They pretty much fixed all the problems with the -200 on the -700. The engines are powerful enough to actually get the plane off the ground with a full load in the summer and climb through the low 3s before it starts to run out of power. The ignition system is nice as well (funny story about that in a sec). The best part though is the bleeds are automatic. No more switching the 10th from the APU to the engines and back. Also the packs shut themselves off during start so you don't mess with them. On a similar note the generators stay in auto so you don't have to do anything with them unless there is a problem.
The one problem is that the -700 (and I assume the -900) is a different beast to land then the -200. Landing the 2 is pretty easy. Just get it over the runway, cut the power and hold it level. If you try that with the 700 you are going to end up putting the wheels through the wings. It requires a very stable approach and keeping the nose up high (just like a real airplane!)
So, the funny story.
We were taxiing a -200 out of Boston and departing 4R. It was my first trip back on the 200 in about a month. Airways Gates are back by the cargo ramp across from Delta so it is a bit of a taxi. Because of that we were going single engine. We get around the corner and see about 8 planes in front of us lined up for the runway. At that point ground puts us on a bypass taxi way and tells us we will be number one due to spacing out the departure gates and to be ready to go as soon as possible.
So I start up on the delayed engine start procedures (packs off, pumps on, ignition armed). I call them complete but in my rush (RUSH=BAD) I must have not hit the ignition switch hard enough to turn it on. I think I saw the light turn on but apparently not. Anyhow, I hit the start switch for number 1, hack the clock for the starter limit, see the ITT drop, the N2 and N1 spin up (you need N1 prior to light off on the -200) and push the thrust lever up out of cutoff. Well after about 30 seconds and not getting any light off I call an aborted start and cut off the throttle.
Delta is taxiing behind us and at that point they transmit on ground "Delta XXX ground... Tell that US Air Express that he is blowing smoke out his left engine." Thanks guys, it's not smoke... That's raw JetA.
So, lesson learned (besides DOUBLE checking a checklist), make sure that the ignition arms before bringing up the thrust lever.
Moral of the story, I like the 700 much more, not because I feel more important flying a bigger airplane, but because it has performance and the systems are much easier.
