A year has now passed since MSFS2024 was released, though my own 1-year anniversary of it is today, November 20...since... I'd jumped into the fray (without any concern for my own safety) ...🙂...the day after that tumultuous first day of release. Anyway, this (PMDG) 737-600 (my most beloved 737 variant...🙂...though this variant was widely considered the "black sheep of the 737 family"...🙂...i.e., the one that didn't make the successful cut with global airline operators), still remains in my MSFS2024 File Library marked with the un-welcoming label of "MSFS2020 - Unverified", whatever that means (see my shot #2 below). 

Please note that this "Unverified" label is distinct from the other two labels I see in MSFS2024, "Temporarily Incompatible" or "Permanently Incompatible" that appear on some of the MSFS2020 (remnant) products and purchases in my/our File Library. And I also understand that a newer and improved version of the 737NG for MSFS2024 (the -800 first followed by the -600) is expected (hopefully) soon in the future. Now, if I am reading the PMDG Wiki correctly, the first ever 737NG (the -600/-700 duo) was released 22 years ago from today, in 2003 for MSFS2004 (aka FS9), and of course, the same year, I'd myself also got to fly this exact same 737-600 variant (I'm flying today), for the first time, on my desktop...to the immense anticipation (and somewhat misguided perception) of instantly turning myself into a real virtual airliner pilot...🙂...after all, it was from PMDG...the cream of the crop at the time...🙂...

22 years later, we (at least a few of us...🙂...) are again looking forward to another iteration of the exact same airplane variant in the latest iteration of MSFS. Anyway, before the 737NG shows up in MSFS2024; I wished to fly today one more time this MSFS2020 PMDG 737, in MSFS2024. I must point out that the MSFS2020 version 737 was so perfect for me that it had made me a believer that even in my Xbox...🙂...such (complex) aircraft from the premier developers (especially of airliners) are indeed feasible. I cannot fault the (MSFS2020) 737 even in the smallest degree, as to how it performed so fluidly and so flawlessly in (MSFS2020) Xbox for me (of course, within my limited knowledge of expertise). However, I wish I could say the same about flying the same (as-it-is) airplane in MSFS2024, but it works, as we like to say...🙂...regarding our leftover (but not-officially-upgraded) MSFS2020 aircraft and sceneries and such.

The only thing that did not work for me, in my (Xbox) outing today, was the EFB. See e.g., my shot #5 of the PMDG EFB (MAP) Screen below, how my route for this flight is displayed with 3 en-route waypoints: 2 VORs (FJR/Montpellier, TOU/Toulouse), and 1 LATLONG user waypoint (WPT01). The MAP screen appears black for me (it should not), and, moreover, if I perform certain operations on that screen, my MSFS2024 session would be promptly sent to my (Xbox) TV-top...🙂...yes, I did try a couple of times... (please note, though, that my experience is only on Xbox, which may differ from your own experience on the PC). Besides this (above) single anomaly, the 737, in my today's flight, performed well, from takeoff to touchdown, without any other apparent issues.

Regarding the flight itself, this is a (virtual) trip I've been meaning to do for a while: a tour up and around the lesser-known Massif Central mountains of south-central France; a mountain range distinct from the much more renowned (French) Alps which contains the highest peak of the entire Alps, the famous Mont Blanc. Nonetheless, Massif Central, though mostly less than 6,000 ft, is also special in its own right, with associated beauty of varied terrains, extinct volcanoes, rivers, and valleys. Notably, the Rhône River flows past the eastern side of the Central Massif forming the valley between the Alps and the Massif Central and then flows south to the Mediterranean Sea. You may spot the Rhône River in my shot #8 below. 

My flight for this post, with the 737-600, travels southward from Lyon–Saint Exupéry Airport (LFLL) in a clockwise direction (the route contoured like a rhombus...🙂...or is it a trapezoid...a bit rusty here...), around the entire Massif Central region of France, with occasional (and deliberate) diversions inward into the center of this mountain group. In particular, I've included two screenshots (#s 13-14), below, of the highest point of Massif Central, Puy de Sancy, at 6,184 feet elevation, one of the only two peaks, in this mountain range, above 6,000 ft. I've directed my 737 precisely to this (Puy de Sancy) summit by defining a custom LAT/LONG waypoint (designated as "WPT01" on the 737 FMC/ND display and as "Custom" on the MSFS EFB Map; see below). 

Hope you enjoy this collection of images of the (baby) Boeing 737-600 in the original Boeing Demonstrator colors, flying up and around the Massif Central mountains of France, as I depart, here, from (LFLL) Lyon airport (Runway 17R) and then return back to Lyon airport, for a smooth (HUD assisted) touchdown...🙂...on the ILS Runway 35L... it felt good to be (safely) back home...🙂...wherefrom I'd departed...in the comfort of my trusty 737-600 airliner...

Thanks for viewing...!

You've circumnavigated in its entirety a major topographical feature I never even knew existed, so thanks for that! 🙂

59 minutes ago, John F said:

You've circumnavigated in its entirety a major topographical feature I never even knew existed, so thanks for that! 🙂

You’re welcome.

Appreciated your honesty about lack of knowledge of it, John…🙂…I myself knew just the name of the range before (I had also recently ventured into its foothills in the Latecoere 28…🙂…, flying eastward from Toulouse), but, today I got to know it so much better.
 

BTW, the Appalachian range of mountains, in your vicinity, that you know so well, bears some resemblance to this group of mountains…with the highest here being 6,184 ft Puy de Sancy vs. 6,684 ft Mount Mitchell there in NC, exactly 500 ft taller, that I’ve visited in RW a couple of times…🙂…

The ridges, plateaus, and valleys are similar, though the Massif Central mountains appeared scattered within the region whereas the Appalachians are characterized by rows of parallel ridges…both interesting (and pretty) in their own ways.

Cheers…!

Fine set of shots, thanks for sharing !

cheers 😉

5 hours ago, pmplayer said:

Fine set of shots, thanks for sharing !

cheers 😉

Appreciated the note, pmplayer. Glad you liked the pictures of this baby Boeing…🙂…

Cheers…!