I am having trouble locating the FSX PMDG MD-11 aircraft configuration file. Does anyone know where it is supposed to be located?Thanks...Malcolm Arnot

Hi Malcolm, By default it should be in your C:\Program Files\Microsoft Games\FSX\Sim Objects\Airplanes\PMDG_MD11 folder.Of course that will differ slightly depending your operating system, where C:\Program Files(x86) would be the default starting directory.

Dan...Thanks so much. Found it where you directed me to. I was setting up TOPCAT to save into my MD-11 aircraft config file. TOPCAT is a good product but I am having trouble finding where ZFWCG and TOCG is on the Loadsheet to complete loading the MD-11 FMC.Thanks again...Malcolm Arnot

  See the section highlighted in red.L O A D S H E E T ISSUED BY APPROVED DATE TIME 04 OCT 2010 2321ALL WEIGHTS IN KILOGRAMS ......... ..........   FROM/TO FLIGHT A/C REG A/C TYPE CONFIG EHAM/LEPA MP341 PH-MCS MD-11/CF6-80C2D1F Y393 WEIGHT DISTRIBUTIONLOAD IN COMPARTMENTS 14036 1/6567 2/7175 3/294 PASSENGER/CABIN BAG 26664 AD/296 C/0 I/8 TTL 296+8TOTAL PAYLOAD 40700 LAST MINUTE CHANGESDRY OPERATING WEIGHT 124000 DEST SPEC CL/CPT +/- WEIGHTZERO FUEL WEIGHT ACTUAL 164700 MAX 204706TAKE OFF FUEL 39200TAKE OFF WEIGHT ACTUAL 203900 MAX 285990TRIP FUEL 15800LANDING WEIGHT ACTUAL 188100 MAX 213869 LTAXI OUT FUEL 800UNDERLOAD BEFORE L.M.C. 25769 LIMITED BY LDW LMC TOTAL + / -BALANCING/TRIM CONDITIONSMACZFW 24.84%MACTOW 28.56% STAB TRIM: FMCMACLDW 28.79%MAC LIMITSZFW FWD 12.00% AFT 30.61%TOW FWD 13.18% AFT 34.00%LDW FWD 12.54% AFT 34.00%TRIM BY CABIN AREAA48.B107.C141CAPTAINS INFORMATION/NOTESSTD WEIGHTS USED ADULT/90 CHILD/40 INFANT/3 BAGGAGE/20BLOCK FUEL/ 40000 ( 49536 LITER)LANDG FUEL/ 23400 ( 28978 LITER)TAXI TIME 20 MINSELCAL/BQ-EGCREATED WITH TOPCAT 2.66 (27JUN10)AIRCRAFT FILE VERSION 1.06 (10JAN10)END LOADSHEET MP341 EHAM-LEPA 

Alexander...Thanks for your reply. I thought that the MACZFW (MD-11 Load Manger ZFWCG) and MACTOW (MD-11 Load Manager TOCG) would be the trim conditions required by the MD-11 FMC; however, when I duplicate the TOPCAT PAX weight, cargo weight, and fuel weight in the MD-11 Load Manager, the trim settings are not even close to TOPCAT's Balancing/Trim Conditions. Have you experienced the same diference? Is there an explanation why they are different? Are they take-off/flight safe to use?Again, thanks for taking the time to respond...Malcolm Arnot

Hello Malcolm,we are in the same boat here.I get slight differences as well, but  nothing major. I can only speculate about the causes. TOPCAT is somewhat more powerful than PMDG's load manager. Have a look at the standard passenger weights for example. As you can see from my load sheet, I used 90 kg for adults, 40 kg for children and 3 kg for infants on the Martinair flight. These numbers are somewhat different from PMDG's load manager, which does not differentiate between passenger types in the first place. Many lightweight passengers on the aircraft will have a different effect on CG then fewer heavyweight passengers even if the total weight is the same. Then there is the cabin layout and passenger capacity. Both can be altered with TOPCAT. The load manager also has three preset configurations, but TOPCAT is a bit more flexible in that regard. It will also distribute the payload differently. The good thing is, you can also manually adjust this to your liking. Everybody, feel free to correct me if any of this is bogus. Overall TOPCAT works great with the MD11. I never had any CG issues or overran a runway using it. Once you are in the aircraft just use the FMS-calculated V-Speeds and Stab Trim and you will be fine. 

Alexander...I know TOPCAT and MD-11 Load Manager use different algorithms to calculate balancing and trim conditions; also, as you mentioned different weight assignments for PAX and Cargo, and different methods of distributing loads on the aircarft. I can live with that. I did try your suggestion of using MACZFW (for ZFWCG in the FMC) and MACTOW (for TOCG in the FMC) last night on a short flight from KLAS to KONT. Take-off and landing were fine; however, I did notice that during decent and final into KONT, my angle of attack was very positive...nose high...and my landing flare was high as well...excessive roll distance before the front landing gear touchdown. Have you noticed that as well?Thanks again...Malcolm Arnot

Malcolm,what was the CG during the approach? It was probably near the aft limit on such a short flight, so a nose high attitude would be quite normal. If I remember correctly, the MD11 generally has a nose high attitude, no matter what phase of flight. I think it's related to the wing design. Mr. Burkhardt is the right person to ask such questions.Regards

Alexander...Sorry to take so long to reply...got caught up in work projects.I did not take note of the aircraft's CG on approach. Please tell me how I can determine that or where I can look to find it.Thanks...Malcolm Arnot

Alexander...Sorry to take so long to reply...got caught up in work projects.I did not take note of the aircraft's CG on approach. Please tell me how I can determine that or where I can look to find it.Thanks...Malcolm Arnot

Malcolm,you will find the CG indication on the SD (to the right of the EAD). Switch to the ENG or CONFIG synoptic if it's not showing.As mentioned earlier, when the aircraft is very light, the CG will be near the aft limit and the wing area of the MD-11 is rather small for it's mass, so a nose high attitude can be expected, especially at low speeds.À bientôt!

(As mentioned earlier, when the aircraft is very light,) the CG will be near the aft limit and ((the wing area of the MD-11 is rather small for it's mass,)) so a nose high attitude can be expected, (((especially at low speeds.)))

Alexander,Sorry to cut your quote in parts, but this is how it is:The CG and resulting nose attitude work the other way around.(at any weight), ((with the same wing area)), (((with the correct speed)))See the FCOM, Procedures and Techniques, page PT.40.2 for background information.Regards,Harry

Alexander,Sorry to cut your quote in parts, but this is how it is:The CG and resulting nose attitude work the other way around.(at any weight), ((with the same wing area)), (((with the correct speed)))See the FCOM, Procedures and Techniques, page PT.40.2 for background information.Regards,Harry

Harry...I woud like to learn more. Where can I find FCOM Procedures and Techniques? Is it a book, manual, guide...what and where is it? Thanks in advance for your help.malcolm Arnot

Harry...I woud like to learn more. Where can I find FCOM Procedures and Techniques? Is it a book, manual, guide...what and where is it? Thanks in advance for your help.malcolm Arnot

Malcolm,My MD11 was delivered with a hughe couple of manuals. eg. Introduction, Tutorial etc.To learn more, have a look in your FlightSim/PMDG directory to find them.Regards,Harry

Malcolm,My MD11 was delivered with a hughe couple of manuals. eg. Introduction, Tutorial etc.To learn more, have a look in your FlightSim/PMDG directory to find them.Regards,Harry

Harry...Thanks. i just figured that out. Thanks again for the help. Much appreciated.Malcolm Arnot

Thanks for correcting me, Harry. Seems like I should have another look at the manuals as well :(