, Autothrottle and F/D....set my Heading and Altimeter and taxi to the runway. So I am cleared and I spool the engines to 60% hit the TO/GA and release the brake. I should rotate at about 150 but the plane starts to take off before that.....120ish and is just kinda pointing the nose in the air she is going down the runway. I never get off the ground. Well after over half a dozen tries I finally get her in the air but I can't really tell you what I did and I am sure it wasn't real world procedure!  =)

 

What am I am I missing or doing wrong? I found a very good tutorial video and I am pretty sure I am doing everything in the video but the results are different. Though just starting out I am enjoying my new hobby. Thanks for any tips/advise.

 

 

 

Hi, start with the tutorials built into fsx on the basic planes. Work up from there. Learn the basics first. You wouldn't learn to drive in a Ferrari?

I go through the checklist turning on the Autopilot, Autothrottle and F/D....set my Heading and Altimeter and taxi to the runway. So I am cleared and I spool the engines to 60% hit the TO/GA and release the brake. I should rotate at about 150 but the plane starts to take off before that.....120ish and is just kinda pointing the nose in the air she is going down the runway. I never get off the ground.

 

well i haven't used the default 737 in a long time but typically you shouldn't turn the autopilot on until you are in the air and stabilized! sometimes a little forward pressure on the stick/yoke is required to keep your nose down until you reach Vr (the rotation speed)..if you are lightly loaded, 150 might be sort of high for a rotation speed anyway, as evidenced by the nose wanting to come up already, something in the 130 range would not be unusual. you might also want to check that your throttles are really going all the way up to full power if you're having trouble getting enough speed, perhaps try running them up manually instead of using the TOGA for a test.

 

as leo said it might be easier to learn the basics on a simpler plane as well.. the 737 is pretty easy to fly, but things definitely happen quickly and there's not a lot of room for error, it's very easy to get 'behind the airplane' with any of the jets in fsx..

 

cheers

-andy crosby

Hi all,

 

 I purchased FSX a few weeks ago and and after many hours of watching videos on Youtube and searching forums and the web I dive right into the stock 737-800. I print out a stock checklist and proceed to do a short flight from KABE to KPHL.

 

I go through the checklist turning on the Autopilot, Autothrottle and F/D....set my Heading and Altimeter and taxi to the runway. So I am cleared and I spool the engines to 60% hit the TO/GA and release the brake. I should rotate at about 150 but the plane starts to take off before that.....120ish and is just kinda pointing the nose in the air she is going down the runway. I never get off the ground. Well after over half a dozen tries I finally get her in the air but I can't really tell you what I did and I am sure it wasn't real world procedure!  =)

 

What am I am I missing or doing wrong? I found a very good tutorial video and I am pretty sure I am doing everything in the video but the results are different. Though just starting out I am enjoying my new hobby. Thanks for any tips/advise.

Hi there,

 

Welcome to the madness of the FS world!   It is a little difficult from what you have written to gauge where you are right now.   What I mean is, do you have any theoretical knowledge on flying jets or any other aircraft for that matter?

 

There are too many factors to consider specifically pertaining to a 737 take off to just accept one take off speed and run with it.   Jets have three important speeds for the basic take off - V1, decision take off speed, Vr, the speed at which the nose rotates, and V2 the speed at which, if correctly calculated, the wheels leave terra firma and you get airborne.

 

This is also where the basic part of the take off ends!   These speeds are velocities are influenced by a huge number of factors, i.e. whether the runway is wet or dry, the length of the runway, the amount of flap that you are using, temperatures and whether you are derating your take off to an assumed temperature or using full thrust for take off, density altitude etc.

 

I would recommend starting with something simpler, like the default C-172 for example.   If you are looking for a good payware Cessna that has some excellent checklists, try the Flight1 model, which is what I use, or the A2A trainer which I hear is excellent also.

 

Then once you have the basics of operating aircraft down, then go to something more complex like the Baron or the King Air.   King Airs also introduce different speeds so you can start to get used to that.  

 

As for some tips on the take off - look at your throttle quadrant.   There is a green band on it with the trim.   Always make sure that the trim is set in the green band.   Don't engage the autopilot before take off since the aircraft will automatically trim full nose up whilst on the runway causing your problem.   The only things that you should have on before the take off roll is the yaw damper system and the auto throttles.   If you are using a more complex model like the PMDG stuff, you would actually have these two systems on, you would arm LNAV and VNAV (if you are  following a standard instrument departure) but the default 737 does not have these functions fully working.

 

Rotation technique is extremely important.   Rotate at about 3 degrees per second and make sure the rotation is smooth!   Once airborne you can start to trim the aircraft to fly for a particular speed, in the 737 aim for V2 + 25 knots.  This will release the pressure you have to apply to the stick and put the aircraft into a stable initial climb from which to engage the autopilot to climb to cruise.

 

One other thing - always fly the flight director!   It is the two yellow lines in the middle of the primary flight display.   I will tell you what to do with the nose and wings of the aircraft.   Don't chase it, just follow it!

 

As I said I don't know where you are at the moment in terms of skill and training, but these are the things I would suggest.   Please feel free to post more questions if you have any :-).

 

Kind regards

Fsx loads all airplanes up with 100% fuel, so without going into calculating fuel required for the trip its best at this stage just reduce it to say 50%.

Bob

I would recommend starting with something simpler, like the default C-172 for example.   If you are looking for a good payware Cessna that has some excellent checklists, try the Flight1 model, which is what I use, or the A2A trainer which I hear is excellent also.

 

 

+1

First try to master lighter plane and its systems. With C-172 you have full autopilot also, you can first learn VFR, then IFR procedures. It is more easier to do ILS landings and instrument approaches. You can manage your weight, calculate your fuel etc. It is easier to control and to understand than those large flying computers - 737s.

OP purchased FSX a few weeks ago and is already talking about v speeds. I think time in a smaller plane would help, but I'm also mighty impressed. If he's gotten this far so quickly, I'm sure he'll figure out takeoffs soon enough in the 737.

I agree with starting with the Tutorials and Lessons.  For my 737s, I use the POSKY

 

737-800 and 737-700,  I use N1 set to 92% for takeoff.  Before getting to the  

 

runway I have all of my autopilot numbers set in and ready to go, but not turned 

 

on.  Heading, altitude and autothrottle speed set to 250 KIAS.  When given to

 

clearance, I set N1 speed to 45% to move onto the runway and steadily increase

 

to 92% for takeoff power.  Rotate about 125 KIAS, wheels up move flaps from

 

5 degrees to 2 degrees, Turn on autopilot and then move from N1 speed hold to

 

KIAS speed hold decreasing flaps to 0 as speed increases and flap my wings

 

like crazy!

Hi,       I would start with the stock Cessna 72 first and play around with it .....................a 737 400 is complicated .......

 

                                                            Happy flying.

                                                                                           Brian.

Did you check your trim setting, should be about 5 up.

Thanks for all the input.

 

I was able last night after some more takeoff runs to fly and land from KABE to KRIC. The culprit is the autopilot being active. I was using a checklist proved by freechecklist.net for stock FSX aircraft and it does state to have autopilot on........my guess is it is "his" way and the "the" way to do things. Site looks pretty professional but I have stricken that part of the check list out.

 

I would like to say I just didn't open the box, install the game and have at it. I have spent hours searching forums, watching video's and taking notes to have a somewhat basic understanding of what I need to do and how to do it. My question arose from seeing a tutorial and following but not getting the same result.......there must have been some piece of information not given or that I missed, quite possibly the fuel load.

 

Thanks for all the tips, input and advise. I will continue to tap in to your knowledge if I have any questions as I tweak my flying skills ( term used loosely or course ).

 

in the end I completed my first flight, had a blast doing it and was pretty satisfied with myself for being able to do it......I should mention I ended up parking the plane on the runway  :rolleyes: but that's something else to work on.

 

Thanks again.

Did you check your trim setting, should be about 5 up.

 

I had it in the green takeoff area but when I ended turning autopilot on it changed it and wouldn't let me rotate it back. Thank you......note taken.

I agree with starting with the Tutorials and Lessons.  For my 737s, I use the POSKY

 

737-800 and 737-700,  I use N1 set to 92% for takeoff.  Before getting to the  

 

runway I have all of my autopilot numbers set in and ready to go, but not turned 

 

on.  Heading, altitude and autothrottle speed set to 250 KIAS.  When given to

 

clearance, I set N1 speed to 45% to move onto the runway and steadily increase

 

to 92% for takeoff power.  Rotate about 125 KIAS, wheels up move flaps from

 

5 degrees to 2 degrees, Turn on autopilot and then move from N1 speed hold to

 

KIAS speed hold decreasing flaps to 0 as speed increases and flap my wings

 

like crazy!

what you do is about close to what I have seen in my flight last night.....though I have seen people post anywhere from 40-60% to spool the engines up to before hitting the TO/GA so I am not quite sure which is the most real world.

 

Thanks for tips!

OP purchased FSX a few weeks ago and is already talking about v speeds. I think time in a smaller plane would help, but I'm also mighty impressed. If he's gotten this far so quickly, I'm sure he'll figure out takeoffs soon enough in the 737.

I wouldn't be mighty impressed....maybe just a little  =) 

 

Like I said I just didn't open the box.....a lot of research time.

Fsx loads all airplanes up with 100% fuel, so without going into calculating fuel required for the trip its best at this stage just reduce it to say 50%.
Bob

yes, I think that was part if not most of the problem. I found a website that gave me fuel calculations for my flight to Richmond and I saw a better performance.

 

Thanks

Congrats on the first flight.  Keep in mind that there is a world of difference between watching

 

someone else's videos and actually flying your own takeoffs and landings.  Nothing beats

 

practice...practice....practice! ^_^

 

Speaking of practice....a couple of the Missions, Transitioning to Jets and the

 

Secret Shuttle are two good takeoff, flight, and landings.  Both are fairly short

 

with an instructor/co-pilot on board to give instructions and guidance.

charliearon makes some good points.

 

I like the 737.

 

Had FSX for 15 months or so by no means an expert, but the great thing about this sim is you have to do some research (real world) into how to do certain things properly. E.g. it was weeks before I discovered an appropriate descent rate with respect to ground speed.

 

I never use TOGA, just crank to around 90-95 N1 and then click the auto pilot's (pre-set) 250 knots just after wheels up. Hold the nose at around 10 degs and gradually reduce flaps. Engage auto pilot with a climb rate of +1800 soon after. Works for me.

 

You can cycle the display through Knots and Mach. I increase Mach gradually after passing 10,000 ft. from around .50 to .82 through the ascent and decrease ascent rate to around +1000 for the final couple of minutes.

 

I then ding the seat belt light and serve the drinks and snacks.

Speciman has it right. You are simply engaging the autopilot way too early. You need to get it off the ground and at least stabilized.

 

Don't get all of the lectures you've been given...it's pretty simple...just wait until you're off the ground to engage the AP.

Congrats on the first flight.  Keep in mind that there is a world of difference between watching

 

someone else's videos and actually flying your own takeoffs and landings.  Nothing beats

 

practice...practice....practice! ^_^

 

Speaking of practice....a couple of the Missions, Transitioning to Jets and the

 

Secret Shuttle are two good takeoff, flight, and landings.  Both are fairly short

 

with an instructor/co-pilot on board to give instructions and guidance.

Thank you. I will give those training missions a look see.....and practice of course.

charliearon makes some good points.

 

I like the 737.

 

Had FSX for 15 months or so by no means an expert, but the great thing about this sim is you have to do some research (real world) into how to do certain things properly. E.g. it was weeks before I discovered an appropriate descent rate with respect to ground speed.

 

I never use TOGA, just crank to around 90-95 N1 and then click the auto pilot's (pre-set) 250 knots just after wheels up. Hold the nose at around 10 degs and gradually reduce flaps. Engage auto pilot with a climb rate of +1800 soon after. Works for me.

 

You can cycle the display through Knots and Mach. I increase Mach gradually after passing 10,000 ft. from around .50 to .82 through the ascent and decrease ascent rate to around +1000 for the final couple of minutes.

 

I then ding the seat belt light and serve the drinks and snacks.

thank you for the points......which is kinda where I am scratching my head as there does not seem to be a "set in stone" procedure, and maybe that is how it works in simulations where everyone has their own little ways of doing the same thing.

Speciman has it right. You are simply engaging the autopilot way too early. You need to get it off the ground and at least stabilized.

 

Don't get all of the lectures you've been given...it's pretty simple...just wait until you're off the ground to engage the AP.

yes that and the fuel load.....it just puzzle's me how following a very good tutorial video in my opinion produced a different result and I have watched at least 10 times to make sure I didn't miss anything.

 

I will use the KISS technique.....keep it simple stupid!!!     

Hi, start with the tutorials built into fsx on the basic planes. Work up from there. Learn the basics first. You wouldn't learn to drive in a Ferrari?

probably not but I wouldn't pass up the opportunity!