Ho there as someoene who is eagerly looking forward to the MD-11 u guys are producing I wanted to know if the MD-11 has a fly-by-wire system and if so how difficult will that be to model within the FS9 environment?

A reminder from your friendly forum cop, please sign your posts with your real name. Thanks.

Google is your friend people...Yes the MD-11 does have FBW, however it's different than the Airbus system - the computers cannot override pilot input according to the info I found a few secs ago.

Yes the MD11 has some sort of FBW. It has two systems LSAS and RCWS. LSAS (Longitudinal Stability Augmentation System) controls the pitch and RCWS (Roll Control Wheel Steering) controls the bank. Though its nothing like FBW on an airbus as it only makes small corrections. Other than the 737NG CWS system the MD11 RCWS system can hold any bank (the 737 can only hold banks greater than 7 degrees right?). LSAS and RCWS are only available when the autopilot is OFF.Basten Heidema[a href=http://www.ifdg.net]--iFDG website!--[/a][/font]

Actuylly, the way I unerstand it, its somewhat different:The MD-11 does not have FBW. FBW only means, that the control yoke simply sends out electric signals which are processed and then routed to the appropriate control surface. Like in the A320+ era.The MD-11 has a pretty conventional flight control system - rods connecting yokes to the actual hydraulic actuators.Now then, whatyou are referring to are just flight control computers.But thas has nothing to do with actual FBW.Anyway, these two additional modes were fitted because the MD-11 is not a very good aircraft (aerodynamically). A Boeing will tend to roll back to 0 bank attitude if its banked. The MD-11 will not! Therefore, these computers were added so that the MD-11 won't overbank but hold the selected bank angle.Of course you can fly the MD-11 without these computers. Anyway, you'll notice some very big differences between the MD-11 and other airliners.I mean how the heck can you design an autoflight system where you can't switch on the A/T on its own?? (You have to engage the autopilot which will also engage the A/T and then you can disconnect the A/P leaving the A/T engaged...)The MD-11 is also more difficult to fly than lets say a 767. Some will say, the MD-11 is "still a real aircraft". Anyways, airlines operating the MD-11 (safely) spend more money on training than on non MD-11 fleets.Regards,Mark

Mark, You are 100% about it not being FBW the MD11 is a pretty nice and interesting airplane as it is a little different than most others. :-)The autoflight system (autopilot) is also.. well different heh. Like they way you engage the autothrottle system. Before T/O you press the AUTO FLIGHT button then you advance the throttles. Around 60deg Throttle Resolver Angle (TRA) (about 70% N1) the ATS engages. Another interesting feature is the Dail-A-Flap system... really hope PMDG will be able to model it.Basten Heidema[a href=http://www.ifdg.net]--iFDG website!--[/a][/font]

Dunno about anyone else but the real MD-11 always gave me the impression of an unfinished aircraft with corners cut in many areas. This appears to be the very unfortunate reality of McDonnell Douglas aeroplanes in the last thirty years.Apparently FIVE MD-11s have had been lost in recent times, and the less said about the DC-10, the better.Having said that, im still looking forward to purchasing the "scud" and giving myself many nervous flights, which an early scarebus would be proud of! :)A very reluctant "ex MD" observer!Armen at EGLLwww.veryquiet.com

>It has two systems LSAS and RCWS. LSAS (Longitudinal Stability >Augmentation System)controls the pitch and RCWS (Roll Control Wheel >Steering)controls the bank.A little additional information to those systems.Before I start, the following systems are all only used with Autopilot OFF!RCWS is nearly the same as on the (PMDG) 737NG where Bank gets maintained. There is however one big difference: On the MD-11 that system is not part of the Autopilot-Procedures but is running CONTINUOUSLY in the background as part of normal operations. You can switch it off if necessary, but it is designed to opperate the whole flight.Now LSAS does indeed stabilise the pitch, but it does not trim automatically like Airbusses do or the 737NG's CWS. As with RCWS this system is running continuously in the background and is also not part of the Autopilot. What it does, it uses elevator deflection to stabilise the airplane, for pitch that is +/- 5

Mmmmm.... Mussels. :-lol- Bill

>Mmmmm.... Mussels. :-lolOh pardon my language :-)English is not my native language... Then again it's not my fault those two words sound identical when spoken! ;-)Of course I meant "muscles"...Markus

>>Mmmmm.... Mussels. :-lol>Of course I meant "muscles"...>>MarkusActually Markus, I really liked that idea of using those "mussels". You can only imagine the picture it conjured up in my mind!Nice discussion, by the way. You certainly know your stuff.Regards,Bill