Report on Boeing 737 NG Series Aircraft

[BobSturm]

For the past couple of weeks I have been flying the Boeing 737 NG series aircraft by Threshold. They are the 737-600, 700, 800 and 900. These are FREE quality aircraft with a custom FMC. These aircraft are built on a stable Zibo foundation. I have had no issues with them at all. They are definitely worth getting.

[wwa659]

thank you Bob,
I believe Karl is painting these for Westwind

[WWA1103]

I have tons of issues with the NG series in the final approach phase of flight. I can capture the rnav or ils approach but inevitably either the autothrottle turns off and I suddenly lose or gain speed, or the aircraft drops below glidepath in the last mile or so before landing, or both.

I am sure it is user error but is frustrating as I don’t have any issues flying approaches in other aircraft. If anyone can point me to an explanation for how to shoot an rnav or ils approach in the NG specifically I would appreciate it. I have tried watching a couple of YT videos and they either don’t explain it well or I am missing something.

[wwa659]

The only recommendation I have is to turn off the autopilot and autothrottle sooner. Somewhere around 1000 feet AGL or at the 3-mile final. If the weather is at minimum's then you can wait till you have visual on the runway. reminder use power to adjust for glideslope, Add just a touch as the aircraft starts to drift below the glideslope or reduce just a touch if the aircraft is getting just a bit high. It is better to use smaller adjustments early rather than later. The glideslope needle should not move more than 1/4 to 1/2 dot before correction. Also, use pitch to control airspeed on final. Again very small adjustments are all that are required.

[BobSturm]

I have not any serious issues with approaches. What I do with all my aircraft is I reset the desired approach speeds in the FMS before arrival. Most approaches have me coming in too fast. Also many increase the speed at about MDA in prep for go around. Also, as Shaun recommends, I disengage the auto throttle and autopilot at the 1000 ft point in the approach. Also, I don't engage APP until I have established the Localizer and am sure I am below the glideslope. I approach the approach path using the LOC function, then once on the localizer and still below the glide slope I hit the APP button. Every now and then I encounter an approach that doesn't quite work as it should, and am inclined to believe it may be an issue with the transmitter location within X-Plane or the runway itself. I say that because I have read the procedure for changing the transmitter location, which is hard coded. Doing airport modifications, I have run across misplaced runways. Just last week I did a ILS approach to WAHH in Indonesia that had me lined up with a grass runway that was parallel to the paved runway. Jets were even taking off and landing on the grass. I downloaded that one and am making corrections to it now.

[WWA1103]

Thanks those are good tips, I will keep practicing them. I have no issues handflying them just keep getting issues when trying to use autopilot, but I was trying to use it down to 200 feet so I will try 1000 instead.

[BobSturm]

On occasion my 757-200F and my 747-8F will hold true all the way down. I've never actually let them touchdown on autopilot. Those are payware, so I expect them to perform flawlessly ( ); whereas the 737Ng are free so I'm not as critical. I do like them though. I've started flying more passenger and charter flights since I got them. Before that I was almost exclusively cargo. It is great having them in WestWind colors!

[WWA1823]

I'm on my maiden flight with the 737NG on XP11(ORD-EWR). I finally have a computer that can run XP11 and WOW am I impressed. I have FS9, MSFS2020 and now XP11 installed. MSFS 2020 is nice eye candy for VFR but the Xbox menus, YUCK!!!!!!!! The 737NG in Westwind livery on XP11 so far is AWESOME. The FMC with Simbrief was headache free, my Saitek X52 was easy to program on XP11. Thanks to the Westwind A/C painter. Lots to learn on Xplane11 but I'm a happy camper.

WWA1823
KORD HUB

[BobSturm]

Be sure to check out the WestWind hub scenery for X-Plane.

[WWA1823]

will do thanks