advice on 737 payware plane purchase

[dave92270]

Hello guys,

could you please help to decide which 737 package to buy?

I've been looking at the following downloads, not sure which one would be better (I want good complexity, great model and liveries,
perfect & fully functional 2-d panels, maybe 3-D cockpit but I generally don't use 3-d cockpit (maybe because the stock ones are not that
great?):

PMDG 737 NG (737-600/700) $39.95
Wilco 737PIC (Full Pack -300/-400/-500) $39.95

The Wilco's package has an extra appeal because of promised MSFS X future compatibility: "..A free update patch will be available as
soon as the Microsoft Flight Simulator X compatibility will be guaranteed.", but I read a lot about how great the PMDG package is
supposed to be; so I can't decide. Are there any other packages that I overlooked? Maybe even another plane comparable to 737 in range
and capacity. Off course, I need a package which works well with FS Passengers. As another option, I considered Level-D 767, but I'd
prefer the smaller 737 because I like shorter flights and my home base is Palm Springs, CA. BTW, I own the original 767PIC but it is not
compatible with FS2004 and I got rig of FS2002 a while ago; I currently don't have any other payware plane; I loaded the free iFly 747,
nice, although I'm getting some frame rate hits with it - but 747 is too big plane for my needs (and skills). I'm somewhat casual sim pilot,
but I want to step up to more complex cockpit and don't mind to read documentation/manuals.

Thanks for info and help in advance.

Dave

[Joshuah A. Wetzel]

The PMDG 737NG is the way to go. I have the 737-600/700/800/900 all from PMDG. They are worth every penny!

[dave92270]

Joshuah A. Wetzel wrote:
The PMDG 737NG is the way to go. I have the 737-600/700/800/900 all from PMDG. They are worth every penny!

Hello Joshuah,

thanks for reply; obviously the PMDG 737NG package is great but it will not be upgradable to FS X (just checked the PMDG forum on
avsim, official info from PMDG); they prepare brand new 737NG v.2 "FS X" only product...so it could be short lived for me - once the FS X
is out I couldn't use it anymore. At least the 737PIC appears to be relatively newer release and is supposed to be patched to FS X...
maybe someone who owns both 737NG and 737PIC could say how these two packages compare?

Dave

[ivo]

been discussed many times. A simple search will reveal an answer....

[dave92270]

ivo wrote:
been discussed many times. A simple search will reveal an answer....

ivo, I found only 2 posts about this topic, one from January 06 and other from March 06; they were however not that easy to find:

http://www.fspassengers.com/forum/showth...#pid115049
http://www.fspassengers.com/forum/showth...#pid117457

Anyway, I think that I may end up getting both - I already ordered retail copy of Wilco 737, and probably get the PMDG 737NG base
package download as well. It seems that not many people own both, no direct comparison (side by side) to find, but I got the rough idea
now at least.

thanks...

[Airliner]

If going for the PMDG, the 3D cockpit is more than worth! However, you'll want to have better control of viewpoint by using Active Camera
or, whatever that other one is called - the freeware thing - can't remember the name. Also, the overhead on the 737-6/7 is inactive. You
need the add-on 737-8/9 for it.

However, if you think FSX is the way to go, why spend the money on a model that you already know will not work with it? I'd say wait,
unless of course, you have a money tree in the backyard. They don't grow where I live.

[dave92270]

Airliner wrote:
If going for the PMDG, the 3D cockpit is more than worth! However, you'll want to have better control of viewpoint by using Active Camera
or, whatever that other one is called - the freeware thing - can't remember the name. Also, the overhead on the 737-6/7 is inactive. You
need the add-on 737-8/9 for it.

However, if you think FSX is the way to go, why spend the money on a model that you already know will not work with it? I'd say wait,
unless of course, you have a money tree in the backyard. They don't grow where I live.

Hello Airliner,

you have valid point about PMDG 737 being not FS X compatible.... still, it may be OK for next couple of months, before the FS X actually
hits the market. BTW, I found that Aerosoft sells retail boxed PMDG 737 800/900 as a standalone product ($39.95), maybe an option:

http://www.aerosoft.com/cgi-local/us/ibo...60,FS02005

that looks like well-rounded package, comes with 100-page printed manual as well. But yes, neither here money grow on the trees...I'll
have to think it out.

Thanks for reply!

Dave

[American Jet]

http://www.pilotshop.com/pmdg-600700-p-2...436481501e

I wanted to know if this plane brung the co pilot tha talked. Like he told you what to do and the checklist and stuff. Because if this
becomes available for FSX ill buy this once it comes out.

[American Jet]

If anyone would happen to know please respond.

[runibl]

I own both Wilco's 737 and PMDG 737NG +expansion.
I can't really compare them because they are different planes. Wilco being the 3/4/500 models, having a more older mix of steam gauges and glass
cockpit. PMDG 6/7/8/900 models being next generation modern glass cockpit.
I personally bought them to get the whole series, i now have 737-3/4/5/6/7/8/900 models.

Wilco's 737 is a newer product than the PMDG 737, and also has some more features like weather radar and IRS systems.
But it really depends on which plane you like the most, the 737-3/4/500 or 737-6/7/8/900.

Reviews:
Wilco's 737 http://www.avsim.com/pages/0206/737PIC/737PIC.htm
PMDG 737 http://www.avsim.com/pages/0504/pmdg_737...eview.html

American Jet wrote:
I wanted to know if this plane brung the co pilot tha talked. Like he told you what to do and the checklist and stuff. Because if this
becomes available for FSX ill buy this once it comes out.

As far as i can remember, no copilot ever talked me through the checklist and told me what to do. Except from perhaps FsP copilot shouting "pull up,
pull up".

[dave92270]

Hello runibl,

thanks for info - I'd probably buy them all too if only the FS X would not be coming up... well, I already ordered Wilco's 737PIC (but it will
not get here sooner then in a week unfortunately...), so I'm still looking for something to have "right now"; I did a few flights with freshly
downloaded free iFly 747 but it seems that there may be some glitches or rather missing things in the program - although I follow the
manual, I have problems with FMC, maybe I do things wrong, not sure... So, I though about getting level-d 767 download; from what I've
been reading everywhere the plane is great if not the best around. I know that it will not be supported under FS X, but for $40 I still get a
few months of learning/flying, which is not bad investment after all.

I have one more question, maybe someone could tell me - how much do you guys use rudder pedals when flying these airliners? I don't
own pedals, I have been using older MS Sidewinder Precison Pro with rudder control instead, but often I can't align with runways when
flying manually particularly if there is a wind. Would pedals (thought about CH pedals, $100 amazon) be a good investment to go with
these planes? Sorry if it's been asked before.

Thanks.

Dave

[runibl]

I don't own pedals myself, and i think joystick twist is to unprecise. So i keep autorudder turned on.
I have been thinking of ordering a pair of pedals, or even better the whole CH package with yoke, pedals and throttle. But i stop everytime when i
think i have to pay about up to 50% extra in taxes etc. when it get's here, it gets expensive.

I have also been thinking for a long time about building my own set. I have seen a lot of different guides about it.

[dave92270]

runibl wrote:
I don't own pedals myself, and i think joystick twist is to unprecise. So i keep autorudder turned on.
I have been thinking of ordering a pair of pedals, or even better the whole CH package with yoke, pedals and throttle. But i stop everytime
when i
think i have to pay about up to 50% extra in taxes etc. when it get's here, it gets expensive.

I have also been thinking for a long time about building my own set. I have seen a lot of different guides about it.

That is somewhat surprising – I thought that pretty much everyone around would use pedals, throttles etc. well, glad to know that I’m not
the only one who uses joystick only. I guess I’ll wait with pedals a bit until I’ll see how much they will be needed with airliners when I’ll try
to use proper approaches and ILS. It is the lineup with the runway during landings where I have usually problems, on take-offs I can get
by with joystick-controlled rudder.

Anyway, since the delivery of Wilco’s 737 that I bought last week may take a while (I overlooked that it ships from England), I ordered the
Level-D 767 and PMDG 737 NG 800/900 from pcaviator yesterday, package should be here in 2 days. I think that 737NG should be a
good learning plane before going for level-d 767; I got both because I couldn’t make my mind which one is “better”. Since FS X release is
still far away and payware planes will not be available immediately, I figured that if I don’t want to wait grounded, I might as well get a few
MSFS 2004 planes right now. FS X also seems to have quite steeper system requirements; I had some low frame rates in the demo, and
so the PC upgrade may be necessary; since I already pushed my system to it’s limits, I may need to build a new one down the road.

Dave

[Airliner]

In terms of pedals, I don't have them either. I have a thrustmaster topgun something or other with the separate throttle. You can switch
the rudder control between the joystick twist control and the "flipper" thing on the back of the throttle arm. I use the latter because I broke
the twist on the stick. (DOH!) It works, o-k-a-y, but it's not a fine enough control, especially when tooling down the runway with a
crosswind. Can you say, "Zig-Zag?"

My pax are full of fear before I even yank up the gear!

If you want to improvise on pedals, do a google search or check out some of the How to's on flightsim.com. They have some quick and
dirty pedal setups you can make from a single potentiometer connected to a pivot and a pair of slide-tracks - kinda like a cross-country
ski machine. Seriously, all you'd have to do is get some wire and yank the pot. out of your controller, splice in the wire to reach the pedal
board, then make the pivot. Probably cost less than half the cost of the 'professional' ones.

One of these days, I'm going to polish off that video of the PMDG 737 that I started. I included the entire startup sequence so you can see
everything that goes into firing it up. However, at 80GB, MUCH editing is required!

[highlander]

The CH pedals, though expensive, are worth every penny. See if you can find a store that sells them in your country, rather than paying international
shipping - even use eBay if needs be.

They're rugged, reliable, and very precise - even very small movements are detected, just as you'd expect in a small aircraft.

When flying an aerobatic aircraft (say, the Zivko Edge 540 or the default Extra), you can make the damn thing fly near enough sideways with a good
stomp on the rudder; it's a really cool aerobatic move for spectators, and the CH pedals handle it no problems.

And I've got great big feet, and they're still comfortable to use

I don't have a yoke or throttle quadrant, but I felt that the pedals would bring the most authenticity to the sim out of the three - which is why I
bought them. Well worth it.