Hey Guys:
While I understand what gimpgimp stated in his post, dealing with the installation of a rudder pressure reducer that dropped the hydraulic pressure assisting in the displacement of the rudder surface with a given amount of rudder pedal deflection, I disagree that such systems are only in B737NG aircraft. I think that if you go back and check the history of the B737, you will find that about 5 or 6 years ago Boeing mandated a change to the rudder system in all B737s. It came after a long series of discussions and finger pointing after the second fatal crash of a B737 (landing approach at Pittsburgh, PA, USA - the first one was in Colorado about a year or two earlier). At the same time, Boeing issued a “data update” for all those who operated B737 simulators around the world. There was a lot of discussion between some of the regulatory authorities and the engineering offices at Boeing (both engines and controls) to be sure that what was being provided was going to result in the proper indications in the simulator(s) – i.e., that the simulation was an accurate replication of the performance and handling of the respective series of B737.
I don’t recall the trigger for this pressure drop (either airspeed or altitude or a combination) in the earlier series of B737s, but if a pilot had the rudder pedals deflected to “almost maximum” (Boeing engineers’ phrase) at the time the rudder pressure was reduced, the pilot WOULD feel a “nudge” or “kick” in the rudder pedals. These engineers also indicated that if normally required rudder pedal deflection was being maintained, the pilot would likely not feel anything in the rudder pedals when the pressure was reduced, even though the rudder surface itself would change to a lesser-deflected position. This was because there is no direct connection between the rudder surface and the rudder pedals.
However, after having said all this, I also believe that if anyone has any concerns about the fidelity of the B737 simulator (or any simulator for that matter) that person should write up the concern in the simulator maintenance logbook and demand a correction or an explanation. And further more, if such a correction or explanation were not forthcoming, I’d recommend taking the situation to the regulatory authority.