slakr007 wrote on Jun 1^st, 2009 at 12:13am:

I have a few questions about setting up the 757 (version 4.3) FMS during pre-flight. First, on the Takeoff Ref page, what is the thrust temperature?  Is the outside air temp?  I have seen really large values here in some tutorials...sometimes on the order of 60 deg C with no explanation.  So...I am just not sure what to put here. Second, I can never get the FMS to display Pre-Flt Complete.  The FMS chapter of the manual says that "PRE-FLT COMPLETE" should be displayed on the Takeoff Ref page if all pre-flight entries have been made.  It goes on to say that the FMS will display a prompt if there are still missing entries. I have gone through the whole setup process.  I set the inertial reference position, selected a route, selected a SID and a departure runway, selected a STAR and an approach, set the gross weight, reserve fuel, cruise altitude, cost index, set the initial flap setting, guessed on the thrust temperature, and set the takeoff CG. I get nothing.  No PRE-FLT COMPLETE and no prompt to fill in missing data. I guess it is OK.  I mean, everything seems to work fine.  I was just wondering if I am missing something.

The "Thrust Temperature" is what they refer to as an "Assumed" temperature.  It is used to set a derated thrust.
If you use the actual outside temperature here, you will take off at full thrust.  If you use a temperature that is over the actual outside temperature, you will see a derated thrust of below 98%.  Normally this is used to help extend the life of the engines by taking off with 96% or 94% thrust instead of using more thrust than what is really needed for takeoff.
When you takeoff with derated thrust, you push the thrust levers forward to about 70% N1, then push the "EPR" button on the MCP.  This has to be done before 50kts or it will become disabled until 400AFE.  You will get the message on the PFD annunciator that will say "Thrust Set" with a box around it.
If you see that you need full thrust when taking off, just push the thrust levers forward against the stops and it will over ride the derated setting.

About the FMC, you say you are you putting the "Flap Setting" on the Take-Off page?
Mmmm...your missing something or you will get the Pre-Flight Complete message.  I always get that message.

Are you getting your Vspeeds put in with bold letters on the TakeOff page?

Are you solving any DISCOs in the flightplan?