Jump to content
Sign in to follow this  
Benjamin J

Huge MD-11 manual: people's solutions?

Recommended Posts

I am one of those people that doesn't like reading from a computer screen. This usually isn't a problem, given the fact that most stuff isn't 1400 pages. The MD-11 manual is... I was wondering, how do people solve this problem? do you end u reading from the screen? Do you print it out yourself, all of it? Do you go to some print shop (like I did with the Boeing 747 manual; cost me a fortune, but wow, does it look good!)? Do you end up printing out sections? Or, did you just buy PMDG's printed manual (which looks fairly appetizing, I must admit)? I'd like to know what your way of solving this problem is.


Benjamin van Soldt

Windows 10 64bit - i5-8600k @ 4.7GHz - ASRock Fatality K6 Z370 - EVGA GTX1070 SC 8GB VRAM - 16GB Corsair Vengeance LPX @ 3200MHz - Samsung 960 Evo SSD M.2 NVMe 500GB - 2x Samsung 860 Evo SSD 1TB (P3Dv4/5 drive) - Seagate Barracuda 2TB 7200RPM - Seasonic FocusPlus Gold 750W - Noctua DH-15S - Fractal Design Focus G (White) Case

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites
I am one of those people that doesn't like reading from a computer screen. This usually isn't a problem, given the fact that most stuff isn't 1400 pages. The MD-11 manual is... I was wondering, how do people solve this problem? do you end u reading from the screen? Do you print it out yourself, all of it? Do you go to some print shop (like I did with the Boeing 747 manual; cost me a fortune, but wow, does it look good!)? Do you end up printing out sections? Or, did you just buy PMDG's printed manual (which looks fairly appetizing, I must admit)? I'd like to know what your way of solving this problem is.
Well I got the printed manuals from PMDG, it comes to my sense it's easier having them at hand other than going thought pdf files especially if you got the Beast flying ! Just my 2 cents! Leonardo Soares

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites
I am one of those people that doesn't like reading from a computer screen. This usually isn't a problem, given the fact that most stuff isn't 1400 pages. The MD-11 manual is... I was wondering, how do people solve this problem? do you end u reading from the screen? Do you print it out yourself, all of it? Do you go to some print shop (like I did with the Boeing 747 manual; cost me a fortune, but wow, does it look good!)? Do you end up printing out sections? Or, did you just buy PMDG's printed manual (which looks fairly appetizing, I must admit)? I'd like to know what your way of solving this problem is.
Hi Benjamin, Do the tutorial that came with it then when you feel your up to it, try the recently released Advanced tutorial. During both reads, you'll of course need to reference the manuals on terms and systems you don't understand, but for that I recommend doind as follow:
  • Copy all of your MD-11 manuals into 1 directory
  • Create a shortcut for the folder on your desktop
  • When searching for a key word, Press "CTRL+SHIFT+F", this will open the advanced search feature of the pdf's
  • Quickly learn what you need and go back to your tutorial.

That's the easiest way. I am a comp person mainly, I can sit through hours of pdf reading, but actual books put me right to sleep, no matter what the subject. You'll be surprised at how fast you pick it up. Then when you find yourself stumped, use the advanced search here by typing in multiple words with a + before each word and you'll be applying for the next opening for an MD-11 pilot before you know it!


i9 10920x @ 4.8 ~ MSI Creator x299 ~ 256 Gb 3600 G.Skill Trident Z Royal ~ EVGA RTX 3090ti ~ Sim drive = M.2  2-TB ~ OS drive = M.2 is 512-gb ~ 5 other Samsung Pro/Evo mix SSD's ~ EVGA 1600w ~ Win 10 Pro

Dan Prunier

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

I just copy the files to my laptop, that's where I do most of my reading anyway. It's handy when I'm on the couch with my partner and she's watching Ghost whisperer or some other random girly program, I can just switch off. I also prefer using the laptop because I can Google and look up certain things I am not 100% sure about and jump back & forth between the PDF and web page.The only thing I do like to have printed out is the QRH, Checklists & Aircraft limitations


Rob Prest

 

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

I printed it out on my Canon IP4000 printer with separate ink cartridges. Then had it bound in a copy shop. Total cost wasn't very much (considering it's around 1400 pages), less than 30 Euro I guess.

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites
I am one of those people that doesn't like reading from a computer screen. This usually isn't a problem, given the fact that most stuff isn't 1400 pages. The MD-11 manual is... I was wondering, how do people solve this problem? do you end u reading from the screen? Do you print it out yourself, all of it? Do you go to some print shop (like I did with the Boeing 747 manual; cost me a fortune, but wow, does it look good!)? Do you end up printing out sections? Or, did you just buy PMDG's printed manual (which looks fairly appetizing, I must admit)? I'd like to know what your way of solving this problem is.
I usually print out sections like tutorials,but not the whole manual.The manuals are always copied to a flash drive,or my notebook,because I only have a laser printer which does not do color.I realise that the PMDG manuals are not in color,but they would be too bulky,since I have so many manuals for other aircraft.Also,I am cutting down on all printed media to save the trees,LOL.I know that people lament that printed manuals are no longer supplied with most addons,but if you consider the cost savings on printing and shipping,it is understandable.Ron

Ron Service

.

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

Wow guys, thanks for the fast replies!I don't have the plane yet, just for the record. I plan on buying it sometime this year (and the year has just begun :-P). The reason I ask is mostly because, before I buy it and end up with these kind og logistical problems, I like to know what people do to solve it.Most suggestions seem very reasonable. I'm particularly interested in what Legend did: You actually printed out 1400 pages of manual? Didn't that take an aweful lot of time? And what about ink? Also, did you do it black and white, or in color? (I mean, is there actually something in that manual that really needs to be in color, like in the 747's manual?)I'll probably end up just printing out the tutorials, checklists and QRH, which somebody suggested too and I usually do anyways. I do think I might end up printing some sections, like the autopilot/FMC chapters (or whatever you call the FMC in a MD-11). Minimizing to look at a manual is something I tried, but it is catastrophic: usually, FS2004 can't expand anymore after I minimize, meaning I have to end it via task manager and then restart it. Not so good...


Benjamin van Soldt

Windows 10 64bit - i5-8600k @ 4.7GHz - ASRock Fatality K6 Z370 - EVGA GTX1070 SC 8GB VRAM - 16GB Corsair Vengeance LPX @ 3200MHz - Samsung 960 Evo SSD M.2 NVMe 500GB - 2x Samsung 860 Evo SSD 1TB (P3Dv4/5 drive) - Seagate Barracuda 2TB 7200RPM - Seasonic FocusPlus Gold 750W - Noctua DH-15S - Fractal Design Focus G (White) Case

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites
usually, FS2004 can't expand anymore after I minimize, meaning I have to end it via task manager and then restart it. Not so good...
Never minimize by Alt+Tabbing, if anything just use Alt+Enter and you'll have no prob. Alt+Enter just set's it to windowed mode.

i9 10920x @ 4.8 ~ MSI Creator x299 ~ 256 Gb 3600 G.Skill Trident Z Royal ~ EVGA RTX 3090ti ~ Sim drive = M.2  2-TB ~ OS drive = M.2 is 512-gb ~ 5 other Samsung Pro/Evo mix SSD's ~ EVGA 1600w ~ Win 10 Pro

Dan Prunier

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites
Guest sixfourty

Im running in windowed mode with manuals, charts, etc on my secondary monitor while i fly. Works like a charm

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites
I am one of those people that doesn't like reading from a computer screen. This usually isn't a problem, given the fact that most stuff isn't 1400 pages. The MD-11 manual is... I was wondering, how do people solve this problem?
I could have bought the printed books, and maybe in retrospect I should have, but what I did was print out much, but not all of it. QRH, the FMC, the Intro, flight planning stuf, etc. Also the checklists and the normal, abnormal and emergency procedures. I printed very little of the systems stuff. I read a fair bit of it, but its not something you're really going to use while flying, IMHO. I think how much you need depends on the flying. If you don't enable failures, you need far less of the printed material than you do if you are trying to problem solve at FL350.

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

If you really want the manuals I would buy them, to me they'd be worth it if you really want the reading material, plus more profesional of course. Besides, Kinkos is a long ride for me. Personally, I wish my eyes could find something as fast as CTRL+F does :(


i9 10920x @ 4.8 ~ MSI Creator x299 ~ 256 Gb 3600 G.Skill Trident Z Royal ~ EVGA RTX 3090ti ~ Sim drive = M.2  2-TB ~ OS drive = M.2 is 512-gb ~ 5 other Samsung Pro/Evo mix SSD's ~ EVGA 1600w ~ Win 10 Pro

Dan Prunier

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

Doug: that's a good point you raise there. Honestly, while reading he PMDG 747 manual, I'm skipping a lot. All those things that I really will never touch unless I enable failures, I just don't read. Only those systems that I know are very important and I do want to understand (electricity, fuel, that kind of stuff), I do read. And of course autoflight and FMC related stuff.Thanks guys, I think I know what to do now!


Benjamin van Soldt

Windows 10 64bit - i5-8600k @ 4.7GHz - ASRock Fatality K6 Z370 - EVGA GTX1070 SC 8GB VRAM - 16GB Corsair Vengeance LPX @ 3200MHz - Samsung 960 Evo SSD M.2 NVMe 500GB - 2x Samsung 860 Evo SSD 1TB (P3Dv4/5 drive) - Seagate Barracuda 2TB 7200RPM - Seasonic FocusPlus Gold 750W - Noctua DH-15S - Fractal Design Focus G (White) Case

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites
Doug: that's a good point you raise there. Honestly, while reading he PMDG 747 manual, I'm skipping a lot. All those things that I really will never touch unless I enable failures, I just don't read. Only those systems that I know are very important and I do want to understand (electricity, fuel, that kind of stuff), I do read. And of course autoflight and FMC related stuff.
But, after you have developed an understanding of the bird, enable the failures. It really adds to the learning when the little missives come on and you work through them.

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites
Guest sixfourty

How often do real planes have failures anyways? I dont want to have more failures than real planes have.

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

I use an Amazon Kindle 2. It's a great solution - I'm reading the manuals a lot more now than I used to. I have the 744/MD11/J41 manuals on it, as well as the 744 TRC, and the advanced tutorials. Also all the LDS documentation.Really useful when I'm away from home too :)


<a href="http://www.flyaoamedia.com"><img src="http://angleofattack.s3.amazonaws.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2010/09/aoasiggy.png"/></a>

Nick Collett

i5 2500k @ 4.4GHz, GTX 480, 8GB Corsair 8-8-8-24, 300GB WD Velociraptor, Corsair HX850W

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

Create an account or sign in to comment

You need to be a member in order to leave a comment

Create an account

Sign up for a new account in our community. It's easy!

Register a new account

Sign in

Already have an account? Sign in here.

Sign In Now
Sign in to follow this  

  • Tom Allensworth,
    Founder of AVSIM Online


  • Flight Simulation's Premier Resource!

    AVSIM is a free service to the flight simulation community. AVSIM is staffed completely by volunteers and all funds donated to AVSIM go directly back to supporting the community. Your donation here helps to pay our bandwidth costs, emergency funding, and other general costs that crop up from time to time. Thank you for your support!

    Click here for more information and to see all donations year to date.
×
×
  • Create New...