I’ve owned a wide variety of software for both FS9 and FSX. I’ve seen the vast variation in the “not so real” category and the “I can’t believe it’s not a real airplane” category. All jokes aside this product so very well fits into the highest category of realism! The MD-11 has been in development for over four years as the major FS9 to FSX transition was made. PMDG has always put their best foot forward in every single product they make. Along with Flight One, and Captain Sim, Aerosoft to mention a few. IntroductionI can confidently say that these are some of the best developers out there!
A family friend of ours has been flying as an airline pilot since the 60’s flying the DH Dove, The Boeing 727 (as a flight engineer), The Boeing 767-300, and currently the Boeing 777-200. I’ve not been able to get him to test out the MD-11 characteristics but I have the PMDG 747-400 for FS9.his say? Very, very realistic in sounds, handling, and systems. I think it’s safe to assume that, this conclusion coming from the FS9 PMDG 747-400 proves PMDG’s devotion to top notch products.
In my opinion this is one of the most if not the most realistic aircraft I have for my FSXlet’s make one thing clear thou, this is not only an Add-on aircraft. But rather a simulation in itself. With so many programmable parameters this MD-11 really takes the FS community into yet another dimension. My only cry really among some other small things is the fact that about 1 ½ years ago the MD-11 was advertised to have a virtual cabin in addition to the virtual cockpitthis unfortunately did not fall threw and the idea of the cabin was lost in cyberspace with no information (to my knowledge) as to why PMDG decided not to do it. So without further adue I introduce you to the complex and realistic PMDG MD-11X!PMDG MD-11 flying into the sunset in American Airlines livery BoxedWhen we see an aircraft we really like we want it that instance, right? Perhaps and it certainly feels good to be able to instantly download and within moments have our software. This however is not the case with the MD-11.
The PMDG MD-11X comes as a boxed product only. However to be honest when I received the package in the mail I felt more like a kid in a toy store than ever! However there still remains the pressing issue of time. Well I live in the Eastern U.S and the MD-11 was shipped to me from the U.K. The package only took 7 days to arrive!
Much less time than I would expect! So please do not let the fact that this is boxed put you off from this product as having a hard copy of this software is always a good idea, especially with its complexity’s.
All in the entire box contains two MD-11 manuals. Each very detailed. Having the boxed version far supersedes buying a download. As mentioned before it is certainly a better option with such a complex airplane. DocumentationWhere to start, PMDG as always has very profession documents. Each document is divided by category and covers every single aspect of this aircraft. Each manual (on PDF.) is extremely detailed.
The FMS PDF alone is over 220 pages long! With a total of Six more manuals, tutorials etc! Take a look at the systems PDF.
And be prepared for a long read. This document tops over 500 pages of very detailed information covering every single aircraft system. So far in my entire FS career I have yet to see such extensive and carefully written documents. This is a very important aspect to this bit of software as it will become imperative that you read these manuals to get the full function out of this miraculous aircraft.
Note that this aircraft is in no way intended for beginners, however included in all of the extensive documentation is a tutorial PDF which will give you a good look into a typical flight with this bird. However although this does vastly simplify some of the major elements it is suggested that all beginners familiarize themselves with Instrument flying procedures including SID/STARS to fully grasp the FMS. The documentation easily receives an 11/10! It is just so well written, so extensive (I’ve yet to complete all the manuals yet)! But of course I must recognize the amount of work that went into the research time and effort for these manualsonce you take that into consideration you really understand why it took so long for this Software to be released.P.S like posters? Included with the two printed manuals is a small poster printed front and back with the entire panel (Overhead, main, and pedestal) divided into subsections with labels as to what system they control. So if you’ve got friends who think you’re crazy for putting money into Flight sim (like I do) then post this on your wall and watch them gawk as they stand there in bewilderment asking you what “EFIS” means.
Again all jokes aside, it really is fantastic and not one detail was spared with this product. InstallationInstallation is straight forward in itself; however you will be required to input a security code which is taped indie the box. After that just follow the onscreen instructions and enjoy.
Note thou that you will only get 1 livery with the three engine variants PW, GE, and RR. However in the installer you get a total of 88 repaints some of which are different variants of the same repaint. However something bugging me is the fact that when you install the airlines you only see the airline abbreviation such as AA, AM etc. However all the repaints available on the CD seem to be of very high quality so I just about installed every single one I could.
Although PMDG’s real talent lay’s in aircraft systems, they truly put an effort into the exterior model. As mentioned above the textures that come with the aircraft and the ones available are of very high quality. What I certainly like about the exterior is something again only seen n the more complex software and that is the Logo light. When you turn the Logo light off in the cockpit the logo light goes out (as it should) Most add-on developers over look this small but important to power management feature. To my surprise PMDG has also included the Hydraulic actuators in the nose gear as well as the Hydraulic lines for the brakes with the aft undercarriage. Now what would a heavy plane like this be without flexing wings? I found the flexing wings to be very smooth in transition.
Now with a flexing wings comes flaps, so how do they look? The Slat’s in particular are really top notch. The aircraft has a somewhat reflective quality to each and every model but in essence makes the aircraft look like new!My only real concern with the exterior was the fact that the nose gear does not compress when braking. In the sim the nose gear just dips down below the taxiway, however I am sure that this issue will be addressed in future MD-11 updates.Overall exterior get’s 9.5/10American MD11 flying over buildingsLanding gear of MD-11Delta MD-11Engine shot on Swiss MD-11Delta MD-11 take-offMD-11 at night flying over cityRear engine of a Swiss MD-11Wheels with tyre tread showingAmerican Airlines MD-11 landing at dusk SoundsAnother WOW section. Starting off the engine sounds are very good in my opinion. But the aircraft features so many sounds! If you’re not new to the world of emergencies such as engine fires, stalls, Hydraulic failures etc be warned that you have a plethora of new alarms, bells, and whistle you will hear in the MD-11.
Amongst various emergency, callout, gear, flap, spoiler etc sounds comes the pushback sound. These are perhaps the most unique simply because of the background noise. Starting pushback you get the pushback clearance from the ground crew and don’t hear much more than some minor ground crew sounds. Once pushback is complete you can clearly and very loudly hear the engines running over the ground to cockpit audio! Now despite the fact that your engines may remain off you still will hear it. Trust me it is quite loud and has a whiney property to it.
This took me by complete surprise as this is the first time I’ve ever seen a developer do this!Fantastic job on the Audio PMDG. Once again you are really proving yourselves to be an essential producer for the entire FS community.Total rating 10/10 InteriorAs mentioned before I must go back to the virtual cabin. About a year and a half ago PMDG advertised that we could expect to see a virtual cabin in addition to the virtual cockpit. Quite frankly seeing as that all of their previous products (PMDG 737 series, PMDG 747-400) and so on all featured a virtual cabin. But for some reason PMDG just got rid of the cabin and has not mentioned a word about it. We can only assume that it was due to performance fears. Starting with the GPS.err I mean FMS (joking of course) the airplane featured three independent FMS computers.
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Two of which can be used to access various FMS, Routing, ECON, etc pages while the last FMS computer will not allow access to the main FMS pages one two computers are monitoring the FMS system. You will however be able to control everything from pushback to the operation of all aircraft doors from this FS actions page.A unique feature is also the fueling page which in you can selectively load fuel via the FMS fuel loading page. Note that doing this will require some reading of the manual, although by simply inputting your fuel weight value then going to the fuel loading page and setting the system from “Manual” to “FMS” and hitting start you can basically get an equal loading of fuel. Moving forward if you are like most simmers who want to most realistic experience in their sim, then you know you can’t go wrong with the FMS routing system. This defiantly requires reading of the manual to fully grasp. However even this can be very straightforward and with some basic explaining even the beginner can get a complex multi waypoint flight plan to appear on the NAV display.
In order to simply get a route into the FMS start by making a standard FS flight plan. Name it something easy like “DELTA” (no need to insert.pln. After which you must go to your route page and simply input “Delta” into the Co Route page. After doing so your entire Flight plan should be active with all waypoint that were inputted via the default FS Flight planner. Of course in order to get some of the FMS info such as ETA, ECON speeds and ALT you must input the standard aircraft flight info such as Gross Weight, ZFW, Temp, etc.
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That is a very basic run-through of the FMS but it’s complexity in itself is stunning to say the least! PMDG has done an unbelievable job with the FMS.however there is much more to the interior than just the FMS and lack of a cabin.The Virtual Cockpit textures are of a very high quality. Ever knob, dial, button is clearly readable. The VC features to my surprise quite a number of animations including Sun Visors, all Cockpit crew seats including the fold up jump seat, Armrest’s, Windscreen wipers, Yoke height. However to my disappointment the Cockpit windows were not animatedthis is a very small issue but certainly brings a better personal touch to the airplane.
Now for those long haul or just flap out night flight to a pilot cockpit lighting is very important. The night lighting in the cockpit is some of the best I’ve seen.
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With the options to choose overhead floods, panel, and then instrument only lights really brings that very cool night cockpit look to your sim. Another very important feature to pilots flying at night is the ability to dim their avionics displays when flying EFIS airplanes. Every single PFD and MFD is dimmable to the pilots liking making the experience of night flight even more real. Don’t forget the circuit breakers. Behind the FO up on the Circuit Breaker panel is a small white know. Rotating this will illuminate the painted circuit breaker panel.