Hello my fellow simmers,I have a little money, and I feel like the 777 wont be out before my birthday(mid-year), DA's CRJ doesn't look like it will be out soon, and hearing the good things about the MD, thinking about a challenge...I'm a Boeing Guy. Only airliners I fly(I am excluding Airbus X) How many differences in actual systems should I expect? I already know that cockpit is lower quality than the NGX, but higher than the 744. Are the McPhat paints worth it? Also, which routes do you guys fly in it? I'm guessing the majority of my possible routes would be KLM, Lufthansa Cargo, UPS and Fed Ex.One last thing, if any of you are based near KATL, or have been there recently, there are silver red-tailed MD-11s or DC-10s parked near the hotel, anyone know who operates them?Thanks!

Virtuall every system (as far as I know) on board can be automatically controlled. The AFDS is completely different. The displays are different. I don't compare it to anything Boeing has done.Don't know anything about McPhat.I fly YPPH-YSSY, YSSY-PHNL, PHNL-KLAX, US routes, and routes in/out of Europe.

Edited January 7, 201214 yr by Kenny

I loved the MD-11 and kinda been wanting to jump back in it. I also like the McPhat repaints for it as well but only own the Lufthansa Cargo package.I like long haul cargo flights using Lufthansa Cargo for this like my Queen, but to be honest after the NGX I can't jump back in the B744 cockpit.Also if you have not flown the MD-11 it's pretty cool to see the differences in Boeing vs MD witch MD is rather advance IMO.My most flown route would be EDDM or EDDF to WSSS or VHHH.Also Angle of Attack offer good training on the bird too witch was enjoyable.

Edited January 7, 201214 yr by VLJ510

I had the MD-11 for both FS9 and FSX. The eye candy part is lower "quality" when compared to the NGX, but as far as how in-depth it is, you should know the answer. It is a PMDG product after all. The systems were a change of pace when compared to Boeing, but it was nice to learn something new. You ask about possible route. Fly it how you want to and where ever you want to in whatever colors you want it in. Just because the airlines livery you fly in doesn't fly a specific route does not mean you can't fly it to some random airport. Get an airplane you truly enjoy and fly it wherever you want. That's the great thing about flight sim. Enjoy!

Get it. Quality wise, not up to par with the NGX but better than the Queen. Also, the systems are different and fun to learn.McPhat paints are worth it IMO. I purchased the pack with FedEx and Lufthansa Cargo (WA4 I believe).I usually fly KMEM-PANC or KEWR-PANC or PHNL-KLAX or PHNL-KONT (FedEx Routes)

I'd certainly recommend it. Prior to the NGX it's the aircraft I flew the most in FS. Great systems detail - it certainly appears to have been ahead of it's time, and its a refreshing change from the Boeing systems/logics.Check out the repaints available on Avsim (Lee Marrow has done some superb ones) before reaching a decision on whether the McPhat repaints are a worthwhile investment.In addition to the routes you've already mentioned, I also fly it on World airways routes (plenty of both long and short haul), Centurion Cargo, Skylease, Martinair and Avient routes.

The best heavy you can fly in FS, It is a work of art as far as system details go. Shame it didn't sell too well. If it got upgraded to NGX quality I would fly nothing else.Regards

I own both, the NGX and the MD11. The B737is cool but the MD11 is futuristic. When you compare the B737and the MD11 you will see that the B737 has more moderne engines and a better wing which makes flying easy. The MD11 however can climb easily with 4000ft/min out of an airport, even with a moderate load. No other civil airplane has such a high load on it wings wich means every square foot of the wing has to lift a lot more weight than any square foot of the wing in any other civil airplane. It is more difficult to fly, however you can concentrate more on flying because about 90% of the systems are automatic. And this makes it more futuristic than the B737. It went into producion in 1988 but the systems are still up to date today (expect the Airbus FMC, which is a little bit slow).When you want to start an engine in the B737 you will select one of the Ignitors or even both, you will switch off the packs, open the bleed air crossfeed valve when it isn't allready open. Then you will start the engine and open the fuel valve for the engine when the N1 is high enough, once the engine is started you probably will conect the generator and you may close the bleed air crossfeed valve and you switch on one pack again, and so on.In the MD11 you select an ignition system, then you pull the start knob of the engine you want to start and at 15% N1 you open the fuel valve. Once the engine is running you pull the next start knob and so on.The MD11 features a Dial-a-Flap system. I don't Boeing nor Airbus are using such a system with allows you to select any degree of flaps you want. Dial-a-Flap brings the possibility to use the minimal flap setting for takeoff between 10° and 25° with 1° steeps.Another example: When you want to start the apu, you can manually start it in the APU pannel. Or you can just press the "APU electrical power" button on the overhead. The APU will start and connect to suply electrical power. When you hit the button again it shuts down autmaticly! Just awsome!I recomend you the PMDG MD11. Go for it!Jonathan

The MD-11 is a GREAT bird. The systems detail is very extensive, but the nice thing is that the high level of automation means that unless you really want to play with the systems you don't have to. Right down to pressurization. You don't even enter the landing field elevation. It is all taken from the FMS. The FMS will be your biggest struggle, it is VERY different from what you're probably used to. For instance: there isn't an execute key. You punch something in and it's part of the flight plan. There's so DEP/ARR key, it's all submenus under each waypoint. The plane's systems truely thrive from the information in that FMS, which means you'll spend the majority of your time getting used to feeding it good information.The birds in KATL are Omni and OAJ (I'm not sure if they are the same airline)

Jonathan has got it spot on, I think most people who don't know the MD11 would be pleasantly surprised about how advanced it is.I would definitly suggest watching this video - http://www.flight1.com/products.asp?product=ITV-MD1-001 You will have hit the purchase button for the PMDG MD11 before the video has even finished :)Regards

I LOVE that ITVV video, its one of the best ones imo, second only to the Concorde one. Get the MD-11, you'll love it. Its a great plane

As stated prior to my reply, the MD-11 is an awesome bird, the wingflex is amazing, the sound is awesome, etc. It is obviously set up a little differently from Boeing birds, but it's still a blast to fly. For me, the "autoflight" was a little tricky to understand at first, but i read thru the manual a little and figured it out. It's a challenge to land, but I always love a good challenge. I got a little better frames with it than the 747-400X on a 2.4 ghz Intel Core 2 Quad, with 4 Gb of RAM, and a GTX 460, I'm sure your system is better than that.Jayson K.

I purchased the NGX as soon as it came out, but was longing for a good heavy to fly....I took the plunge a month ago and bought the "Animal"....what an amazing aeroplane...makes flying the NGX feel like a game...LOL.I love handflying it down, you really need your wits, concentrate on the angles and the airspeed, it is like absolutely nothing your have ever flown before in Flight Sim...the most chanllenge I have had, ever.I am absolutely addicted now, I got the AOA training package and am considering getting MCE for it as well!

I purchased the MD 11 when it came out and put it on the shelf. Decided to fly the MD11 recently, I think it's PMDG best. Took a while to get use to, eg the FMC, but I purchased the AOA training and now this is my favorite aeroplane. Highly recommended.

To answer your question about the silver and red tailed MD11/DC10 at ATL, I would venture a guess that they are Omni Air International aircraft.