tom11011

Airbus!!!!

R57 relay

Eh, I'd have to disagree with your buddy.

It definately does it's own thing, if by it's own thing you mean how it was designed/programed. Occassionally the VNAV gets out of whack and truely does it's own thing, but that's a known issue. For most other issues it's a matter of the pilot not understanding why it is doing what it is doing, and usually they asked for it! Then they watch it do what they asked for, when they didn't really mean it, and don't intervene.

More than any other A/C I've flown, on the A320 it's important to know the automation first. Too many guys want to treat it like other airplanes they have flown-just hand fly it until the figure it out. That attitude can burn you.

CRJJ

Plus 737 VNAV also gets out of whack, quite a bit. It’s like a bipolar woman on crack.

aa73

I don't doubt ya bud, I'm just relaying what he told me. He was beyond frustrated with not just the managed modes but he never really felt comfortable with the non moving throttles and side sticks... said he always felt out of the loop. He also never really enjoyed hand flying the Bus because he never really considered it hand flying... apparently the computers are still doing the flying (this is what he told me.) Anyhoo, I think he was just a long time Boeing guy and was forced to the Bus, and finally had enough and went back to the 737.

R57 relay

I'm happy for him, to each their own. I enjoyed my time on the 737, and hated the A320 after coming from the 75/76. It took about 6 months for me to start liking it. If I was offered one to take around the patch one more time, it would be the 737-200, 727-200 or 767-200.

One of my best friends never made friends with the Bus. He had over 25 years on the 737 and never got over it.

The computers are taking the input and sending direction to the flight controls. But, I reminded a friend that said "I like the real feel of the 737's controls", that he must like artificial things, because unless he was flying in manual reversion, it was like 70's GM power steering with a box of springs giving him his feel. I compared it to liking the feel of other artificial things.

One nice thing about the big 3, lots of choices. I'm looking forward to the 787 or 777.

PRS Guitars

I have no problem with Boeings and generally stick with the philosophy that "the airplane you fly, does not make you the man that you are" but the "you aren't hand flying" argument is weird to me. You are in fact controlling the airplane...telling it what to do. You can turn off the autopilot and flight directors and auto thrust and actually move the thrust levers. The plane will do what you want, but will protect itself. Just like an F16 will as well, the joke was HAL 9000 got the final decision. Driving a new BMW is drive by wire, brake by wire, you're still driving it. Pretty sure many Boeings are fly by wire too right?

Yes there is no trim, just like an F16...it's freaking awesome! One less step, does the extra step of trimming make it hand flying? What about a wheel vs electric trim? Yes there is no feel in the stick, same as an F16...you get used to it...still hand flying I assure you. I think the feel and trim (and how easy the dang thing is to fly) are what lead people to claim you aren't hand flying, but you are, you have to make an input to level off, or turn to a heading etc.

That said, I'm sure the 737 would be fun to fly too. I did bid for it on my first upgrade, but got the bus. I've thought about switching over for a change of scenery, but probably won't.

GrossNavError

I want it easy as it can be.
I don't want to trim, I don't want to have to slowly stow or pull the speed break or worry about correcting ref speed. I want everything to be as automated and easy as possible. That's the Airbus way and it's my way.

ImSoSuss

Children of the Magenta

aa73

All good points... further reinforces to the OP on this thread to pick the aircraft that gets the best seniority the quickest.

tom11011

You eat like an animal on the 737