Simviation Forums

Just downloaded an MD-11, really excited (it has a great virtual cockpit-I don't fly unless there's a vc  :P) and I was wondering-where can i find a reference sheet for this aircraft (speeds and such)?  If I can't get one I'll just use the speeds for the fs plane closest in weight to it, but it'd be nice.  Also, in a 3 engine plane, what order are the engines started in (yes, I'm that much of a stickler for realism)?

You're missing out on a lot of great planes if a VC is required...I've flown planes sans a VC that you'd be crazy not to like (the freeware B-25 and Lockheed Constellation for instance!)

I dl plenty of planes, vc or not, but I only do serious flights in ones that have vcs.  I just don't get the "experience" without a vc.  Now about those other questions...

Most VC are so blurry and ugly looking that the whole experience suffers from it, 3d view or not.
And if you want to have a kickass virtual cockpit you got to have a computer that can handle it   :-/
So cleares gauges in the 2d view is more appreciated from my side  :D

Regarding the start-up sequence, most companies have that specified in their respective SOP, but I know that 3, 2, 1 is used at some airlines

The v-speeds, I have no clue, but the "high speed" cruise is at m.84, so you may want to go slightly slower just to save some fuel  :)

I agree with Jordan that if you require a Virtual Cockpit on your aircraft then you are missing out on some truely great rides!

Take Mike Stone's FS2004 Beechcraft V35TC Bonanza for example.  A great looking aircraft that flies well.  However, no VC and no interior views.  I fired up Paint Shop Pro, took screen captures of the interior views of the default FS 2004 Mooney, inserted them into the Beechcraft Panel, and zoom!  Now my Bonanza has interior cockpit views.

When I'm doing a serious flight, I rarely, if ever, leave the cockpit view.

Engine start-up sequence is often a subject of "which hydraulic system do what" philosophy.
In general -aside from the stand by system - each engine powers a hydraulic system aswell, which does not supply pressure to the same things...

I'll stop here or else things may get a little too complicated for the thread's best

Just tell me this-are engines normally started right to left? NORMALLY.  I know dual props start them right first, then left.  At least kingairs do, I'm kind of making an assumption about the rest.

Yeah I'd say that.
In the 747's they usually go 4,3,2.1, but 4,1,2,3 is used aswell.

A side not here: the 744 can use an autmated start-up system that ignites 2 engines simultaneously (3,4 followed by 1 and 2 is the usual order) but even here, they go right to left  :)

But as always in aviation, there are exceptions I guess  :)

Engine starting order is really up to the pilot, I've flown on a 747 many times, once they started from right to left, the rest of the times from left to right, the one time I was on a MD-11 the pilot started the tail engine (#2) first then 1 and then 3. As for twins I almost always see them start engine one (left side) first.

Funny I've always seen them go right to left

Yes, my home field, KLOM, has many kingairs and barons operating out of it daily.

      Not to get too far off the subject, but I seem to recall one reason for starting the right-side engine first was because, on a DC-3, the guy in the left seat can't SEE the right engine, but he can HEAR it when it fires up; whereas he can see the left engine for start-up confirmation, since one might not HEAR the second engine start over the noise of the first.  Perhaps that 2-1 sequence sort of evolved into a tradition. Of course one can't get a visual confirmation of a jet-engine start - front or rear. Does tradition rule?