Usually i use this order of things: firstly setup my flight with location, time, weather...then, after the plane is loaded into the gate, pressing ALT key and selecting Modules->Squabox->Start...In that way SQ startup itself loading everything right...then you can fill your FP and connect it to server...I think that's the correct way, also because i fly with full-screen mode.cheers,

Usually i use this order of things: firstly setup my flight with location, time, weather...then, after the plane is loaded into the gate, pressing ALT key and selecting Modules->Squabox->Start...In that way SQ startup itself loading everything right...then you can fill your FP and connect it to server...I think that's the correct way, also because i fly with full-screen mode.cheers,

Is there a way to hide all those windows?That's why I'm starting it before I'm loading fs. I figure all you need the window is to set the first frequency then you won't need it anymore due to being handed off, right?

When i fly on VATSIM i see two windows, the first is the SQ main toolbar, with the chat and start menu; the second one is the radios and transponder panel, where you can see if the radios are transmitting or you are speaking into the mic. while tuned on a specific ATC connected frequency. There is also the IDENT button on the radios window.I always close it after setting up radios on ground. Inflight tuning is done referring to the charts or the ATC directions (except for 122.8 UNICOM). I always remain with only the SQ toolbar in a corner of the screen. Those are the only two windows you are going to see with SQ operating i think.I use ALT+F4 with the radios window selected to close it.Cheers,

Alright I got myself a flightplan lanned for sunday. Let hope that I don't become benny hill show subject :LMAO:Not on the pretty MD, but on the trusty Queen.. All due to overall experience.

Every once in a while (in the real world), you will see a crew perform a CAT-III approach in severe clear conditions. If the weather has been really nice (or nicer than would require for a CAT-III) and they haven't had the chance to complete an autoland, they'll do it in the clear provided ATC doesn't object. This is to maintain currency.

In the ITTV Fokker 100 video the crew preforms a full autoland for demonstration purposes in clear conditions. And they watch the system very closely.

That being said, it's way too rampant in the flight sim world, where everyone seems to think that you can autoland on anything, anywhere, any time (reference: "How can I land at an airport without ILS thread" - I won't bother linking to it). For even those who understand you need ILS to do it, most couldn't tell you the difference between ILS CATs and which ones allow autoland.I understand the OP's point that mastery (as in complete knowledge) would include knowing how to properly set up and monitor an autoland, but I wholeheartedly disagree that an autoland would ever be more important than the mastery of a hand landing. Technology is wonderful when it works, but when things fail (and fail they do), who must land the plane? You do. When things get bad enough, you're going to have to do it manually. Without that practice and knowledge, you have not mastered the aircraft. To be honest, per VATAWARE, I have 77 hours in the MD-11 (not much compared to some on here, but I also take some of cruise to read some about the aircraft, and will try non-standard procedures from time to time) and I still don't consider myself as a master of the plane by any means (in a flight sim sense). I have a great background knowledge and I can fly it well, but I wouldn't claim to be a master.

After more than 2 years studying the MD-11, I still don't understand many systems correctly (need to ask some questions here the next days). Let alone when it comes to failures -- I didn't touch the failure generator at all yet. Same goes for the other planes I have. "Mastering" is a big word, I don't think I'll ever be able to fully "master" any simmed complex airliner in my lifetime...

In the ITTV Fokker 100 video the crew preforms a full autoland for demonstration purposes in clear conditions. And they watch the system very closely.After more than 2 years studying the MD-11, I still don't understand many systems correctly (need to ask some questions here the next days). Let alone when it comes to failures -- I didn't touch the failure generator at all yet. Same goes for the other planes I have. "Mastering" is a big word, I don't think I'll ever be able to fully "master" any simmed complex airliner in my lifetime...

Firstly, also in the MD-11 ITVV video the crew performs an autoland in good conditions; there is also an intresting part where the copilot explain you what will they have to do if something goes wrong... (amazing DVD, i can recommand this at every MD11 simmer out there)Secondly, you're right, mastering is something difficult to achieve in real world too, so i expect that's nearly impossible in FS regarding the limitations provided by FS itself. We can only try to reach the "as real as it get", but we will never have the real feeling, unfortunately. But we can get realistic systems and good failure management with a deep study of manuals, the PMDG's ones are amazing, and can keep the level high...Cheers,

Hey guys! I've just pulled a superb (abeit off center) greaser landing with my MD!I notice landing with the MD seems more fluid than with the queen somehow, its amazing.Also after reading all this discussion about mastery and autolands I must said that I mis-chosen my word to explain familiarity and ease of use after a certain time period.

I read somewhere that to master something it takes about 10 000 hours. That might be an overestimation. But i think its pretty close. To say that you have mastered an aircraft as complex as the MD11 after a couple of hours is naive bordering on arrogant. I have flown it maybe 500 hours all in all, and i wouldn't even begin to say that i have mastered it. I know much of the normal procedures and what to do on a normal flight but when it comes to abnormals im no way even near a new F/O's level (probably because as simmers we dont have the luxury of being taught by a master but rather have to teach ourselves.)EDIT: that came off a little harsh and i saw you had rephrased yourself. Take it as something good that you haven't mastered it though, for me one of the great things with aviation is that there is always something new to learn, and even when you think you've fully figured something out it can come back and throw you a curve ball so to say. (was that the correct use of the phrase? I'm european and have never played baseball :D)