After enjoying the PMDG 737-700 (which in retrospect spoiled me with its ease of use and systems especially the autopilot), I’m now trying to learn the Leonardo Maddog and not doing that well though I can MANUALLY hand fly her quite well, and it’s a lovely plane.

It’s just a different beast.

Some questions...

1) My landing light switches won’t retract/go off when I click them with a mouse, it’s like they’re stuck?

2) I figured how to load a company route and the first time even got the autopilot to follow it!  But now when I try to select “plan” mode on the display it says “No Plan Mode” and “VOR fail”?

3) When I flick the autopilot switch on the console the plane followed the route and (might?) be following my selected FPM, but doesn’t level off at my selected altitude and certainly isn’t following my selected speed even though I turn on my autothrottle?

I sense that this plane will frustrate the heck out of me, but be great if I can get the hang of it...and it has black smoke and ventral stairs! 🙂

Any help is appreciated.

Steve

23 minutes ago, Republic DC9 said:

After enjoying the PMDG 737-700 (which in retrospect spoiled me with its ease of use and systems especially the autopilot), I’m now trying to learn the Leonardo Maddog and not doing that well though I can MANUALLY hand fly her quite well, and it’s a lovely plane.

It’s just a different beast.

Some questions...

1) My landing light switches won’t retract/go off when I click them with a mouse, it’s like they’re stuck?

2) I figured how to load a company route and the first time even got the autopilot to follow it!  But now when I try to select “plan” mode on the display it says “No Plan Mode” and “VOR fail”?

3) When I flick the autopilot switch on the console the plane followed the route and (might?) be following my selected FPM, but doesn’t level off at my selected altitude and certainly isn’t following my selected speed even though I turn on my autothrottle?

I sense that this plane will frustrate the heck out of me, but be great if I can get the hang of it...and it has black smoke and ventral stairs! 🙂

Any help is appreciated.

Steve

1) You either have to use left/right mouse, or mouse wheel. Depending on if you use right mouse button for panning around (then only mouse wheel will move them upwards)
2) Not sure I understand. If the autopilot followed it, you are good. "VOR fail" will come up if the VOR you tuned into (see glareshield knob) is not received (yet).
3) You have to ARM the altitude selector after turning it (left click). As for the speed it's hard to say, you might want to make some screenshots. To be honest I suggest you either use Mudspikes excellent guide or watch some tutorials. It takes some time but it's a great feeling finally getting the grip on it

The speed thing could be because you are in TO mode. You need to switch to CL after takeoff or the plane will just keep the throttle at takeoff thrust regardless of your speed.

Thank you both, exactly what I needed!

Thanks to your advice I was able to complete a wonderful flight where the autopilot followed the route exactly from takeoff to landing and the autothrottle held the speed and fpm pretty well too.

I was in love with the 737-700 (and still am), but now I have a smoky MD82 mistress! 🙂

For this DC-9 lover who has ridden on many MD80s this is a real treat.

When landing (by hand) it feels big and wobbly and heavy, sort of like driving an old U-Haul truck compared to a sportscar.

I love it.

And while I feared the textures were poor, to my eye they seem pretty good.

Off to fly the lovely Frontier repaint...as a kid circa 1984 (?) I had the pleasure of seeing one of these taxi out and takeoff from Madison, WI before it had jetways, probably for the old Stapleton airport.  This plane will bring back priceless memories like that.