Guys, I know there are a bunch of 737's out there in the payware market. I normally fly GA, but lately have had a taste for flying commerical again. I used to use the Dreamfleet 737 from 2002 merged with the SGX 737 using Peter McClellands merge. Worked fabulously. Great visual model and the best panel I ever saw along with an FMC that worked great.It no longer works. The FMC wont work. Guess some XP update or other or something else causes it to not load. In any case, time to get with the program. I'd like to get hold of a top quality B737 that uses an FMC, and the old style 734 type panel...not an 738 or something with all flat panel displays. I guess what Im trying to say is how can I best replicate the old dreamfleet 737-400 with whats available now?I really am looking for a boeing airplane that uses FMC and dont have to be addicted to the 737. However a 747 etc is lost on me as I dont like flying long range. I dont have the time. Hence a desire for an airplane of more moderate range.Whats the recommendation? ThanksEric

Hey Eric,If you want the /3/4/5 series cockpit opposed to the NG then I would look at the 737 Vic from FeelThere did. It is distributed by Wilco but is a 737 PIC product, Wilco just sells it... I have it but to be honest I am so overwhelmed with the heavies right now (PMDG 744 LDS 767 and PSS 777) I have not even installed it. Heard pretty good things but I have also heard it can be a bit hard on the frames. To be fair, it is hearsay as I have not actually installed it yet like I said and PMDG is too so I do not really know of a 737 that is frame friendly compared to the new heavies. The PMDG 744 despite being so much larger (ie. so much more modelling invloved) than the 737 gets much better FPS.Hope that helps, good luck,-Paul

there arent a bunch of 737s out there with an FMC. Infact there are only 2. Ariane and Feelthere

The 737PIC from FeelThere is the only 737 classic you'll get that comes close to the Dreamfleet's old version. I have it, but there's a number of things I really don't like. The overhead is hard to read, as the text and buttons are very small. The main panel doesn't have implementations I think it should have had, like the marker beacon light switch and a couple other things. What looks the best and I was happiest with is the FMC. It's probably the best thing about it, but I don't know if it has any residual bugs or how well it deals with advanced programming. In my limited knowledge it seems to work just fine.The biggest disappointment? Frame rates. My frame rates are cut in half compared to all other payware planes I own (e.g., PMDG 737NG and 747, Flight One ATR, Level-D 767).I guess there's a merge that might help the performance, but I haven't tried it.

I have the Feelthere 737 package. The planes look just a little off, and the panel is nice but a little too fps hungry. The best looking 737s are the 50 North planes, more so since the last update. I use the freeware PsPanels analog 737 panel with the 50 North planes. It's a cool combo.Lee

I thin the Feelthere package is the best choice as well.Rob MorrisonFS Enthsiast

It may be the best choice, but not because it is good just better than th others.Wilco in my opinion are rubbish, the manual with the product is worse than poor, the database for Europe is poor I think Feelthere like to sell to the bigger American market. The plane is not compatible with FSUIPC like most other addons.And as everyone has said above the frames are poor.gdafc

PMDG is the most popular in my opinion. Even though it has been around a while, it is perfect in almost every way. It has a programable FMC, systems, etc. Very good aircraft, worth the money and lots and lots of repaints to choose from. :DKevin

"The plane is not compatible with FSUIPC"If there is any incompatibility Ive never noticed it. Anyways, the Feelthere 737 pic not is the only realistic (systems) 737 classic option for FS9. Don't know much about Ariane, exept they are expensive and would advise you to search the forums for advice before purchasing from them.Fifty North are nice models and the PS panels classic panel is very nice freeware but it has no FMC only default GPS.

Very helpful input. I think I will stay freeware on the 737. Think I may decide to go LDS 767 on the FMC. Some of my favorite routes like ATL-FLL etc are 76 routes.Eric

I have all three (PMDG 737 600-900, LevelD and Wilco's 737 series). I say you can't go wrong with any one of them. I love all three.I too fly the LD 767 the most due to the fact it can do long or short haul and is very versatile.

Im using the 50North stuff for the model, some great CFM sounds found here and I have two panels I use, one is older analog, and one is EFIS for the newer generation stuff. I'll look at which they are If you want Eric.Makes a nice package and I dont mind not having an FMS.Hornit

>"The plane is not compatible with FSUIPC">>>If there is any incompatibility Ive never noticed it.Have a look at the forum, plenty of other people have noticed it.

Sorry for my jumbled post above. What I meant to say is Feelthere's is the only realistic (systems wise) classic 737 available for FS9. Like Ive said, I haven't noticed the incompatibility with FSUICP. I use no special hardware with it just Saitek X52 and mouse/keyboard so maybe thats why I havent noticed. If you opt for the Level D 767 you won't be dissapointed.It is the most complete modern airliner simulation available (PMDG 744 a close second).

>>"The plane is not compatible with FSUIPC">>>>>>If there is any incompatibility Ive never noticed it.>>Have a look at the forum, plenty of other people have noticed>it.>They also have a post telling you the settings you need to use in FSUIPC to make it compatible. It's a fine plane, don't put people off buying it through a few issues you have. I'm not saying it doesn't have any issues, (Heck I've only flown it a few times myself but not found any yet), but there usually are issues until a Service pack or three come out for any major plane.