Originally Posted by bigdaddie

ACL,

I don't have the same opinion on the 737 brakes. What may be the culprit is the higher approach speeds of the -800 vs the 757. The -700 stops on a dime and I think I even made the mid-field turn off in SNA once. Basically you're comparing apples and oranges. People say the 800 is hard to slow down. ACL - it's much like the 757 with anti-ice on. The VNAV sucks and, I'm gonna say it, I think the VNAV in the 88 was more predictable. You will most definitely want to put away your laptop before TOD because the 800 will surprise even the most proficient 737 pilot.

Sounds like you flew the -88. The 88 was a dummied-up DC9. The NG's are a dummied down 757. Some things are really cool, and others are like "why did they do that?" Like, no EICAS, no route 2, you have to manually put the generators on line, the pneumatics system (my FOs slapped me if I tried to touch it), etc. The trips from ATL should be pretty good so enjoy the jet. It goes to a good cross section of destinations vs the red-eyes we had from LAX. Be familiar with it and moving to the left seat will be a breeze.

BD