The PMDG 737-700 is extremely sensitive to the sudden wind direction changes that are overdone in FS2020 (2024 also?). On approach it frequently starts swerving left and right and can't hold the ILS. This doesn't happen to me in other planes such as ATR or CRJ. Anyone else have this problem? Is there a fix for the sudden wind direction changes in 2020? Thanks

Edited May 27, 20251 yr by desbean

1 hour ago, desbean said:

The PMDG 737-700 is extremely sensitive to the sudden wind direction changes that are overdone in FS2020 (2024 also?). On approach it frequently starts swerving left and right and can't hold the ILS. This doesn't happen to me in other planes such as ATR or CRJ. Anyone else have this problem? Is there a fix for the sudden wind direction changes in 2020? Thanks

Please just backup your flight_model.cfg and add or modify specific entries.

 

For a better   taxi

 

[contact_points]

point.0 = 1,  40.209974,  0.000000, -8.334975,  800, 0, 1.125, 49, 0.960516, 1.613, 0.6, 8, 7.5, 0, 485, 0, 5

 

max_speed_full_steering = 12.0       

max_speed_decreasing_steering = 26.6617711   

min_available_steering_angle_pct = 0.10  

steering_time_constants = 100, 150      

nosewheel_steering_damping = 80 /30      

allow_stopped_steering = 1            

spring_exponential_fix = 1           

steering_filter = 14.0 

[aerodynamics]

 

aileron_drag_coefficient = 0.15

differential_aileron_deflection = 1.2

aileron_to_rudder_mixing = 0.35

thrust_pitch_moment = 0.025

elevator_lift_coef = 0.66 

rudder_lift_coef = 3.0 

aileron_up_drag_coef = 0.48

aileron_down_drag_coef = 0.96 

side_force_delta_rudder=-0.087 

side_force_roll_rate=0.021

side_force_yaw_rate=0

side_force_slip_angle=-0.59 

pitch_moment_delta_elevator=-0.66 

pitch_moment_pitch_damping=-254.0

pitch_moment_daoa=7.03 

lift_coef_pitch_rate=-7.84 

lift_coef_daoa=1.65 

roll_moment_delta_aileron=-0.19 

roll_moment_roll_damping=-3.03 

yaw_moment_delta_rudder= 0.11

yaw_moment_yaw_damping=-1.67

elevator_scaling_table = 0:1

aileron_scaling_table = 0:1

rudder_scaling_table = 0:0.76              

aileron_load_factor_effectiveness_table = 0:1

rudder_lift_coef=6.0

 

[flight_tuning]

elevator_effectiveness = 0.94  

aileron_effectiveness = 0.94 

rudder_effectiveness =  0.665     

rudder_damping = 6.65       

pitch_stability      = 5.0 

roll_stability       =1.0 

yaw_stability        = 3.8 

yaw_gyro_stability   = 1.76 

ground_crosswind_effect_zero_speed=7.215  

ground_crosswind_effect_max_speed=288.616  

ground_high_speed_steeringwheel_static_friction_scalar=3.71  

ground_high_speed_otherwheel_static_friction_scalar=3.8 

rudder_time_constant = 1.26               

rudder_input_scalar = 0.665             

 

Additionally, in MSFS2020, the ASSISTANCE-PILOTING-TURBULENCE-LOW setting will provide a better experience.

Be sure you don't have your sim turbulence setting set to "realistic".  It's definitely not.  

You also might check out the iFly Max 8, if you want a 737 that flies an awful lot better...

4 hours ago, LRBS said:

Please just backup your flight_model.cfg and add or modify specific entries.

 

 

thanks I will try some. I can't find the fs2020 cfg files in store version. Not in local state "8wekyb3d8bbwe". actually I can't find the pmdg config files either. bought in marketplace and threr are pmdg folders everywhere, but no cfg.

Edited May 27, 20251 yr by desbean

1 hour ago, desbean said:

thanks I will try some. I can't find the fs2020 cfg files in store version. Not in local state "8wekyb3d8bbwe". actually I can't find the pmdg config files either. bought in marketplace and threr are pmdg folders everywhere, but no cfg.

Oh, anything purchased from the marketplace has certain files encrypted and cannot be edited.

8 hours ago, LRBS said:

Please just backup your flight_model.cfg and add or modify specific entries.

I'm a little curious as to where you came up with these entries as many of them are either deprecated or non-existent in the FS2020 SDK, and only a few of them would affect the behavior the OP is concerned about.

I set sim turbulence to 'low' and use RealTurb v2.

You get some nice bumping about without that paper plane effect.

7 hours ago, Donstim said:

I'm a little curious as to where you came up with these entries as many of them are either deprecated or non-existent in the FS2020 SDK, and only a few of them would affect the behavior the OP is concerned about.

I agree, the ones that are non-existent or deprecated in the SDK still work. I was surprised, as you are, but in the end, it matters to the results. Additionally, there is a correlation between them, even though it may not appear to be directly related. Very strange, anyway; their 737 flight characteristics are significantly off, being lighter compared to the real airplane or other developers. Perhaps one day they will sort it out. 

22 hours ago, desbean said:

The PMDG 737-700 is extremely sensitive to the sudden wind direction changes that are overdone in FS2020 (2024 also?). On approach it frequently starts swerving left and right and can't hold the ILS. This doesn't happen to me in other planes such as ATR or CRJ. Anyone else have this problem? Is there a fix for the sudden wind direction changes in 2020? Thanks

Very interesting. I was always impressed with how the 738 flew in 2020. Last week, when flying the PMDG 738 it just floated down the runway at 90 knots and I only got it down by slowly deploying the spoilers manually. It was puzzling. Temporary software glitch? Can a 738 even fly at 90 knots? 

Edited May 28, 20251 yr by alanw2005

3 minutes ago, alanw2005 said:

Can a 738 even fly at 90 knots? 

No way. I mean, in real life. 

Edited May 28, 20251 yr by LRBS

23 hours ago, LRBS said:

Please just backup your flight_model.cfg and add or modify specific entries.

 

For a better   taxi

 

[contact_points]

point.0 = 1,  40.209974,  0.000000, -8.334975,  800, 0, 1.125, 49, 0.960516, 1.613, 0.6, 8, 7.5, 0, 485, 0, 5

 

max_speed_full_steering = 12.0       

max_speed_decreasing_steering = 26.6617711   

min_available_steering_angle_pct = 0.10  

steering_time_constants = 100, 150      

nosewheel_steering_damping = 80 /30      

allow_stopped_steering = 1            

spring_exponential_fix = 1           

steering_filter = 14.0 

[aerodynamics]

 

aileron_drag_coefficient = 0.15

differential_aileron_deflection = 1.2

aileron_to_rudder_mixing = 0.35

thrust_pitch_moment = 0.025

elevator_lift_coef = 0.66 

rudder_lift_coef = 3.0 

aileron_up_drag_coef = 0.48

aileron_down_drag_coef = 0.96 

side_force_delta_rudder=-0.087 

side_force_roll_rate=0.021

side_force_yaw_rate=0

side_force_slip_angle=-0.59 

pitch_moment_delta_elevator=-0.66 

pitch_moment_pitch_damping=-254.0

pitch_moment_daoa=7.03 

lift_coef_pitch_rate=-7.84 

lift_coef_daoa=1.65 

roll_moment_delta_aileron=-0.19 

roll_moment_roll_damping=-3.03 

yaw_moment_delta_rudder= 0.11

yaw_moment_yaw_damping=-1.67

elevator_scaling_table = 0:1

aileron_scaling_table = 0:1

rudder_scaling_table = 0:0.76              

aileron_load_factor_effectiveness_table = 0:1

rudder_lift_coef=6.0

 

[flight_tuning]

elevator_effectiveness = 0.94  

aileron_effectiveness = 0.94 

rudder_effectiveness =  0.665     

rudder_damping = 6.65       

pitch_stability      = 5.0 

roll_stability       =1.0 

yaw_stability        = 3.8 

yaw_gyro_stability   = 1.76 

ground_crosswind_effect_zero_speed=7.215  

ground_crosswind_effect_max_speed=288.616  

ground_high_speed_steeringwheel_static_friction_scalar=3.71  

ground_high_speed_otherwheel_static_friction_scalar=3.8 

rudder_time_constant = 1.26               

rudder_input_scalar = 0.665             

 

Additionally, in MSFS2020, the ASSISTANCE-PILOTING-TURBULENCE-LOW setting will provide a better experience.

Thank you for that advise. Do you have same cfg settings for 737-800 and perhaps 900ER?

36 minutes ago, vortac said:

Thank you for that advise. Do you have same cfg settings for 737-800 and perhaps 900ER?

It will also work well for the 738; I didn't want to spend any more on the 739. I bought the iFly and don't regret it for a second, way better in every aspect. It's a disappointment to see PMDG no longer providing a quality product as they used to and dropping the ball. 

On 5/27/2025 at 4:19 PM, LRBS said:

Please just backup your flight_model.cfg and add or modify specific entries.

 

For a better   taxi

 

[contact_points]

point.0 = 1,  40.209974,  0.000000, -8.334975,  800, 0, 1.125, 49, 0.960516, 1.613, 0.6, 8, 7.5, 0, 485, 0, 5

 

max_speed_full_steering = 12.0       

max_speed_decreasing_steering = 26.6617711   

min_available_steering_angle_pct = 0.10  

steering_time_constants = 100, 150      

nosewheel_steering_damping = 80 /30      

allow_stopped_steering = 1            

spring_exponential_fix = 1           

steering_filter = 14.0 

[aerodynamics]

 

aileron_drag_coefficient = 0.15

differential_aileron_deflection = 1.2

aileron_to_rudder_mixing = 0.35

thrust_pitch_moment = 0.025

elevator_lift_coef = 0.66 

rudder_lift_coef = 3.0 

aileron_up_drag_coef = 0.48

aileron_down_drag_coef = 0.96 

side_force_delta_rudder=-0.087 

side_force_roll_rate=0.021

side_force_yaw_rate=0

side_force_slip_angle=-0.59 

pitch_moment_delta_elevator=-0.66 

pitch_moment_pitch_damping=-254.0

pitch_moment_daoa=7.03 

lift_coef_pitch_rate=-7.84 

lift_coef_daoa=1.65 

roll_moment_delta_aileron=-0.19 

roll_moment_roll_damping=-3.03 

yaw_moment_delta_rudder= 0.11

yaw_moment_yaw_damping=-1.67

elevator_scaling_table = 0:1

aileron_scaling_table = 0:1

rudder_scaling_table = 0:0.76              

aileron_load_factor_effectiveness_table = 0:1

rudder_lift_coef=6.0

 

[flight_tuning]

elevator_effectiveness = 0.94  

aileron_effectiveness = 0.94 

rudder_effectiveness =  0.665     

rudder_damping = 6.65       

pitch_stability      = 5.0 

roll_stability       =1.0 

yaw_stability        = 3.8 

yaw_gyro_stability   = 1.76 

ground_crosswind_effect_zero_speed=7.215  

ground_crosswind_effect_max_speed=288.616  

ground_high_speed_steeringwheel_static_friction_scalar=3.71  

ground_high_speed_otherwheel_static_friction_scalar=3.8 

rudder_time_constant = 1.26               

rudder_input_scalar = 0.665             

 

Additionally, in MSFS2020, the ASSISTANCE-PILOTING-TURBULENCE-LOW setting will provide a better experience.

Excellent mods as always, thanks very much for that, tried it and was surprised how well it hand flies now, it's a bit closer to the ifly max in that regard. The one thing that is a total immersion breaker still is the 50" sink that will occur always with this a/c, it's more notorious in the 800 and 900. Anyway to mitigate this?. They introduced this bug on purpose to correct another issue (another sinking issue at higher altitude than 50") but left it with this unforgivable bug.

1 hour ago, SN737 said:

Excellent mods as always, thanks very much for that, tried it and was surprised how well it hand flies now, it's a bit closer to the ifly max in that regard. The one thing that is a total immersion breaker still is the 50" sink that will occur always with this a/c, it's more notorious in the 800 and 900. Anyway to mitigate this?. They introduced this bug on purpose to correct another issue (another sinking issue at higher altitude than 50") but left it with this unforgivable bug.

I understand, my ground effect is set to this

 

original

lift_coef_ground_effect_mach_table=0.054000:1.124400, 0.100000:1.100000, 0.200000:1.058500, 0.300000:1.046300, 0.400000:1.039900, 0.500000:1.035000, 0.600000:1.029900, 0.700000:1.026100, 0.800000:1.020300, 0.900000:1.014000, 1.000000:1.00000

 

mod

 

lift_coef_ground_effect_mach_table=0.054000:1.236840, 0.100000:1.210000, 0.200000:1.164350, 0.300000:1.150930, 0.400000:1.143890, 0.500000:1.138500, 0.600000:1.132890, 0.700000:1.128710, 0.800000:1.122330, 0.900000:1.115400, 1.000000:1.100000

 

 

If you require an adjustment in percentage, please let me know. I will be in rotation for at least 12 hours before arriving to the hotel, where I can work on my laptop..

Thanks a lot buddy, will try it out and let you know.