Originally Posted by
CA1900
As far as the cockpit goes, it's literally identical except for the displays, the gear handle (because of the displays), and removing a couple of overhead annunciator lights. That's why they're talking about reconfiguring an 800 sim's software to replicate the difference. All the other hardware (yoke, trim, stab cutout switches, etc) is exactly where it was in the NG, so it'd be a matter of loading a hybrid software package to make an NG sim fly like a Max sim for this specific training event.
I wonder how simple that would be and if it would be possible to do that without compromising the NG sim characteristics. The important point is that the MAX has different stability characteristics and the MCAS system. It will be interesting to see if merely a software package can enable a NG sim to be flown as a MAX or NG interchangeably.
Or perhaps some NG sims could be dedicated fully to the MAX. If that was the case, could WN afford to lose NG sims as they are converted into MAX sims? That would also possibly create logistical challenges with sim scheduling as now 2 different particular sim types would be required for all initial and possibly recurrent training.