I too was considering this plane as my computer is no longer "state of the art", and I love the 3 holers, but after reading this thread I wonder if it might not be the plane for me?

 

I'm not a hard core simmer, and by that I mean I don't fly all that realistically. My enjoyment is mostly from hand flying and I'd rather do that than program an FSM or Auto Pilot etc. I fly my CS 727 mostly by hand up to cruise altitude, then run the AP for that part and hand fly the decent and landing. Is this MD-11 not a good for hand flyer, or should I say is it an extremely challenging aircraft to hand fly? I have no problems flying the LD767, CS727, or iFly737.

 

Last question. Being we are close to Christmas, might the PMDG go on sale soon?

Hand flying her is cool. She's got a few details to keep in mind, as folks already mentioned. But your question is valid. It would be a shame to miss all those details on the automation, prediction and calculation. And some stuff is needed, take the performance chapter for example.

 

You may love the autothrottle on that plane, it works really good and is a treat on the approach, unlike other planes which seem to lag behind or even fight you at times.

Well, you are flying a large ship with a touchy CG setup, a small tailplane and some high landing speeds. By this, she's unique as she is 'augmented' in some ways. But, on the actual yoke in the sim, she behaves just fine.

 

Maybe you get to like the programming stuff after a while. Just expect a very modern rendition of the 'old' three engine concept.

 

That automation will keep most things easy when it comes to the overhead operation for example. If you have failures disabled, it will set up itself for the most part and doesn't need any interaction other than checking.

 

Hand flying her to cruise and later on the approach isn't hard. But you may feel the need for a third hand when you want to edit settings on the FCP. I have MCE for this, with nearly all operations being available via voice. It's fun. Good combo.

 

A saw the box releases receiving a discount from time to time. Perhaps look out for those.

She is an extremely automated bird, but is a real challenge to hand fly, my word of advice to you if you do pick her up, keep an eye on your speed on approach, she will leave you picking up pieces of md-11 if your not careful. Shes alot of fun and i fly her more than my ngx

 

 

Kevin Stuparyk

I also highly recommend the md-11. There is plenty of documentation about the systems operation. I also bought a DVD showing two Martinair flight from the flightdesk which also provided a lot of information. I also purchased the angle of attack training which is good to see how the main approches are done with this bird.

 

This is the only tubeliner I fly.

 

Pierre

 

This is how cool the PMDG MD-11 is ...... I was flying cargo from EDDK (Cologne) to BIKF (Keflavik), and 2 hours into the flight up near the arctic circle I got a "Fuel Temp Lo" warning. I was at FL360 so decended to FL290 and the warning went out.

 

I've never seen that on any other aircraft and it was so cool. How much more real can you get!

Leonardo Maddog has this as well (of course it does, it has everything )

How do pilots usually land MD-11 in real world? Manual + Autothrottle? What is usual? Like for example I read somewhere that for A330 and A340 automatic mode is recommended over manual (correct me here if I'm wrong).

 

Thanks,

Dirk.

I hope all these encouraging positive comments gave it a sales spike. Will just make it that much better and inspire PMDG that much more for future developments. That is a lot of positive advocates for the aircraft. I hope it continues in the months to come. Best $$ I've spent for fsx aircraft.

 

Absolutely. Well said !

How do pilots usually land MD-11 in real world? Manual + Autothrottle? What is usual?

Good question. I've stumbled upon some phrases being used in the manuals of the different planes. The MD-11 docs speak of 'Autothrottles may be used for all landings' with an exception for some emergency cases.

 

And the thing does a good job, perhaps due to the connected architecture of the plane itself. Take that single button on the FCP to engage both systems for example, being a philosophy indicator, so to speak. With good job I mean that it doesn't develop any significant lag or over-correction as a result of the manual yoke operation.

 

In manual flight, you, the pilot, are constantly causing the energy trajectory to change due to your inputs. With the AT on, you are setting a speed target and, if the system wants to keep it, it has to react to your inputs. The question is how it senses and later achieves the correction values needed.

 

The docs for a 737 recommend a manual/manual or autopilot/autothrottle operation, for the later Airbus planes (FBW), they recommend using the autothrust in all cases (exceptions, again, being some emergencies).

 

If the system only reads the IAS, being a product of numerous factors and also coming late in the chain of events, it may react rougher then the one already 'knowing' that the pilot has just commanded some nose down, how much and how fast. So while the one system may only read the outcome, the more connected ones may read the pilot's input and, in advance, may be able to adjust the AT accordingly.

 

By this, the MD-11 with her high landing speeds and the touchy CG setup was in need of proper speeds. Well, more than others that means. Maybe that lead to the advanced design. There are some more systems on that plane which show that the one design element of being a fuel saver tends to contradict some others at times.

 

At the end of the day though, the manufacturers give recommendations (for a reason) and the airlines then can alter them within limits. So we may see some just using what the manufacturer said and others heading for another (and still safe) path. So it could well be that the full auto or full manual policy is active here and there.

Yes, so it seems more like Manual (Yoke) + Autothrottles when landing for her.

 

Thanks,

Dirk.

That would be ok as far as I understood the docs. Same for full manual. I prefer to keep the AT on, it really works like a treat.

Yes, I read a few docs and they all stated auto throttle to be used, even when flying manually, down to the 50ft call.

And never without a FO. ^_^

Lol, I never fly without one!

I don't think any airliner is flown using automatic landings as a Standard Operating Procedure.

 

Automatic landings are usually only used where CAT III weather dictates, or as an MEL 'test' on one leg per month.

 

But yes, with Airbus for example, most airline SOPs will use the A/T system for approach and landing, right until it's disengaged with the final 'retard'.

 

For the MD-11, I have the excellent ITVV Martinair MD-11 DVD, and in that, during a manual landing the captain disengages A/T at around 1,000 AGL, and flies with manual thrust.