Because Ralph Tofflemire, Ed Green, and associates took such great lengths to make RFP 747-200 as close to life as possible, they appeared to have cut very few corners when creating the excellent but very lengthy checklist. At this point, I really enjoy the RFP 747-200. However, it takes me well over an hour to do and check all of the things I need to do and check before taking off, and that is when I rush! I don't mind the other required tasks after taking off, but that those initial checklists are a killer on the available weekend schedule. How are the other checklists out there on the newer super LDS 767-300 and PMDG 747-400? They must be considerably shorter, but how much so? How long does it take you to complete them? How do you deal with the task?Thanks in advance for your insight!RH

Once you practice the RFP startup procedure, I can go from cold and dark to engines running ready to taxi in the time it takes to align the INS.Anyway, the 747 and 767 take much less time because you aren't doing the flight engineers job. You aren't adjusting the fuel tanks constantly and turning on and off generators, you are just setting them to auto for the most part.So your statup time is much less. So running through the checklist in 5 minutes I can have a 744 up and running. But I really enjoy flying the RFP airplane, that's why I joined globecargo. It gives you a great idea on how the systems work. The longest time is programming the FMC and the INS for the 742, thankfully I use fs navigator which exports my flight plan for me. (and in real life almost all FMCs are uploaded by dispatch)

Thanks for the info. I just can't seem to find the time to practice, although I have been through the entire checklist a number of times. That LDS 767-300ER looks great! Thanks for the info on fs navigator!RH