I think it is also reasonable to hope for a change by PMDG for, is not it?

 

I think it is also reasonable to hope for a change by PMDG for, is not it?

I wish I shared your optimism.

I know that people are going to think I am crazy for saying this, but as much as I love the new 777, I still like the MD-11 better. I would love to see it brought up to todays PMDG standards. Just my 2 cents.

 

A bonafide clue...

 

Yeah, I'd have to get permission from PMDG (potentially Lefteris) 

I suggest you get a few more before trying to second guess workload. Object orientated programming is over-rated.

 

We only want fixes and a few cosmetic updates... and they do NOT take forever.

 

The CTDs are well understood and gives anyone familiar with the MD-11 codebase a running start with debugging/fixing the problems.

 

The problem with the MD-11 is that it is not Boeing. The fact that PMDG won't entertain ANY modern MD product says it all. DC-6 is fine - it's a classic from the 50s. MD-11/MD-8x/717 - forget it. Even Boeing IRL hated MD and were drooling at the chance to buy them in order to get rid of them.

 

MD were light years ahead of everyone else - they just made some bad business decisions that ultimately led to their demise.

 

Just look at the MD-XX (MD-11 stretch) and MD-12 to see where MD were in terms of thinking. Their avionics from a pilots perspective are outstanding and beat anything produced by Boeing or Airbus. Their CAWS is pure genius (it speaks "CABIN ALTITUDE!" instead of the generic overspeed warning used by Boeing for example).

 

As always happens - those who are trail-blazers die early.

 

Sure, the MD-11 doesn't have the VC eye-candy of the NGX or 777, but the systems are right up there with them (the only truely missing feature compared with their later products is terrain mapping).

 

In many ways, the MD-11 set the standard that PMDG have strived to meet or exceed ever since. Many of the core systems technologies that they use today first appeared in the MD-11 (e.g. due to a restriction on providing performance data, they wrote the performance directly into the FMS so that it could compute things we would otherwise need tables for that they could not provide, such as fuel requirements and V-speeds). They also added custom fuel burn and engine modelling which were FS firsts. MD-11 was also the first to not only feature engine failure due to fuel freezing, but also the modelling of different grades of fuel that could be loaded (different freezing points). This continues to the 777.

 

As far as complexity of the FMS goes, the MD-11 FMS has to be the most complex (and most capable) of any that PMDG have ever produced. It's a work of art. The only feature it is missing (and it was posited not long after release that they "may add it later", which we know now won't happen) is the PROCEDURE TURN function. I hope RTA function on the 777 doesn't go the same way.

 

IMHO, the NGX and 777 are great, well-rounded packages, but the MD-11, as well as being a rather unique aircraft IRL, knocks it out of the ball-park. "But MD-11 was a failure; it only sold 200 units IRL!!!". So did F-22, but no-one is deriding it for that. :lol:

 

Best regards,

Robin.

Good post Robin. ;-)

MD11 started off as Bill Grabowski's MD11 "panel" for, what I think was originally FS2000 or FS2002. It wasn't even a PMDG product to start with.

 

Soon enough Bill had spent several years developing it, and I don't know how it worked out, but PMDG became involved in making it for FS9/FSX and it eventually turned into the MD11 we all know and love.

 

And till the 777 came out a few months ago, the MD11 was still the best quality long range widebody airliner addon available in FSX.

I'll second that, it sure is a beauty.

I believe that system-wise, It's PMDG's finest.

 

 

It's PMDG's finest

 

I agree. The only advantage the 777 has is the FMC's ability to import winds by waypoint. Without that feature the 777 finishes third to the MD-11 and the NGX.

 

Michael Cubine

I would pay £100 for an NGX quality of the MD.  Who will join me?

PMDG should start an MD-11 update kickstarter campaign Maybe they'll be surprised...

I wouldn't pay €100 for it, but would happily fork €50 for an update to my current one.

I think they realize they could recoup costs - but the issue might just be the time. You know they are but a small team, and they still have a lot on their plate, what with 777 SP and variants, 737 SP2, 747 and DC-6.

I'll throw down $100 for an MD-11 Upgrade, beautiful airplane, I only ever flew it in FS9, bought it the first day it came out. I love the quirky features and distinctive sounds, just a great airplane to fly.

At least there's an high end MD11 in FSX, there won't be anything in P3D v2 if PMDG doesn't do a new version.  :Sigh: