Originally Posted by
Smokey23
Yep, my first visual approach in one of our new -800s was eye-opening. Not an airplane to even get close to pressing the field with, to be sure. It's compounded by that pesky Short Field Performance Package that ours have (no full LE slat extension until F25!) So it's easy to find yourself gear down, F15, 190 KIAS, on G/S, and the airplane starts accelerating! Though I've found that the extra slippery isn't too hard to compensate for as long as you remind yourself you're not in a -700.
Nothing against you, but to this day it cracks me up hearing 737 guys speak of the 737 as being slippery. Sure it is compared to an MD-88 or especially a CRJ, but having flown the 757/767 and Airbus... that thing is a lead sled in comparison! I could do just about whatever i wanted to as far as descents in that thing compared to it's more clean competitors.
As far as runway performance... The 800 had the most pucker factor of any plane I've flown thus far. Whole lot of speed down final and really crappy brakes!