Hi all

Along with the release of the -600 yesterday, Mr. Randazzo also mentioned features included in the update to the -700. As this update seems to have gone unnoticed here at AVSIM, I'll list some of the main points here and a link to the PMDG announcement. Forgive me if there's already a thread on this. 

The biggest and most notable change is that we have folded in new PMDG Lateral Flight Path simulation, updating the very core of how the flight management system computes, plans and and draws the "magenta line" that ultimately gets followed by the airplane. The new LFP simulation conforms to ICAO standards for computation of paths and the arcs flown to connect each segment of a flight plan, thus yielding a far more accurate simulation than all previous generations of PMDG products. In concert with this change, we have also provided a significant improvement to the vertical profile simulation, as it is now able to capitalize on greater accuracy in the mathematical computations from the lateral path model, thus resulting in greater accuracy and more consistent results along the vertical profile. These two are heavily intertwined, and this update represents a significant step forward in the core flight management logic.

• Magenta line drawing is far more consistent and accurately matches real-world results along programmed routes of flight.
• Improved accuracy of lateral deviations from flight path. (LNAV sticks to the line like glue in most scenarios)
• Lateral Path accurately predicts arcs to be flown and will show "unflyable" arcs if aircraft speed plan is too high for the procedure.
• LNAV now provides descreet data to other consumers for improved aircraft performance and accuracy (VNAV, FMS, Fuel Prediction, etc)Greatly improved accuracy and stability of VNAV path computation.
• Full VNAV Constant Descent Angle capabilities with correct approach behaviors to real world application.
• Improved roll model behavior of flight director to conform to expected aircraft performance.

There's also an update to the parking brake behaviour to make it behave more like the real aircraft. This caught me off-guard yesterday when I loaded up the aircraft. The trick is to apply full brake pressure both when setting and releasing the parking brake. 

https://forum.pmdg.com/forum/main-forum/general-discussion-news-and-announcements/206425-29jul22-pmdg-737-600-is-released-and-some-other-news-bits-too

Edited July 30, 20223 yr by Cpt_Piett

Thank you for the HU, the new parking brake is good to know.

Videos covering  VNAV will follow shortly he says. 

Edited July 30, 20223 yr by espent

42 minutes ago, Cpt_Piett said:

There's also an update to the parking brake behaviour to make it behave more like the real aircraft. This caught me off-guard yesterday when I loaded up the aircraft. The trick is to apply full brake pressure both when setting and releasing the parking brake. 

Ahhhhhh!!, I've been fiddling with it for half an hour!

20 minutes ago, jarmstro said:

Ahhhhhh!!, I've been fiddling with it for half an hour!

I went through that yesterday 😅 I was sure the update was bugged. Then eventually I vaguely remembered this from owning the NG back in the days of FSX. 

2 hours ago, espent said:

Videos covering  VNAV will follow shortly he says. 

the Lnav works really great tested sid from  my home airport that the Fenix not made correct and the 700 before this uppdate , but now the 600  and 700 do without any problems , The Fenix is put in the Hangar until they fix Lnav Vnav hope for a update fast.

Just now, westman said:

the Lnav works really great tested sid from  my home airport that the Fenix not made correct and the 700 before this uppdate , but now the 600  and 700 do without any problems , The Fenix is put in the Hangar until they fix Lnav Vnav hope for a update fast.

That's great news. Which SID is that? I wouldn't mind to test it, see how the updated -700 handles it. Judging by Mr. Randazzo's statements, the LNAV should be pretty solid with this update. 

"You will notice that the airplane smoothly handles transitions from non-curved to curved paths in the flight route, including entries and exits from holding, missed approaches and the like- with very little wandering and tightly controlled lateral deviation".

With this update we should also expect greater accuracy with VNAV.  

 

I've been flying Baltimore to Myrtle Beach quite a bit lately. It's short enough to complete in about an hour and a half. I've always been assigned an ILS 18 approach via CRE. It requires a hold with a teardrop entry at UXDEP. Prior to this update, the 700 could not fly it without help. Left on it's own, it would turn right prior to UXDEP and circle around but never enter the hold. It was a mess. To make the plane fly it correctly, I had to engage heading mode and fly heading 288 until it passed UXDEP and then re-engage LNAV so that it would enter the hold. The Fenix would do a proper teardrop entry, and now the 700 flies it perfectly as well.

If you're not sure why they had to fix it, try this flight before you update, and then fly it again after updating.

KBWI CONLE4 SCOOB..ILM..WYLMS..KMYR

After Fenix and FBW I can't touch PMDG's 737 anymore until they get that EFB implemented.  Doing everything from the FMC (doors, pushback, outside vehicles, no ability to see charts, no ability to have in cockpit calculation software, etc.) is FSX old school.

Edited July 30, 20223 yr by Dillon

1 minute ago, Dillon said:

After Fenix and FBW I can't touch PMDG's 737 anymore until they get that EFB implemented.  Doing everything from the FMC (doors, pushback, outside vehicles, charts, calculations, etc.) is FSX old school.

Well Ok then…

-B

6 minutes ago, Dillon said:

After Fenix and FBW I can't touch PMDG's 737 anymore until they get that EFB implemented.  Doing everything from the FMC (doors, pushback, outside vehicles, no ability to see charts, no ability to have in cockpit calculation software, etc.) is FSX old school.

So, doing it from the fmc screen is a big no-no. From the tablet screen on the other hand...well there's a huge difference... 

2 hours ago, Cpt_Piett said:

That's great news. Which SID is that?

I believe it's the BAVES 1D at LGIR at Iraklion, Greece. Quite the pretzel. Amazing how the FMC keeps recalculating the path in real time.

13 minutes ago, Dillon said:

After Fenix and FBW I can't touch PMDG's 737 anymore until they get that EFB implemented.

I agree that having an EFB is a great convenience. It doesn't stop me from flying the -700 though. Let's hope that when it finally arrives, it's as great as the FBW and Fenix ones. 

6 minutes ago, Cpt_Piett said:

I agree that having an EFB is a great convenience. It doesn't stop me from flying the -700 though. Let's hope that when it finally arrives, it's as great as the FBW and Fenix ones. 

Its PMDG you can be assured that it will be up to the standards like the others you mention maybe even better. This EFB will work the same for all the 737 variants, the 777 and the 747.

Does taping the brakes do not disconnects the autobrake ? I really have to turn the autobrakes switch to ‘off’ ? 

Edited July 30, 20223 yr by roi1862