picked up the PMDG 737 for FSX today. It has been a real bear.
I wanted something to step up the realism a little bit over the default 737 which is obviously lacking of anything other than something to start up and taxi out and fly around in. 90% of the switches and buttons and systems etc in the default 737 cannot even be interacted with.
So i decided to give the PMDG 737-800 a shot
first thing i notice... no manual, no check list, no instructional information of any kind could be found. So there i sit in a cold dark 737 cockpit like a monkey in a space capsule
With that said... i'll point out, i have experience as an FAR Part 121 airline pilot, and if i could get a decently realistic SAAB 340 to fly routes around in all over hell's half acre i would be in hog heaven. But since FFS went under, there really has not been a high end simulation of the SF340B or B+
Despite my experience i still found the learning curve to be a bit steep on this aircraft way beyond making it something fun and enjoyable for a weekend sim flight. I am not personally type rated on the 737... however i could see how a person would have to be just to put this thing around the patch in FSX.
I must have downloaded the 737 around 11am... it is now 4pm... i have been fiddling with the FMS for the last 3 hours trying to get it worked out for a simple flight, as apparently you cannot seem to fly the PMDG 737 on any sort of cross country flight without programming your entire route, VORs intersections, transition altitudes, performance variables and all into the FMS
Well...finally got it set up with performance v-speeds, weights - winds, departure etc and programmed nicely. (Jeez this is like being actually at work on one of these things)
Taxi out to runway 18L at DFW international airport, line up on center line and advance the thrust levers.
V1
Rotate
V2
Positive rate Gear up
Suddenly.... Unexplainable spiraling out of control, sudden inverted flight, flipping tumbling aerobatics, zooming inverted to 3-4,000 ft then spinning and crashing somewhere in the vicinity of Arlington, Texas. it was almost as if slew mode was inadvertently activated while at full control inputs.
Thats odd, reset flight and try again
Same result.
so i went reset the sim, went out to edwards, and launched from the long runway... same thing.
what gives? Did i just blow cash on something that isnt going to work for me now?
what is the cause of this sudden death spiral after takeoff? I dont have any recording software, but its like a sudden pitch to vertical followed by a extra 300 like roll rate to inverted flight, zooming at 500+ knots to 3-4000 feet then suddenly pitching vertical down angle zooming toward the ground while flipping about the lateral axis of the aircraft is the best i can describe it.
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