HighBypass

A further experiment today yielded this result:

I launched the sim with the big Mad Dog on the active at Miami with an appropriate flight plan loaded (KMIA-SCEL). I obtain these basic flight plans from onlineflightplanner.org and load them in via the FSX:SE flight planner: As basic as it gets to give me a magenta line.

IF a flight plan is loaded, then just by pressing the AUTOFLIGHT button, without dialling any speed in via the FCP, then the throttles automatically advance, even from idle and she will then use 250kt as a maximum until exceeding 10000 feet. (By default, the flightplan uses 300 knots above 10000)

Still not quite right, but certainly a degree of automation.

I've seen some of the advertising clips on youtube. Just Planes films are invariably great to watch and this one seems to be no exception.

Strange, Kevin. I beg to differ, the V2.2 was free, at least when offered via Just Flight. Not sure about direct from Sky Simulations though..

7 hours ago, kevinh said:

..For people saying Sky Simulations have made a good start with this MD11, this is an update to an existing addon.

A fair point sir! It was originally for FS9 wasn't it?

Rob

1. Did you try MTOW? Just curious. I've always held her back on the brakes.. wrong I know

2. I found the cones disappear when you turn on the beacons, at least in FSX:SE

3. No argument there. Hence I splashed out on TSS. Again, wrong I know :) A pity one has to add aftermarket sound packs

Regarding AUTOFLIGHT and takeoff thrust. Having now tried out a few takeoffs, it only appears to work if I had first dialled in 250 knots, pressed AUTOFLIGHT then pressed the speed adjuster knob in to set it in thrust mode. Not tried pitch mode..

EDIT all my previous takeoffs were done manually, only selecting the autopilot modes once climbing away.

14 hours ago, signmanbob said:

...Before takeoff, pressing the AUTOFLIGHT button on the FCP arms both the autothrottle and the autopilot takeoff modes. Advancing the throttles manually past around 60% N1 will cause the autothrottle system to actually engage and begin controlling thrust. There is an audible click sound from the panel when this happens...

Actually, I think this did happen on a flight I started last night (yes, I usually have to save flights due to time, work and family).

I lined up on the runway, having already pressed AUTOFLIGHT. I then advanced the throttles and once the engines had spooled to a certain value (beyond 60% N1 :) ), the autothrottle kicked in "Takeoff thrust set", and as I got close to 250 knots, she began throttling back. I don't believe I'd clicked on the TOGA button either...

Signmanbob - glad you got the autothrottle working. I note that in V2.2 it doesn't work like V2.0 in that you have to pull the adjuster out, dial in the speed (only in 10 knot increments now), then push it back in. I believe that the fms speed button will now follow what is set in the FMC.

The only landing I have done so far was a visual one, so haven't tried the ILS out. Previously I had to press the app land button above the AUTOFLIGHT to achieve capture and V2.0 certainly did capture the ILS (beware of porpoising!)

Unless I'm loading the aircraft wrong then the fuel system seems slightly inaccurate: Sure the system will empty the tail tank (pumps to engine 2 and to the centre aux), but that's one way only, I don't think it will transfer fuel TO the tail at all. I've switched over to manual and I can't seem to get the fuel to flow back to the tail...

The APU does take a while to turn off after you have pressed the button, but I believe the real APU has a similar cooling down period..

I have not studied how to program an FMC at all (accurate or non-accurate!), I just load in the plan via FSX:SE (plan obtained via onlineflightplanner.org). I don't think I've even selected SIDs or STARs when getting the plan. Even if I did, would the default ATC realise this?

I believe Sky Simulations are off to a good start with this MD-11, but I wish we could like it even more.

The Aircraft manager (SHIFT-4) is only for the pax version. I can of course use freighter payload numbers (thanks to a question answered by members with real world knowledge) and then check the CofG via the manager, but it would have been nice to cater for both versions, seeing as the include the Freighter package :)

LOL! Rob. I presume you are already aware that this is a gorgeous-looking "lite" MD-11, not a PMDG..

On 10/16/2019 at 7:03 PM, superskullmaster said:

..Join us on the dark side or beg for nothing...

Harsh.... but fair! 

"Would an FSX version be possible?" is the question to be asked rather than demanding that an FSX version be produced. 😉

Sounds interesting, Chuck! I feel bad enough making the baby cry on descent in A2A's Constellation, so I may stick to cargo - "boxes don't complain!" 

Ahem, sorry. I am curious though. So does the app extrapolate to 500+ pax on an A380, or down to 2 in the back of a 172? 

Do you have an "in-flight" video yet of how it works?

Thank you for sharing. Great article.