TopCat + PFPX + 737NGX / Weights (How To)

[simbio 56]

I send a pm to the original poster but he lost all picture maybe he lost also the setup for the NGX , I hope some can jump and share this info.

[jordanal 70]

Sorry all, the jpg's are gone and I've performed a thorough search of my local backups to no avail.  Unless someone else saved the article, including the jpgs, there's not much more I can do.

[simbio 56]

I made the stupid error to uninstall topcat and PFPX to update at last version and lost all my setup. :t0116:

We should create a repository with all information for each addon,  that can help setting 3rd party software for dispatch.

It's a shame that we pay for several software but none of them come configured with the major addon.

Even payware aircraft don't have on manual all those info and you have to dig on aircarft.cfg and check on internet for info.

We can create a thread for each aircraft with

MTOW

MLW

DOW

MAX FUEL

MAX PAYLOAD

A GENERAL indication of the avarage fuel burn X NM

Etc.

[Driver170 42]

Hi guys its an old post i know but i recently got these two addons but not sure what to do with the 737 800 single class .txt above? Do i tale the weight figures and type them intp pfpx and topcat?

Type*

[Wanthuyr Filho 83]

I would like to ask if you have developed or seen around a profile to use within PFPX for the Short Field Performance 737-800(W) version.

 

Thank you.

[Aviators 3]

please add picture??

[Richy 1]

Why is there a difference in MZFW between both classes (mixed & single class layout), while the DOW remains the same.

I think it should be switched.

With mixed class there are less seats and a lower total weight than single class (although a business class seat weights slightly more). This is al part of the DOW. So it should be normal that the DOW would be variable regarding the cabin layout.

The actual ZFW would also change with a class change due to the changing DOW, but it has nothing to do with the MAXIMUM ZFW as far as I know.

[jordanal 70]

Thanks to AVSIM member kilijan (he had a copy of the pics)...

 

20140823 - Updated Page 1 Post (with fixed pics & updated config-boxes)

 

 

I don't know if anyone might find this useful, but here is how I got TopCat + PFPX to match the weights used by the various PMDG 737NGX FMC's. This was all calculated and recorded by loading 737 variants (both mixed-class and single class seating [they are different]) and zeroing-out the fuel and payload and then recording the basic FMC dry weight (DOW). I then loaded full passengers (no fuel) to record the ZFW for each class, then added full fuel (46057 all cases) and noted the MTOW.

 

PLEASE NOTE: In order for TopCat, PFPX, and the 737NGX FMC to match exactly, USE ONLY ADULTS, with weights preset to 175 lbs per adult, in the TopCat and PFPX preferences. Don't use children or infants in your plans. 175 lbs is what the 737 FMC uses when populating the 'seats filled' in the FMC. So when the PFPX OFP tells you C8 Y128, you load 8 first-class and 128 in Y class (coach), and match the cargo distribution from TopCat - your FMC weights will be a perfect, spot-on match.

 

 

The biggest headache using TopCat and PFPX (prior to launching FS) is determining if the desired 737NGX variant is a single-class or mixed-class configuration.  I personally like realistic livery.ini configs and keep them as originally created. To determine the respective livery.ini file before firing up FS, I use a free program (from the AVSIM library, I think) called AIRCRAFTER. I load it up and drill down to my desired PMDG 737 variant I wish to use for the flight. I then have AIRCRAFTER open the texture folder for the chosen livery and I inspect the livery.ini file. Near the bottom of the livery.ini file, there is a line similar to 'singleconfiguration=1', which defines a single-class variant, or if set to zero, indicates a mixed-class variant. This is irrespective of the fact that you could simply change the class (single or mixed) once you load up the livery in a FS session, and change it in the FMC Aircraft options to match your PFPX and TopCat weight calculations (number of seats).

 

The following TopCat configurations were noted directly from the PMDG 737NGX FMC, which will be used as templates when creating each PMDG 737NGX aircraft variant in TopCat and PFPX. These TopCat config files should be located in your TopCat install-path ..\TopCat\Configurations. Create the file-name (bold) and copy the content into each file.

 

Boeing 737-600 PMDG Mixed Class.txt

[GENERAL]
Aircraft=PMDG B736 Mixed Class
Units=LB

[CONFIGURATION]
Config=C8 Y111
Pax=119
Cargo=11200
Fuel=46057
DOW=80200
MZFW=112200
MTOW=144000
MLW=120500
Assumed=Y
Derate=Y
Combine=Y

[AIRCRAFT]
aircraft.0=B737-700_GE

[TRIM]
wing_root_chord=18.900
wing_area=1348.000
wing_span=113.000
wing_sweep=25
wing_pos_apex_lon=-34.000
empty_weight_CG_position=-48.170
MAC_Shift=0.10

[MAC_LIMITS_ZFW]
mac.0=75000;18.0;26
mac.1=80000;17.8;27.0
mac.2=104000;15.7;31.7
mac.3=121700;14.1;33.2

[MAC_LIMITS_TOW]
mac.0=75000;18.0;27.7
mac.1=80000;17.8;28.7
mac.2=104000;15.7;33.4
mac.3=140000;12.5;36.4
mac.4=140500;12.4;36.25
mac.5=153500;15;33.3
mac.6=155000;19.7;28.5

[MAC_LIMITS_LDW]
mac.0=75000;18.0;27.7
mac.1=80000;17.8;28.7
mac.2=104000;15.7;33.4
mac.3=140000;12.5;36.4
mac.4=140500;12.4;36.25
mac.5=153500;15;33.3
mac.6=155000;19.7;28.5

[PASSENGER_STATIONS]
station.0=8;-48.350;First;1
station.1=111;-48.350;Coach;2

[CARGO_STATIONS]
station.0=5200;-48.350;Fwd Cargo;3
station.1=6000;-48.350;Aft Cargo;4

[FUEL]
tank.0=-51.380;4
tank.1=-44.780;1
tank.2=-51.380;7


;1  Centre Tank
;2  Centre Tank 2
;3  Centre Tank 3
;4  Left Main Tank
;5  Left Aux Tank
;6  Left Tip Tank
;7  Right Main Tank
;8  Right Aux Tank
;9  Right Tip Tank
;10 External Tank 1
;11 External Tank 2

Boeing 737-600 PMDG Single Class.txt

[GENERAL]
Aircraft=PMDG B736 Single Class
Units=LB

[CONFIGURATION]
Config=Y129
Pax=129
Cargo=11200
Fuel=46057
DOW=80200
MZFW=114000
MTOW=144000
MLW=120500
Assumed=Y
Derate=Y
Combine=Y

[AIRCRAFT]
aircraft.0=B737-700_GE

[TRIM]
wing_root_chord=18.900
wing_area=1348.000
wing_span=113.000
wing_sweep=25
wing_pos_apex_lon=-34.000
empty_weight_CG_position=-48.170
MAC_Shift=0.10

[MAC_LIMITS_ZFW]
mac.0=75000;18.0;26
mac.1=80000;17.8;27.0
mac.2=104000;15.7;31.7
mac.3=121700;14.1;33.2

[MAC_LIMITS_TOW]
mac.0=75000;18.0;27.7
mac.1=80000;17.8;28.7
mac.2=104000;15.7;33.4
mac.3=140000;12.5;36.4
mac.4=140500;12.4;36.25
mac.5=153500;15;33.3
mac.6=155000;19.7;28.5

[MAC_LIMITS_LDW]
mac.0=75000;18.0;27.7
mac.1=80000;17.8;28.7
mac.2=104000;15.7;33.4
mac.3=140000;12.5;36.4
mac.4=140500;12.4;36.25
mac.5=153500;15;33.3
mac.6=155000;19.7;28.5

[PASSENGER_STATIONS]
station.0=129;-48.350;Coach;2

[CARGO_STATIONS]
station.0=5200;-48.350;Fwd Cargo;3
station.1=6000;-48.350;Aft Cargo;4

[FIXED_STATIONS]
station.0=0;-48.350;Placeholder;1

[FUEL]
tank.0=-51.380;4
tank.1=-44.780;1
tank.2=-51.380;7


;1  Centre Tank
;2  Centre Tank 2
;3  Centre Tank 3
;4  Left Main Tank
;5  Left Aux Tank
;6  Left Tip Tank
;7  Right Main Tank
;8  Right Aux Tank
;9  Right Tip Tank
;10 External Tank 1
;11 External Tank 2

Boeing 737-700 PMDG Mixed Class.txt

[GENERAL]
Aircraft=PMDG B737 Mixed Class
Units=LB

[CONFIGURATION]
Config=C8 Y128
Pax=136
Cargo=11900
Fuel=46057
DOW=83000
MZFW=118700
MTOW=153500
MLW=129200
Assumed=Y
Derate=Y
Combine=Y

[AIRCRAFT]
aircraft.0=B737-700_GE

[TRIM]
wing_root_chord=18.900
wing_area=1348.000
wing_span=113.000
wing_sweep=25
wing_pos_apex_lon=-34.000
empty_weight_CG_position=-48.170
MAC_Shift=0.10

[MAC_LIMITS_ZFW]
mac.0=75000;18.0;26
mac.1=80000;17.8;27.0
mac.2=104000;15.7;31.7
mac.3=121700;14.1;33.2

[MAC_LIMITS_TOW]
mac.0=75000;18.0;27.7
mac.1=80000;17.8;28.7
mac.2=104000;15.7;33.4
mac.3=140000;12.5;36.4
mac.4=140500;12.4;36.25
mac.5=153500;15;33.3
mac.6=155000;19.7;28.5

[MAC_LIMITS_LDW]
mac.0=75000;18.0;27.7
mac.1=80000;17.8;28.7
mac.2=104000;15.7;33.4
mac.3=140000;12.5;36.4
mac.4=140500;12.4;36.25
mac.5=153500;15;33.3
mac.6=155000;19.7;28.5

[PASSENGER_STATIONS]
station.0=8;-48.350;First;1
station.1=128;-48.350;Coach;2

[CARGO_STATIONS]
station.0=5400;-48.350;Fwd Cargo;3
station.1=6500;-48.350;Aft Cargo;4

[FUEL]
tank.0=-51.380;4
tank.1=-44.780;1
tank.2=-51.380;7


;1  Centre Tank
;2  Centre Tank 2
;3  Centre Tank 3
;4  Left Main Tank
;5  Left Aux Tank
;6  Left Tip Tank
;7  Right Main Tank
;8  Right Aux Tank
;9  Right Tip Tank
;10 External Tank 1
;11 External Tank 2

Boeing 737-700 PMDG Single Class.txt

[GENERAL]
Aircraft=PMDG B737 Single Class
Units=LB

[CONFIGURATION]
Config=Y146
Pax=146
Cargo=11900
Fuel=46057
DOW=83000
MZFW=120500
MTOW=153500
MLW=129200
Assumed=Y
Derate=Y
Combine=Y

[AIRCRAFT]
aircraft.0=B737-700_GE

[TRIM]
wing_root_chord=18.900
wing_area=1348.000
wing_span=113.000
wing_sweep=25
wing_pos_apex_lon=-34.000
empty_weight_CG_position=-48.170
MAC_Shift=0.10

[MAC_LIMITS_ZFW]
mac.0=75000;18.0;26
mac.1=80000;17.8;27.0
mac.2=104000;15.7;31.7
mac.3=121700;14.1;33.2

[MAC_LIMITS_TOW]
mac.0=75000;18.0;27.7
mac.1=80000;17.8;28.7
mac.2=104000;15.7;33.4
mac.3=140000;12.5;36.4
mac.4=140500;12.4;36.25
mac.5=153500;15;33.3
mac.6=155000;19.7;28.5

[MAC_LIMITS_LDW]
mac.0=75000;18.0;27.7
mac.1=80000;17.8;28.7
mac.2=104000;15.7;33.4
mac.3=140000;12.5;36.4
mac.4=140500;12.4;36.25
mac.5=153500;15;33.3
mac.6=155000;19.7;28.5

[PASSENGER_STATIONS]
station.0=146;-48.350;Coach;2

[CARGO_STATIONS]
station.0=5400;-48.350;Fwd Cargo;3
station.1=6500;-48.350;Aft Cargo;4

[FIXED_STATIONS]
station.0=0;-48.350;Placeholder;1

[FUEL]
tank.0=-51.380;4
tank.1=-44.780;1
tank.2=-51.380;7


;1  Centre Tank
;2  Centre Tank 2
;3  Centre Tank 3
;4  Left Main Tank
;5  Left Aux Tank
;6  Left Tip Tank
;7  Right Main Tank
;8  Right Aux Tank
;9  Right Tip Tank
;10 External Tank 1
;11 External Tank 2

Boeing 737-800 PMDG Mixed Class.txt

[GENERAL]
Aircraft=PMDG B738 Mixed Class
Units=LB

[CONFIGURATION]
Config=C12 Y150
Pax=162
Cargo=16400
Fuel=46057
DOW=91300
MZFW=136100
MTOW=174700
MLW=146300
Assumed=Y
Derate=Y
Combine=Y

[AIRCRAFT]
aircraft.0=B737-800_GE

[TRIM]
wing_root_chord=18.900
wing_area=1348.000
wing_span=112.58
wing_sweep=25
wing_pos_apex_lon=-43.800
empty_weight_CG_position = -57.77
MAC_Shift=0.09

[MAC_LIMITS_ZFW]
mac.0=79823;10;25.9
mac.1=86822;9.85;27.65
mac.2=134409;7.99;30.5
mac.3=138298;8.96;30.72
mac.4=144500;9.61;30.9
mac.5=146299;19.15;31

[MAC_LIMITS_TOW]
mac.0=79823;10;27.2
mac.1=134409;7.99;30.5
mac.2=138298;8.96;30.72
mac.3=144500;9.61;30.9
mac.4=161068;12.8;32.77
mac.5=172670;14.8;30.08
mac.6=174198;16.95;25.10

[MAC_LIMITS_LDW]
mac.0=79823;10;25.9
mac.1=86822;9.85;27.65
mac.2=134409;7.99;30.5
mac.3=138298;8.96;30.72
mac.4=144500;9.61;30.9
mac.5=146299;19.15;31

[PASSENGER_STATIONS]
station.0=12;-57.450;First;1
station.1=150;-57.450;Coach;2

[CARGO_STATIONS]
station.0=7400;-57.450;Fwd Cargo;3
station.1=9000;-57.450;Aft Cargo;4

[FUEL]
tank.0=-62.120;4
tank.1=-54.670;1
tank.2=-62.120;7


;1  Centre Tank
;2  Centre Tank 2
;3  Centre Tank 3
;4  Left Main Tank
;5  Left Aux Tank
;6  Left Tip Tank
;7  Right Main Tank
;8  Right Aux Tank
;9  Right Tip Tank
;10 External Tank 1
;11 External Tank 2

Boeing 737-800 PMDG Single Class.txt

[GENERAL]
Aircraft=PMDG B738 Single Class
Units=LB

[CONFIGURATION]
Config=Y174
Pax=174
Cargo=16400
Fuel=46057
DOW=91300
MZFW=138200
MTOW=174700
MLW=146300
Assumed=Y
Derate=Y
Combine=Y

[AIRCRAFT]
aircraft.0=B737-800_GE

[TRIM]
wing_root_chord=18.900
wing_area=1348.000
wing_span=112.58
wing_sweep=25
wing_pos_apex_lon=-43.800
empty_weight_CG_position = -57.77
MAC_Shift=0.09

[MAC_LIMITS_ZFW]
mac.0=79823;10;25.9
mac.1=86822;9.85;27.65
mac.2=134409;7.99;30.5
mac.3=138298;8.96;30.72
mac.4=144500;9.61;30.9
mac.5=146299;19.15;31

[MAC_LIMITS_TOW]
mac.0=79823;10;27.2
mac.1=134409;7.99;30.5
mac.2=138298;8.96;30.72
mac.3=144500;9.61;30.9
mac.4=161068;12.8;32.77
mac.5=172670;14.8;30.08
mac.6=174198;16.95;25.10

[MAC_LIMITS_LDW]
mac.0=79823;10;25.9
mac.1=86822;9.85;27.65
mac.2=134409;7.99;30.5
mac.3=138298;8.96;30.72
mac.4=144500;9.61;30.9
mac.5=146299;19.15;31

[PASSENGER_STATIONS]
station.0=174;-57.450;Coach;2

[CARGO_STATIONS]
station.0=7400;-57.450;Fwd Cargo;3
station.1=9000;-57.450;Aft Cargo;4

[FIXED_STATIONS]
station.0=0;-57.450;Placeholder;1

[FUEL]
tank.0=-62.120;4
tank.1=-54.670;1
tank.2=-62.120;7


;1  Centre Tank
;2  Centre Tank 2
;3  Centre Tank 3
;4  Left Main Tank
;5  Left Aux Tank
;6  Left Tip Tank
;7  Right Main Tank
;8  Right Aux Tank
;9  Right Tip Tank
;10 External Tank 1
;11 External Tank 2

Boeing 737-900 PMDG Mixed Class.txt

[GENERAL]
Aircraft=PMDG B739 Mixed Class
Units=LB

[CONFIGURATION]
Config=C12 Y162
Pax=174
Cargo=11100
Fuel=46057
DOW=94600
MZFW=136100
MTOW=174700
MLW=157300
Assumed=Y
Derate=Y
Combine=Y

[AIRCRAFT]
aircraft.0=B737-800_GE

[TRIM]
wing_root_chord=18.900
wing_area=1348.000
wing_span=112.58
wing_sweep=25
wing_pos_apex_lon=-43.800
empty_weight_CG_position = -57.77
MAC_Shift=0.09

[MAC_LIMITS_ZFW]
mac.0=79823;10;25.9
mac.1=86822;9.85;27.65
mac.2=134409;7.99;30.5
mac.3=138298;8.96;30.72
mac.4=144500;9.61;30.9
mac.5=146299;19.15;31

[MAC_LIMITS_TOW]
mac.0=79823;10;27.2
mac.1=134409;7.99;30.5
mac.2=138298;8.96;30.72
mac.3=144500;9.61;30.9
mac.4=161068;12.8;32.77
mac.5=172670;14.8;30.08
mac.6=174198;16.95;25.10

[MAC_LIMITS_LDW]
mac.0=79823;10;25.9
mac.1=86822;9.85;27.65
mac.2=134409;7.99;30.5
mac.3=138298;8.96;30.72
mac.4=144500;9.61;30.9
mac.5=146299;19.15;31

[PASSENGER_STATIONS]
station.0=12;-57.450;First;1
station.1=162;-57.450;Coach;2

[CARGO_STATIONS]
station.0=5100;-57.450;Fwd Cargo;3
station.1=6000;-57.450;Aft Cargo;4

[FUEL]
tank.0=-62.120;4
tank.1=-54.670;1
tank.2=-62.120;7


;1  Centre Tank
;2  Centre Tank 2
;3  Centre Tank 3
;4  Left Main Tank
;5  Left Aux Tank
;6  Left Tip Tank
;7  Right Main Tank
;8  Right Aux Tank
;9  Right Tip Tank
;10 External Tank 1
;11 External Tank 2

Boeing 737-900 PMDG Single Class.txt

[GENERAL]
Aircraft=PMDG B739 Single Class
Units=LB

[CONFIGURATION]
Config=Y186
Pax=186
Cargo=11100
Fuel=46057
DOW=94600
MZFW=138200
MTOW=174700
MLW=157300
Assumed=Y
Derate=Y
Combine=Y

[AIRCRAFT]
aircraft.0=B737-800_GE

[TRIM]
wing_root_chord=18.900
wing_area=1348.000
wing_span=112.58
wing_sweep=25
wing_pos_apex_lon=-43.800
empty_weight_CG_position = -57.77
MAC_Shift=0.09

[MAC_LIMITS_ZFW]
mac.0=79823;10;25.9
mac.1=86822;9.85;27.65
mac.2=134409;7.99;30.5
mac.3=138298;8.96;30.72
mac.4=144500;9.61;30.9
mac.5=146299;19.15;31

[MAC_LIMITS_TOW]
mac.0=79823;10;27.2
mac.1=134409;7.99;30.5
mac.2=138298;8.96;30.72
mac.3=144500;9.61;30.9
mac.4=161068;12.8;32.77
mac.5=172670;14.8;30.08
mac.6=174198;16.95;25.10

[MAC_LIMITS_LDW]
mac.0=79823;10;25.9
mac.1=86822;9.85;27.65
mac.2=134409;7.99;30.5
mac.3=138298;8.96;30.72
mac.4=144500;9.61;30.9
mac.5=146299;19.15;31

[PASSENGER_STATIONS]
station.0=186;-57.450;Coach;2

[CARGO_STATIONS]
station.0=5100;-57.450;Fwd Cargo;3
station.1=6000;-57.450;Aft Cargo;4

[FIXED_STATIONS]
station.0=0;-57.450;Placeholder;1

[FUEL]
tank.0=-62.120;4
tank.1=-54.670;1
tank.2=-62.120;7


;1  Centre Tank
;2  Centre Tank 2
;3  Centre Tank 3
;4  Left Main Tank
;5  Left Aux Tank
;6  Left Tip Tank
;7  Right Main Tank
;8  Right Aux Tank
;9  Right Tip Tank
;10 External Tank 1
;11 External Tank 2

Now, create your aircraft in TopCat similar to below. Please note, the aircraft registration text is important in that it must be identical to aircraft registration numbers created in PFPX. It is these reg #'s that tie the two programs together when sending OFP data from PFPX to TopCat, as well as adding Max Takeoff and Landing Data to the OFP when initially creating the flight plan in PFPX.

 

I chose to name my TopCat PMDG 737 aircraft after the models and add a -M for Mixed load configs and add a -S for Single load configs.

 

An example of my PMDG 737-S details can be seen;

 

 

NOW, for some configuration fun in PFPX...

 

Please note, as of this article, PFPX v1.04 Update was just released with a lbs rounding error fix which directly relates to the topic of this article.

 

 

Now open up your PFPX preferences page and set the Adult weights to 175 lbs and the baggage weights to the same value used in TopCat - the specific baggage values are not important, as long as they are the same in both TopCat and PFPX.

 

 

Now open the Aircraft database in PFPX and create the same list of PMDG 737NGX aircraft, just as you did in TopCat, keeping the aircraft registration numbers exactly the same as those created in TopCat. You can use the Aircraft Template feature when creating the PMDG aircraft, juts make sure you change the engine variants for each, before saving.

 

 

When creating each PFPX PMDG aircraft, make sure you populate the weights and numbers exactly as you did in TopCat, which again, were originally derived from the actual PMDG FMC.

 

 

As you can see, now we can use the PMDG 737-S (single class) with all the basic weights pre-populated, to work with both TopCat, and the PMDG FMC for the specific model. Remember, use only the adult weights and confirm your final ZFW in both TopCat and the PMDG FMC - they should be exactly the same. At the top, you can use the 'Takeoff' and 'Landing' buttons to calculate the MAX aircraft performance data, which will only be display the performance results OFP.  This has nothing to do with getting the OFP data into TopCat - next step.

 

 

Next we will use the calculated PFPX flight to completely pre-populate the TOPCAT GUI for final performance calculations. Remember, both PFPX and the full version of TopCat must reside on the computer.

 

Press the 'Send To' button at the top of the Screen to begin the process of exporting the entire OFP directly TopCat.

 

 

As you can see, we now have a completed TopCat form prepopulated, ready for use with the PMDG FMC.

 

 

Hope this helps a few folks.

[sbclark 55]

Yeah, Post this in the AVSIM Library..................it is really good information!

 

Bill Clark

[simbio 56]

Thank's for your research on brings back those vital info.

[Brazen 5]

Thanks to AVSIM member kilijan (he had a copy of the pics)...

 

20140823 - Updated Page 1 Post (with fixed pics & updated config-boxes)

 

 

 

Hey Al,

 

You're going to run into the same problem with Photobucket. You might want to consider something like imgur.com, which doesn't have a usage limit. Photobucket pics will disappear after a while, too.

[scandinavian13 5,192]

If you have a Google account, it automatically comes with Picasaweb.  That's what I use (especially because my G+ app on my phone auto-uploads images from an image folder I set up).  Super easy.  Plus, I can resize a picture just by renaming part of the URL.

[captain420 3,099]

Nice, glad you guys found what you needed.

[kityatyi 78]

Just one question. Why is the MZFW the same for the -900 as for the -800?

-800 Mixed Class
MZFW=136100

-900 Mixed Class
MZFW=136100

Cheers

[downscc 1,327]

 

 

Why is the MZFW the same for the -900 as for the -800?

 

Full names on all posts in the PMDG forums please.

 

Why not?  The aircraft is stretched by inserting plugs but the wings, engines, gear, etc., is essentially the same.  You pack more fannies and fewer packages.