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====== PMDG Tutorial ====== | ====== PMDG Tutorial ====== | ||
- | Here you will find a work in progress Tutorial on the PMDG 737 NGXU. Other aircraft will follow. But first: | + | Here you will find initial tips and tricks to get you started, specifically with the pmdg 737. It is our belief that once you have mastered the 737, the 747 and 777 aircraft will be relatively similar and should take much less time and effort to master. We will update this section with relevant tips for the 747 and 777 as and when. |
- | ===== Important prerequisites ===== | + | ===== Important prerequisites |
- | We would ask that you download our options files, configured by those who use the PMDG most in our community. These will ensure that the aircraft starts in cold and dark, as well as ensuring the autopilot is more BVI friendly on takeoff. The program [[https:// | + | We would ask that you download our options files, configured by those who use the PMDG most in our community. These will ensure that the aircraft starts in the long panel state with the GPU connected, as well as ensuring the autopilot is more BVI friendly on takeoff. The program [[https:// |
+ | {{pmdg options files.zip|Download options files}} | ||
+ | |||
+ | Note: | ||
+ | This config is for first officer 2.04. We strongly recommend you use this version | ||
+ | |||
+ | You will of course also need [[https:// | ||
+ | |||
+ | You can also find a guide here in text form which is aimed to help you set up a CDU and complete your first flight. This along with using the tutorial from the Blind Flightsimmer youtube channel will get you in the ballpark on the 737 series of aircraft. | ||
+ | |||
+ | {{cdu_quickstart.zip|download cdu quickstart guide}} | ||
+ | |||
+ | ===== Prerequisites for Microsoft flight simulator ===== | ||
+ | |||
+ | For FS2020 you will instead require the latest tfm preview which can be found at [[https:// | ||
+ | |||
+ | You will also require first officer next for the pmdg 737 which can be found at [[https:// | ||
+ | |||
+ | Currently the PMDG 737-600, 700, 800 and 900 packages are available for purchase and can be purchased independently. | ||
+ | |||
+ | We also offer pre-configured config files for the pmdg 737 options file and first officer next which can be found at {{fs2020_config_files.zip|Download options files}} | ||
+ | |||
+ | The pmdg options file is particularly important to ensure that your data broadcasting is enabled correctly and should be placed at: | ||
+ | C: | ||
+ | |||
+ | This location is if you have the simulator on the microsoft store, which is highly recommended. | ||
+ | |||
+ | Note you will need to change the aircraft identifier to 737, 736, 739 ETC to find the folder | ||
+ | |||
+ | Note also that the first officer config is designed not to program the fmc for you. You will therefore need to insert your IRS position yourself unlike in p3d, and furthermore program | ||
+ | This file should be located at: | ||
+ | C:\Program Files (x86)\Flight Simulator First Officer Next\Data | ||
+ | |||
+ | |||
+ | You can also find a guide here in text form which is aimed to help you set up a CDU and complete your first flight. This along with using the tutorial from the Blind Flightsimmer youtube channel will get you in the ballpark on the 737 series of aircraft. | ||
+ | |||
+ | {{cdu_quickstart.zip|download cdu quickstart guide}} | ||
+ | |||
+ | |||
+ | ===== pmdg 747 quickstart guide ===== | ||
+ | We also offer a quick guide for the 747 which covers completing a flight with the slight FMC differences represented. Thanks to a member of the community, Tower, for writing the majority of the information. | ||
+ | {{747 fmc.zip|download cdu quickstart guide for 747}} | ||
+ | AS mentioned above you can download the full group of pmdg aircraft options files to configure the options within the aircraft itself. This includes the 747 | ||
{{pmdg options files.zip|Download options files}} | {{pmdg options files.zip|Download options files}} | ||
- | You will of course also need [[https:// | ||
- | ==== In progress Tutorial | + | ==== Initial tips and tricks |
- | Pilots who fly the PMDG 737 should feel free to add to this tutorial. | + | Pilots who fly the PMDG 737 should feel free to add to this information. |
- | This guide will briefly | + | This guide will briefly |
- | This is by no means a complete guide, nor is it a replacement for reviewing | + | |
+ | We also encourage you to use your own initiative and to search for videos online. Aviation pro, doofer 911, and matt Davies are all good youtube channels with educational | ||
+ | The advantage of the PMDG is that the sighted community can access | ||
+ | Therefore, rather than exploring how to set up the panels or CDU, we will focus in on a few tips for using the specialist software talking flight monitor and first officer pro. | ||
When you download the pmdg 737 NGXU and flight simulator first officer pro, to make things easier for you, you will find in this folder download links to a user.cfg and an options.ini. These have been configured so that you will have minimal work to do in terms of finding options to enhance your user experience. | When you download the pmdg 737 NGXU and flight simulator first officer pro, to make things easier for you, you will find in this folder download links to a user.cfg and an options.ini. These have been configured so that you will have minimal work to do in terms of finding options to enhance your user experience. | ||
+ | |||
The key things to note are: | The key things to note are: | ||
the 737 will start in cold and dark. | the 737 will start in cold and dark. | ||
Changes have been made to ensure the smoot engagement of the autopilot even when you are using a joystick to fly the first few hundred feet. This file, called 737NGXu_Options.ini goes in C:\Program Files\Lockheed Martin\Prepar3D v4\PMDG\PMDG 737 NGXu, with the minor adjustment depending on if you are using p3d v4 or v5. | Changes have been made to ensure the smoot engagement of the autopilot even when you are using a joystick to fly the first few hundred feet. This file, called 737NGXu_Options.ini goes in C:\Program Files\Lockheed Martin\Prepar3D v4\PMDG\PMDG 737 NGXu, with the minor adjustment depending on if you are using p3d v4 or v5. | ||
+ | |||
The user.cfg file for FSFO makes various changes, mainly making the process and actions of the co-pilot more automated, but feel free to look through the file as well as browse through the cfg section of the program to adjust settings. This file goes to C:\Program Files (x86)\Flight Simulator First Officer Prof | The user.cfg file for FSFO makes various changes, mainly making the process and actions of the co-pilot more automated, but feel free to look through the file as well as browse through the cfg section of the program to adjust settings. This file goes to C:\Program Files (x86)\Flight Simulator First Officer Prof | ||
- | We must state that there are some useful tips and caveats to flying the pmdg: | + | talking flight monitor will read many of the indicators, lights, and CDU messages |
- | It is highly recommended that you have a joystick or at the very least a controller as you will be lifting off by yourself until the autopilot engages. | + | The CDU: |
- | You will need talking flight monitor | + | |
- | Now to setting up a flight once you have loaded the plane. | + | |
- | First, open the doors with ctrl E. FSFO should begin the start-up flow. You will hear ground power establish eventually, and the position entered into the FMc amongst other things. Whilst this is happening, you can bring up the fmc with left bracket ctrl C in tfm. | + | Now for a brief description of the CDU for those unfamiliar. The CDU is laid out as in the real aircraft. There are six lines to the CDU, and each can have options/ |
+ | TFM has self-explanatory buttons to clear the scratchpad (the typing pad essentially), | ||
+ | |||
+ | We will also briefly discuss first officer pro from a blind pilots perspective: | ||
+ | The button labelling in first officer can be a little interesting. For our purposes the main areas you will need are: | ||
+ | |||
+ | The connect button, to connect to the flight sim once FSFO is loaded. | ||
+ | |||
+ | the voice button, to toggle voice listening off or on. We encourage you to press this once first officer is loaded and then use the no smoking sign to toggle listening instead to minimise tabbing back and forth (note this is not available in msfs). You can even assign the no smoking signs to a button on your joystick if you prefer, this can be done in the p3d key binding options. | ||
+ | |||
+ | The VCHK button, this turns on the automatic voice replies to checklists in p3d. Press it once first officer has been loaded if you wish to have checklist items responded too automatically. Do not press if you want to use your mic to respond to checklist items via voice yourself. | ||
+ | |||
+ | The options button will open the dialogue to adjust various parameters in p3d, but much of the dialogue is mislabelled. We strongly encourage you to instead use the text config for adjusting options to avoid mistakes. | ||
+ | The BRF button, or performance in msfs. This takes you to the briefing page which should be filled out before departure. Again, much here is mislabelled, | ||
+ | We recommend you tick the download wx box, so that first officer will find the local pressure ETC and perform relevant tasks, and also the tune ILS checkbox. This means first officer will tune the frequency to the nav radios in the 737 before landing. The blank edit box next to the set ILS checkbox is to choose the arrival runway to be tuned. By majority, the rest of this dialogue can be left as is. There are boxes to choose arrival flap settings, arrival minimum altitudes, departure pac settings ETC, but these can be left on default options if you wish. First officer is able, for example, to pull the flap settings you enter into the fmc in the takeoff and landing performance pages and use them for it's purposes, meaning that if you do not adjust these boxes in the briefing, you will not notice any operational differences. | ||
+ | NOte that in first officer pro 2.05, some of this information can be obtained automatically from your simbrief plan. The first officer can further program the CDU to an extent, although elements such as your sid and star will be left to you. | ||
+ | Note: you will find many of these options in a menu in msfs's version of first officer, FSFO next. Hitting alt brings up this menu, and dialogues can be expanded and will only disappear if you return to the menu and click on the name of the dialogue once again. See the videos section for fuller demos of FSFO next. | ||
+ | |||
+ | you will First open the doors with ctrl E. FSFO should begin the start-up flow. You will hear ground power establish eventually, and the position entered into the FMc amongst other things. Whilst this is happening, you can bring up the fmc with left bracket ctrl C in tfm. | ||
It will appear in the prior-mentioned format. | It will appear in the prior-mentioned format. | ||
- | Head to the FS Actions page. Try and find it yourself. | ||
- | Once there, Press LSK 1L to select the FUEL page. | ||
- | Tab over to the scratchpad, and enter the fuel amount in pounds (in this case) | ||
- | Press lsk1l again. This will copy the text into the fuel box, and The plane will distribute the fuel correctly. | ||
- | Press lsk6l to get back to the fs actions page | ||
- | Press LSK 2L to select the PAYLOAD page. | ||
- | enter your zero fuel weight which you can obtain from simbrief | ||
- | press lsk2R to enter it and have weight automatically distributed | ||
- | By this time, you have probably heard FSFO tell you the CDU can be programmed, because the IRS position has been entered. You can now feel free to go back to the main menu by pressing alt M. Most pages buttons will show the associated hotkey with tfm. | ||
- | Press lsk1l to go to the fmc page | ||
- | you will land on the ident page where you can check out the aircraft, it's engine thrust rating, the navdata which you should have updated with hnavigraph. | ||
- | Now press lsk6R to go to the pos init page | ||
- | enter the reference airport into the scratchpad, and then press lsk2L to enter it into the FMC. | ||
- | Press LSK6R to proceed to the route page | ||
- | departure: lsk1l | + | Here then, you see how first officer performs flows automatically when events |
- | arrival: lsk1r | + | |
- | flight number: lsk 2r | + | |
- | co root: lsk2L. Enter the pln name having exported the file from simbrief to the pmdg flight plans NGXU folder. For example, you would enter egllkjfk for a flight plan from Heathrow to jfk | + | |
- | press lsk 2l to load this file | + | |
- | Now, go to the dep arr button,, alt D, to set sids and stars | + | |
- | Press lsk1l to go to the departure page | + | |
- | select the runway first on the right side for ease | + | |
- | sids will be filtered this way | + | |
- | Now choose the sid, then the transition on the left if necessary. | + | |
- | Press lsk6r to get back to the route page | + | |
- | Go back to and press the depp arr button again | + | |
- | Press lsk2r to set star and approach | + | |
- | select the star on the left | + | |
- | remember that you need to use the left side to select transition after selecting the star, if needed | + | |
- | The approach is on the right side. The same process applies for then choosing a transition on the left side once the approach has been selected if you are using such a transition. | + | |
- | Now press the legs button. This is alt+G. Check that the sid waypoints, the enroute waypoints, and arrival are in. Some will not have altitudes yet. Notice | + | |
- | If there are any route discontinuities, | + | |
- | Press lsk6r to activate, followed by alt+e to execute | + | |
- | now go to the init ref page. | + | |
- | You can press lsk3l twice to enter the zfw (zero fuel weight) | + | |
- | Press LSK4l for reserved fuel | + | |
- | Input the cost index into the scratchpad, followed by pressing lsk5l | + | |
- | Input the cruise altitude into the scratchpad, followed by pressing lsk1r | + | |
- | Input the transition altitude into the scratchpad, followed by pressing LSK4R | + | |
- | press alt+e to execute. | + | |
- | LSK2R is winds at cruise | + | |
- | LSK3R is outside temperature at cruise | + | |
- | Both the winds and temperature in 2r and 3r are optional, but if put in can help the plane calculate top of climb and descent better. These winds are the average winds, but for longer flights in particular, we will show you later a more accurate method in which you can use the datalink to upload winds for each waypoint. | + | |
- | press the legs button and check that the altitudes are populated | + | |
- | n1 limit | + | |
- | Press either lsk4l for maximum take-off power, 3L for first derate, or 2L for 2nd/lowest derate | + | |
- | climb derates are LSK2R, 3R, AND 4R, with 2r for the least amount of derate and 4r for the most. | + | |
- | LSK1L is temperature, | + | |
- | Press lsk6r to go to the take-off page | + | |
- | enter the flaps setting into the scratchpad, and put it into the FMC by pressing lsk1l | + | |
- | Press lsk3l to select center of gravity, and then press it again to enter it into the fmc | + | |
- | LSK1r, 2, and 3r will calculate v speeds | + | |
- | Your briefing is as follows: | + | |
- | 1. close doors | + | |
- | 2. Preflight checklist | + | |
- | 3. before start | + | |
- | 4. start engines | + | |
- | 5. taxi | + | |
- | 6. before take-off | + | |
- | 7. after take-off | + | |
- | To do a step climb, on the cruise page, enter the flight level you'd like to step climb to in the scratchpad, and then press LSK1R to enter this altitude into the FMC. Note that it may take a few seconds to load the resulting values, so you may have to press refresh a couple of times. | + | So far you have seen that much of the systems operation, aside from the CDU, can be performed by first officer pro. As you grow in experience with the aircraft, you will see that you learn the flows that are performed on the overhead panels. If you wish to do anything on these panels, from starting |
- | You can either look at LSK2R when you see the word now, or go by the opt altitude, found by pressing LSK1R, but to the left of your step climb you just put in. | + | A video on how to start engines manually is linked in the videos section of this page. |
- | To actually set your step climb, | + | |
- | Before approach, go to the ref init page and press the lsk key twice on the flaps setting you want. Normally, I do this right after top of descent to get the most up-to-date speed calculations. | + | |
+ | Another key example in using these panels may be in reconnecting the ground power after landing and when parked up. You can request chocks and a GPU in the FS actions/ | ||
+ | Note that in the latest TFM preeviews, the APU controls are located in the new engine section after TFM's panel re-design. | ||
+ | | ||
=== Tutorial videos === | === Tutorial videos === | ||
- | So far, some videos have been made from a BVI pilot perspective, but we encourage you to also review | + | For a full flight example with video walk-through, see the following |
- | The following two tutorials were created by Blindflightsimmer on the PMDG 737 NGXU: | + | The following two tutorials were created by Blindflightsimmer on the PMDG 737 for msfs: |
part 1: | part 1: | ||
- | https:// | + | |
+ | https:// | ||
Part 2: | Part 2: | ||
- | https:// | + | |
+ | https:// | ||
+ | |||
+ | For a briefer demo of TFM in action with the pmdg see: | ||
+ | |||
+ | https:// | ||
+ | |||
+ | For a demo of how to manually start the 737 engines: | ||
+ | |||
+ | https:// | ||
+ | |||
+ | for a demo of first officer pro from the dev himself: | ||
+ | |||
+ | https:// | ||