These three books that can be downloaded directly from FAA will teach you everything you need to know about flying a simulator. It is roughly 1000 pages so you need to be motivated 🙂 

Pilot's Handbook

Instrument Flying Handbook

Instrument Procedures Handbook

11 minutes ago, spilok said:

Good story.  I recently bought a book by Mike Ray (real Captain UAL) called Flying the Boeing 700 Series Flight Simulators.  It was a book recommended to me by Chock (Alan).  I've gotten a slow start reading it because of my "excessive activity" trying to get P3d v5 working reliably.  I finally did get it where I want it, and I have started the book because of MSFS 2020.  I will be buying a PMDG 737 for MSFS as soon as it's available. I put off buying one for P3d because of the Microsoft announcement for a release earlier than I expected.

I'm no rookie to flying in sims.  Been doing it for decades...since the beginning, but I've been very lazy with learning the FMC. I have 2 Master's degrees, yet this FMC learning has been haunting me for many years.  Well, this is the year.  I will also check out the YouTube videos.

Stan

Glad you got P3D stable. Hope you are enjoying the book. 

When it comes to complex add-on aircraft, I was late to the party. I would say I have been a flight simmer for at least 20 years and I just checked my purchase history...I purchased my PMDG 777 for FSX in 2015. A year or so after that single purchase, I had spent well over $2000 on other aircraft, airports, land classes, weather engines, texture packs and so much more. And that doesn't include the hardware upgrades to my PC because of all the add-ons. IT IS ADDICTIVE!!! 

Will the PMDG 737 be your first experience with this type of product in flight simulators?

 

4 minutes ago, CaribbeanCLANK said:

Glad you got P3D stable. Hope you are enjoying the book. 

When it comes to complex add-on aircraft, I was late to the party. I would say I have been a flight simmer for at least 20 years and I just checked my purchase history...I purchased my PMDG 777 for FSX in 2015. A year or so after that single purchase, I had spent well over $2000 on other aircraft, airports, land classes, weather engines, texture packs and so much more. And that doesn't include the hardware upgrades to my PC because of all the add-ons. IT IS ADDICTIVE!!! 

Will the PMDG 737 be your first experience with this type of product in flight simulators?

 

Yes.  I pick the 737 because of its commonality among planes.  I figured if I learn the FMS on a 737, it can be applied just about to any plane.

Stan

8 minutes ago, spilok said:

Yes.  I pick the 737 because of its commonality among planes.  I figured if I learn the FMS on a 737, it can be applied just about to any plane.

Stan

I think it is a great choice. You are going to love it. If it is the same as the P3D version, the base package comes with 3 variants...800, 900 and 900ER. If you decide to move up the ladder and try larger Boeings from PMDG (once available) the transition will be relatively easy. I think there are enough similarities between the various cockpits to make moving from one Boeing aircraft to another easy enough even for less experience simmers like myself. I actually found the 737 more challenging (and more fun) to learn and fly than the 777.

If I had to pick a favorite from my PMDG aircraft, it would have to be the Queen of the Skies...the 747-400 is an absolute BLAST to fly. There is a special sense of satisfaction you get when you successfully land this giant bird at TNCM (Princess Juliana International) or TKPK (Robert L. Bradshaw International). I never got the 747-8 expansion so I can't comment on that product.

For me, the PMDG line of products are well worth the price tag and I think you have picked a great place to start as far as airliners go.