On a recent 7000 mi 14.5 hr flt from JFK to Johannesburg AFR I looked up on the overhead panel in VC mode and saw there is a combination lock dial to the right of the fire handles. Does an Md 11 pilot have to enter a combination before you can start the airplane? LOL Just wondering if this is on the real MD 11 and what it would be for. John KSEA

If I am not mistaken you are talking about the white dial with the raised knob? I think that is a timer so that you can time your legs and things like that while you are navigating. They are on the real aircraft though and many other commercial jets. Have seen them in photos on airliners.net.

John,this is nothing more than a simple egg timer. Use it for ATC purposes, napping, or whatever you see it fit... there's no limit to its use ;)Oh right it's not implemented yet! It might be one day, the sounds for it have been recorded already :) However there are features much more important than this one which we want to implement at a later date, so no promises that this will ever make it...!Markus

Thanks for the info, it would be nice to time my eggs, those 12hr legs make you hungry! LOL John KSEA

Just by curiosity any chance you can post your fuel figures ?see youPhil

Phil, If you are referring to the JFK to Johannesburg flt I took off with full tanks and 2/3 passenger load. There were tail winds most of the way and the CDU kept flashing insufficient fuel messages the whole flight. I landed with 10 to 11 thousand pounds left if I remember right. Definitely not a legal flight in the real world and I did not attempt to return that way because I knew the wind would not be in my favor. Headed west to RIO to check out the beaches. LOL On 12 hr flts I'm probably averaging 16 to 18 thousand pounds per hour. John KSEA