Has anyone managed to get ANY pushback program to work on the otherwise magnificent iFly737 Max8?

- Their own one doesn't - the tug just jiggles around a bit then goes back

- Aerosoft Toolbar Pushback Pro doesn't - it won't release the park brake or realise that the pilot has released the park brake

- FS2 Crew Pushback Express doesn't.  It'll eventually pushback Asobo's own 737, but not the iFly737

I've lost a fair bit of cash and two days just trying to be able to set off the iFly from cold and dark.  Everything else is tickety boo - even getting the trim and CofG synchronised!  But as for being able to move out of the gate...not a chance.

 

All suggestions gratefully received

Edited December 12, 2025Dec 12 by AJZip2

I know you’ve not mentioned it here but I use GSX and it works fine.  I don’t tend to use all the extra bits of GSX, just for pushback etc.

No issues with GSX.

GSX works very well, just make sure you install the GSX file for Ifly Max8.

OK - looks like I need to look at getting that one too.

Thanks for the suggestions. 

3 hours ago, AJZip2 said:

OK - looks like I need to look at getting that one too.

Thanks for the suggestions. 

Standard OEM push in 2024 works but you need to make sure you either manually turn the parking brake off or enable hydraulics to get programmed keys to do this.  Getting it to turn for you, left/right/straight, you have to use OEM ground services which have the unfortunate delay after you instruct give the instruction, but you can make it work. You can start/stop pushback with Alt-P I think it is.  I also use Self Loading Cargo's pushback before I resumed use of GSX.

11 minutes ago, Noel said:

Standard OEM push in 2024 works but you need to make sure you either manually turn the parking brake off or enable hydraulics to get programmed keys to do this.  Getting it to turn for you, left/right/straight, you have to use OEM ground services which have the unfortunate delay after you instruct give the instruction, but you can make it work. You can start/stop pushback with Alt-P I think it is.  I also use Self Loading Cargo's pushback before I resumed use of GSX.

Hmmm...that's a thought.  I could have a look if I could assign a couple of buttons - even just straight back would be fine for me.  The frustration comes from spending twenty minutes going through the full procedure, getting clearance for pushback and engine start and that's where the flight ends.  The other packages work fine for the other aircraft, but the iFly just won't play ball.  I even worry that it will ignore an assigned button - but it's worth a try.

Thanks again for the suggestions, folks 👍

29 minutes ago, AJZip2 said:

Thanks again for the suggestion...

I'm pretty sure it had to do with the parking brake which you can move in the VC w/ the mouse pointer, or as said turn the center two hydraulics switches.  I got stuck like you for a while until I figured that piece out.     

6 hours ago, AJZip2 said:

Has anyone managed to get ANY pushback program to work on the otherwise magnificent iFly737 Max8?

- Their own one doesn't - the tug just jiggles around a bit then goes back

- Aerosoft Toolbar Pushback Pro doesn't - it won't release the park brake or realise that the pilot has released the park brake

- FS2 Crew Pushback Express doesn't.  It'll eventually pushback Asobo's own 737, but not the iFly737

I've lost a fair bit of cash and two days just trying to be able to set off the iFly from cold and dark.  Everything else is tickety boo - even getting the trim and CofG synchronised!  But as for being able to move out of the gate...not a chance.

 

All suggestions gratefully received

If you are not using the MSFS native ATC,Toolbar Pushback from fligthsim.to works well...but ATC must be off.  I thought I had turned-off ATC but one of the settings for turning OFF was still ON so when I corrected it, it started working fine just like MSFS 2020 (thank you 787flyer !).  

I agree with most on here.

I use GSX and it works really well with the iFly Max8.

Jase

A classic issue is the chocks still being in. Just wanted to mention it - I know I've wasted a fair bit of time on this.

Apart from this, another tool you could try that I haven't seen mentioned is Pushback Helper (free):

https://flightsim.to/file/853/pushback-helper-v2-0

It's become my pushback tool of choice.

6 hours ago, Noel said:

I'm pretty sure it had to do with the parking brake which you can move in the VC w/ the mouse pointer, or as said turn the center two hydraulics switches.  I got stuck like you for a while until I figured that piece out.     

That, or similar, is worth me having another look at.  I haven't got the greatest of memory but do recall the absolute exactness needed with iFly to get it to operate in a number of aspects.  It is possible that I've forgotten a teeny but crucial detail in the start up procedures of this particular modelling.

I take notes for this kind of stuff - I'll have a look back.  Thanks for the thought.

 

Toolbar pushback is free on flight sim.to and works great with the iFly.  I agree that your problem is likely that the aircraft was chocked.  When you load up at the gate, the aircraft is cold and dark and chocked by default, so unless you specifically used the ground support section of the EFB to remove the chocks, they were in.  In that state, no program will move you.

ALT + P works everytime.

7 hours ago, Stearmandriver said:

Toolbar pushback is free on flight sim.to and works great with the iFly.  I agree that your problem is likely that the aircraft was chocked.  When you load up at the gate, the aircraft is cold and dark and chocked by default, so unless you specifically used the ground support section of the EFB to remove the chocks, they were in.  In that state, no program will move you.

No - chocks are definitely off. 

It's very strange.  I also wondered maybe you need to do something under APU power before you disconnect for pushback to charge up the hydraulics before pushing the pin/towbar lever command...but no, that doesn't work either.

So far I have tried:

ifly EFB - unable to get it to pushback with brakes off, no chocks, no external power connected.  The EFB pin/distance/etc works fine and the 

Toolbar Pushback - the free version works great in 2D but not in VR.  I then bought the Pro version from Aerosoft and can't get that to work in VR either (it works with other aircraft but not with the iFly)

FS2 Crew Pushback Express - nope.  Doesn't move it.

I've posted on the Flight 1 forum support but it is generally as above.  It's probably time to try a full reinstall (again)...or just go back to starting engines before pushing back.  I will also do a full check of all of my HOTAS commands just in case SU4 has dropped a few spurious commands in - which it did with a vengeance in SU3. 

But if those don't work, then I can't waste much more time on this so will probably move on.

But many thanks for everyone's input.