I just need to set up a test environment on my laptop (FSX + the MD11) so I can do my research when travelling to/from work by train, so for the time being I depend on the help of the fellow simmers around here :(.I'm still not sufficently familiar with the weight init page:1.Does UFOB equal BLOCK-BLST (reflected on LSK3R; value seems to come from FUEL INIT page LSK; FMS.10.25)?I ask this because in the FMS manual downloadable from smartcockpit.com, there's a weight init page with a BLST value (LSK3R) defined where BLOCK and UFOB (LSK1R) both have the same amount.2.FMS.10.21 there's a note that "None of the calculations of weight data account for ballast fuel[...]". Does this mean that I need to increase ZFW by the amount of BLST fuel or what (i.e. the formula ZFW=TOGW+TAXI-BLOCK changes to ZFW=TOGW+TAXI-BLOCK+BLST)?3.I assume the usage of BLST fuel shifts the CG around, depending on the location and amount of BLST fuel. Where do I get appropriate ZFWCG/TOCG values for such cases? Does the sim provide them "automatically" for the boxed LSKs?4.What is the relationship between BLOCK/UFOB, BLST, RTE RSV/% (LSK3L), FINAL/TIME (LSK5L) and EXTRA/TIME (LSK6L) (formula would be nice)?5.What does RTE RSV/% define in detail (the reserve is drawn from TRIP (LSK2L)) and what is its purpose?6.Where do values for FINAL/TIME (LSK5L) stem from, and what is its purpose (e.g. why the 1500 ft)?As said, maybe I could answer some questions myself by playing with the MCDU, but I don't have access to it throughout the week :(...

To the best of my knowledge, ballast is fuel you do not intend to use as fuel, so should be added to ZFW and excluded from all fuel calculations, including (and I am open to correction on this) UFOB.

Guess the topic is too lengthy and confusing to read. I better split it into several new posts and "close" this one.