Although I've had FS9 for over a year I haven't flown the default 737 many times before (prefer add-ons). But Iv'e just loaded tutorial 39 from PC Pilot (Rome - Athens) and I can't get the blighter off the ground. I pull hard back on the stick, trim back frantically but I always end up skimming the trees. The tutorial sets fuel and load settings so donm't think that's the problem. I seem to remember that the reason I didn't fly this bird very often was because of this problem.Haven't tried any other 'bi' default aircraftm, the cessna works fine as does all my add-ons (PMDG 737 for example).Anyone any ideas please.

It's probably worth checking the load settings anyway just in case - the default fuel load is full which can often cause the aircraft to be overweight with anything like realistic loads.If it's not that, then do you have the flaps set (would normally be between 5 and 15 degrees) and what speed are you trying to rotate at (somewhere around 130-140 knots would be about right).Another thing to check is whether you only have the problem with the tutorial or whether it happens at other airports too.If none of that helps then post again and I'll try and have a look at the tutorial tonight as I have it too.

Matthew,Flaps 5 I left rotation until 160 kts the second time - still wouldn't lift off.Happens with the default 737 everywhere I've tried and I've even tried taking all the loads out - same thing happens. Wierd eh ?

Do you have FSUIPC by any chance ? If so have a look at the joystick settings... aircraft specific .Peter

Interesting. Very rarely use the default AC, but last month when I upgraded to RC4, I decided to use the default 737 for the RC4 tutorial and had the same problem. Went tearing down the runway, lifted off, wheels up and slowly drifted down (had collisions off) until I was plowing up the country side. Tried it once more with the same results and went back to my payware. HAve no idea what that's all about. Perhaps all the payware installed has altered something? Fitz

Peter,No I don't have a registered version of FSUIPC

>Peter,>>No I don't have a registered version of FSUIPCOk thats my first theory sunk. I will give it some more thought.Peter

Spoilers deployed?Bud

Just a shot in the dark, but try extending your flaps to 10 for takeoff. Try holding your breaks untill you slowly start to creep forward then just let go. If that dosen't work, try nose up trim for takeoff (if it hasn't been tried before).

No, I don't think it was anything I did wrong (famous last words). At least for the second flight, I went right by the book. I suspect some file got corrupted along the way as it had been at least a year or more, that I had flown one of the default aircraft and after dirt diving for the second time, I went back to PMDG/LDS aircraft and haven't followed up on the problem. Fitz

Dave,I've just tried the tutorial flight starting from cold & dark (the panel and the weather!), and the bad news is that with flaps 5 and some elevator trim the plane lifted off by itself at about 145 knots.The only other thing I can think of is that somehow your .air file or aircraft.cfg have been changed. The original versions are on the FS2004 installation disc 1 in the MSGAME1.CAB file. Try making a backup of the ones you currently have, copy in the originals and see if that helps?

That also works :-lol

Just use the PMDG 737. I flew the default 737 while going through the RC4 tutorials and was reminded what a pig it was. Its ugly, the auto-pilot is terrible....yuk! You're not missing much.

Yeh, you are right, but like I said, if you've only got time to jump in and fly, the default aircraft are OK. In any case, I still haven't mastered the art of making my FMC route exactly the same as the FS9 route - is this really necessary do you know ?

I don't know what the tutorial specifies, but is the autopilot used? Ones I had altitude set to 0 and turned on AP with ALT active while on the ground. The plane then tried to maintain the altitude of 0 feet no matter what I did....