PMDG MD-11
review
The PMDG McDonnell Douglas MD-11 is a extremely detailed and realistic add-on product for FS2004 and FSX. Like their Boeing 747 product, all possible aircraft systems are simulated. The package contains passenger and cargo variants of the MD-11 (available with GE and PW engines), a load manager tool, realistic sounds for both engine variants and many PDF documents like a checklist, manuals for various cockpit systems and a tutorial.
The exterior looks great, very detailed and realistic. All small details are modeled, many parts are animated. The package contains only the PMDG house livery, but many liveries are available on their website and are free to download. The liveries are very high in quality with realistic dirt effects.
The panel is a work of art. High resolution textures and many aircraft systems are modeled to the degree of accuracy you've come to expect from PMDG. The feature list is large, some of them are: Sharp vector graphic cockpit displays, realistic moving buttons, knobs and controls, fuel, hydraulics, pneumatics/air conditioning/cabin pressurization systems simulated, realistic lighting with variable intensity, both standard and widescreen monitors are supported, sound of nearly every aspect of the MD-11, LSAS (Longitudinal Stability Augmentation System), RCWS (Roll control Wheel Steering), interactive FMS with three MCDUs, failures simulation, many airline options featured for customized airplane operations, dial-a-flap modeled, landing gear system includes blocking mechanism, alternate extension and isolation of the center main gear, and many many more. You can read about them on the PMDG product website.
All cockpit systems and buttons, knobs and controls are also fully functional in the beautifully designed virtual cockpit. Like every realistic aircraft add-on product for FS, it takes some time to learn how to operate the aircraft. The tutorial included is a very effective (and fun) way to learn the basics. The tutorial will take you from a gate on London Heathrow Airport to Zurich Kloten Airport in Switzerland. Between those airports, you have to do many things, like programming the FMS, preparing the aircraft for takeoff, fly a SID, fly a STAR and approach Zurich in autoland mode.
We have to conclude that there is no other MD-11 add-on for FS2004/FSX that compares with this package. If you're looking for the ultimate realism, you have no choice, the PMDG MD-11 is the only package that offers it.
--
the good
the bad
License |
: | Payware |
Price Indication |
: | $79.99 |
Panel |
: | Yes |
Virtual Cockpit |
: | Yes |
Wingview |
: | Yes |
Sound |
: | Yes |
Developed for |
: | FS2004 FSX |
Compatibility |
: | FS2004 FSX |
Wingflex |
: | Yes, lift/weight based. |
Landing gear |
: | Realistic |
Rudder effect |
: | Realistic |
FS2004 |
: |
|
FSX |
: |
|
Links
notes
on 11/08/2008 at 21:24:58
Absolutely amazing...flies so smoothleeee :))on 11/12/2008 at 18:54:26
This is the Bugatti Veyron of the Fsim add-ons, nothing comes even close(besides the PMDG 744X)!on 12/29/2008 at 13:47:23
PMDG MD11 for FS2004 is just a beta version. Not released yet.on 01/09/2009 at 16:21:12
The FS2004 version has been released on January the 6th.on 01/21/2009 at 18:32:08
Bought this plane yesterday. It flies amazingly. There is a bad framrate drop in the VC though. On my system, I get 40 fps in the exterior, and 20 in the VC. In my opinion, it's worth the . It's a great plane though!on 03/16/2009 at 11:38:41
Got This Plane a few Days Ago and Havent stopped flying it!, it looks AMAZING on FS9 Especially with ENBSeries Bloom Effect for FS2004, Makes it Look so good! :)on 04/01/2009 at 19:34:40
Does anyone know how the framerates of Flight 1's MD80 compare to the PMDG MD11?Thanks
on 04/06/2009 at 8:56:12
It has only one bad thing! the load manager sucks.on 04/12/2009 at 18:31:45
I don't know how to use the autopilot?on 05/13/2009 at 17:56:41
I agree for the piece of art as far as it concerns the model. However if you try to land that beauty manually, it's a pain. The autopilot engages automatically unless you press the 2 buttons of the AP disengage. In other words it partially listens the "Z" button. A lot of blinks and sounds that you have to do a lot of things to get rid of them.When you disengage the autopilot, the aircraft needs a lot of work to trimmed properly, despite the fact that it supposed to react like a "fly by wire" aircraft.
Maybe for the automode to be perfect, however my objective is to fly and not to use it as a movie like simulation.
Indeed the aircraft lands better with flaps 35 rather with flaps 50, as it is in the real thing. I do not think in reality that the aircraft is so bad to get trimmed with flaps 50. The objective of modern airplanes is to be simple and to put less stress to the pilot.
I am working on it and I am in contact with pilots seeking advice for the trims. So far they told me that in reality cannot be so. By the way, did you hear the touchdown sound? I never heard an airplane touchdown such that, that is simulated.
on 05/18/2009 at 10:43:14
Thanks, But The Avionics Are all blank i just don't get How To Put The avionics onthe first time hat i got i tested the avionics didnt
come out
on 06/19/2009 at 17:07:56
How do i fix the night lighting? i got liveries from PMDG, and only the cockpit to the end of first class light up on the outside... any help guys?on 06/27/2009 at 20:17:24
Not sure if you know this or not, you haven't set it as a pro, but there is an autoland function in the PMDG MD11, it's just different from a boeing. This is from the PMDG wiki:Autoland
Performing an autoland in the MD-11 is as simple as pressing the APPR/LAND button located on the FCP above the AUTOFLIGHT button. Provided you are tuned to an ILS frequency that contains both a localizer and glideslope, (which is done automatically by the FMS) the plane will ute an autoland unless you take over manually.
The type of autoland is determined when you descend below 1,500 ft AGL as follows:
If all your systems are opering normally you will see a green DUAL LAND annunciation on the PFD FMA indicating a full CAT III autoland.
If you have failures that are not critical for the autoland (for example, one of the two autopilots inoperative or one HYD system failed) a white SINGLE LAND will be annunciated and a CAT II autoland will apply.
If you have critical system failures, or excessive deviation from LOC or GS a white APPR ONLY will be annunciated and the autoland function will not be available. The aircrtaft will continue to track LOC and GS, but autopilot will disconnect at 100 ft AGL.
IMPORTANT In an autoland the AP remains engaged after touch down to keep the aircraft aligned to the runway. At the end of the rollout you should manually disengage the autopilot, otherwise you will not be able to taxi, since the AP will still try to keep you on runway track.
on 07/30/2009 at 22:45:26
Hello again, this plane is absolutely amazing. The only trouble is the MD-11 has significantly different systems than Airbus and Boeing aircraft. Especially the autopilot. You should take that into consideration before purchasing this product. As I am familiar to Boeing systems (and a little Airbus), I am having trouble flying this aircraft. So, unless you are familiar with McDonnell Douglas MD-11 systems, I would not recommend purchasing this aircraft UNLESS you are willing to read the manual (something I never do)!Hope this helped!
-I would recommend PMDG's 747 over the MD-11 if you are familiar with Boeing systems as well! However, I do believe that the 747 takes up more recourses than the MD-11.
on 08/09/2009 at 19:21:39
Tommy do you have a laptop? Me and some of my friends have laptops and we have the same problem. Great aircraft 5* all the way!!!on 08/18/2009 at 11:08:07
No I Have A Desktopon 09/08/2009 at 19:59:02
Hmmmmm Do you have a good graphics card? cause that may be the problem. I got it on another one of my comps with a better CPU and Graphics card cand the avionics work fine there, but on my crappy laptop it does not >.on 09/22/2009 at 15:59:32
getting too old with make pretend pilot...........Im trying to build a cockpit BTW the 747,the MD-11 or a 777 for Computer Base Training and realism
which would you recommend im considering buying this aircraft or the SkySim's Md-11 which is better?
planing to buy the hardware/equipment which cost around -5K thanks and regards.....
on 09/23/2009 at 6:36:16
This one, definitely.on 10/15/2009 at 18:55:31
Allan Sorry For The Late commenti fixed it
on 10/16/2009 at 23:57:32
How did you fix it? I still have the same problem.... Thanks in advanceAdd a Comment
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