From memory the AP isn't supposed to be used at anything higher than 4x speed.James

It's really amazing that you completed the lessons up to the Jet level and still dont know what Pitot Tube is. Either Microsoft really screwed up in their lessons or ...Perhaps if you start at the basics-Flaps' setting depends on speed not altitude- or in your case not time..You should know your retraction schedule before you even takeoff. For example, Flaps 5 takeoff would be Flaps5 VRefFlaps 2 VRef + 10kntsFlaps 1 Vref + 20Flaps Up Vref + 25Your VRef is ussually your V2 Speed Which is minimum engine out Speed in case of your 737. Lets say in your case your Vref would constantly be 140KIAS. So you would retract to flaps 2 when you pass the speed of 150, Flaps 1 at speed of 160 and so on. Ofcourse this heavily depends on your GWT. Actually I wrote that to perhaps encourage you to think about going back to the props. This stuff isnt hard, but you do have to learn it so you dont end up ''stalling''As for the autopilot- If you could get your plane up to FL310, then it should be able to stay there (unless ofcourse you climbed at a 20 degree angle of attack). Learn how to use Speed hold. Its not that hard, set the speed, arm the throttle control, and engage the hold by pressing the button. Engines will autmatically spool up or down accordingly. Once you are in CRZ They will adjust for any angle changes, and keep your speed up therefore avoid stalling. Good luck!Sorry without knowing how to fully work autopilot these days, your planes will be nothing more than flying coffins.

>It's really amazing that you completed the lessons up to the>Jet level and still dont know what Pitot Tube is. Either>Microsoft really screwed up in their lessons or ...LOL - i knew someone would pull me up on that... when i say i am upto Jet level i am not referring to the really bad microsoft lessons, im afraid i am referring to the pilot levels in FSpassengers. So sorry for asking a question about the basics, as i mentioned i am self taught. Maybe i will go through the microsoft lessons again and give them a chance?? is this how you learnt? Or are there any good places to get lessons in FS flying? Thanks for your advise and patience.A

Try this situation out. You do not have to fly for hours, as this is simply to demonstrate that by flying by the numbers the aircraft would perform as expected. In flying (real world or simulated) it is imperative that the pilot be ahead of the aircraft at all times as playing catch-up or following is a recipe for disaster. An easy form of conditioning the mindset is simply asking yourself "next". Please keep in mind that this is a very, very, very Basic layout of these phases of flight as crammed into these few lines areThe takeoff, initial climb, enroute climb and the cruise phasesPlanning and executionAircraft type B737-400Takeoff weight ........134000lbsFlap 5*Speedbrake Lever.... DetentOAT Std day 15*c 29.92Stab Trim 1.5 units nose upV1 129VR 131V2 143No wind conditionsDeparture. Climb straight out to 5000ft then left turn, continue climb to FL310Climb Profile: After Liftoff positive rate ........................................ Gear Up Accelerate to 200kts and clean up Aircraft............. Flaps Up Engage autopilot at or above 1500ft and adjust pitch to maintain / achieve target climb speeds (250kts, 280kts/ 0.74M) Continue accelerating to 250kts and maintain till At or above 10,000 Indicated Altitude. Above 10,000 ft accelerate to 280kts and then mach .74 to final cruise altitude (Mach 0.74 is the LRC or Long Range Cruise Speed.****NOTE** If auto throttle is not used then adjust thrust settings at altitude to maintain target cruise airspeed. THROTTLE SETTINGS ARE NOT SET AND FORGETThere are a lot of other helpful people that visit these forums, You can also check out the AVSIM flight school forum.Douglas, B-707 Ret.

>>The takeoff, initial climb, enroute climb and the cruise>phases>>Planning and execution>>Aircraft type B737-400>>>Takeoff weight ........134000lbs>Flap 5*>Speedbrake Lever.... Detent>OAT Std day 15*c 29.92>Stab Trim 1.5 units nose up>V1 129>VR 131>V2 143Douglas, this is absolutely brilliant. Thanks for your very helpful advise. So, where do you find out the information for planning as above? how do you know the V* rates etc?

>Douglas, this is absolutely brilliant. Thanks for your very>helpful advise. So, where do you find out the information for>planning as above? how do you know the V* rates etc? All this information is contained in the operating manuals.Below are two tables, which for the most part are self-explanatory.http://forums.avsim.net/user_files/149825.jpghttp://forums.avsim.net/user_files/149826.jpg