Copyright (c) 2019 Simmer'S Sky. All rights reserved.
SUMMARY
FSX MD-11 Simmer's Sky Project. Complete package porting over the freeware Overland/SMS (Simmer's Sky) MD-11 to P3D4. Package includes new, synchronized 2D/3D panel with interactive, custom overhead. Popups include radar. Pre-configured for Garrett Smith's FMC (requires fmc-1.zip). Original bitmaps by Overland Co., Ltd., Antonio Bucoli and Marco Spada adapted for this project. Bucoli's bitmaps courtesy of Mediterranea Virtual. Supporting gauges by Philippe Wallaert, Ken Mitchell and Jacob Larsen. Additional gauge adaptations by the author. Joerg ZEitschel made FSX/P3D4 friendly by de-mipping and conversion to 32-bit BMP. Additional liveries are available. GE CF6-80 soundpack by Patrick Cramer. Pratt & Whitney 4000 series soundpack by Andre Silva. (FSX compatible panel configs are included.) By Ken Wigginton.
INSTALL
Copy the folders as they are to your main FSX or P3D directory and overwrite when asked
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NOVC MODEL AND PANEL
The Simmer's Sky MD-11 comes with an optional "novc" model, which is simply named, "model". I have included a "novc" panel option to be used accordingly. My novc panel has unique night lighting effects.
OPERATIONAL NOTES
1. My panels come complete with their own popups accessible by Shift+2-8 keyboard commands and icons. Essential pop-ups (GPS, Radio, Overhead and Pedestal) are sequenced Shift+2-5 and are also accessed by visible icons. Additional popups (Radar, FMC, V-Speeds) are sequenced Shift+6-8 and are also accessed by icons. The radar pop-up is accessed by clicking on the EICAS2 (far-right) CRT and dismissed by clicking on the pop-up's bezel thumbscrew. The FMC is accessed by a visible icon in the icon group. V-Speeds are accessed by an invisible icon just above the PFD. Please take a moment when you first load my FSX MD-11 Simmer's Sky to open the aircraft cockpit views and familiarize yourself with the available popups and to click around on the MCP/AP to further familiarize yourself with the EFIS, EICAS and radar controls.
2. My panels incorporate default Microsoft FS engine starting functions. You may simply start the engines utilizing Ctrl+E or manually operate the fuel pumps, fuel valves and starters. (Ground power is modeled on the Overhead, but it's activation is not required for starting the engines. Neither are having the fuel pumps activated.)
Here is the operation that I utilize with ALL third-party aircraft and panels for trouble free loading and starting:
Load the flight with a default twin-engine airplane, with the battery, alternator and avionics switches on and the engines off. (I use either the FSX Boeing 737-800 or Beech Baron.) After the flight is loaded, open the aircraft menu and switch to the plane you wish to fly. After the new plane appears, turn on the APU and fuel pumps, if functionally modeled. Do not click the fuel valves or starters. Enter Ctrl+E. FSX will do the rest of the work for you and sequence the starters and fuel valves. If difficulty in starting occurs, reload the new aircraft.
3. VERY IMPORTANT! PUSHBACK. This freeware Overland Co., Ltd. MD-11 will NOT push back using FSX functionality; however the FDE gives the aircraft sufficient reverser thrust to move the plane back. And the advantage with reverser pushback is that you will be able to use nosewheel steering. (Hint: incrementally tap the F2 key to spool up reversers until the plane begins to move and then tap on the brakes to maintain speed control. Bring the plane to a stop before pressing the F1 key to release the reversers, as reactive forward thrust would otherwise overcome the aircraft.)
3. My panel includes Jacob Larsen's V-Speeds gauge. This gauge calculates the V1, V2 and V3 take off speeds and produces a readout (just above the PFD). It also includes aural announcements for 80 knots, V1, Vrotate, and V2 speeds. To use this gauge, simply open the pop-up and click on the readout before takeoff. This will activate the aural announcements. You may keep the readout open or close it. Note that the readout will depend on your weight and flap setting; so you will want to have your fuel, payload and flaps configured for takeoff before initiating the V-Speeds.
4. All essential switches (battery, starters, fuel pumps, alternators/generators, lights, pitot) are operable/clickable in the overhead. Please take time to locate these and distinguish them from the non-essential functions which are either static or modeled only.
5. VERY IMPORTANT! FLY-BY-WIRE My panels replicate the MD-11's sophisticated-for-its-time, computerized flight controls system by incorporating the default FSX fly-by-wire capability of the A321. This is simply toggled on/off by clicking the three red square buttons on the lower left of the Overhead under the title, "FADEC MODE". You should follow SOP by clicking these buttons OFF after startup (they default to the "on" position) and turning them back on after a consistent ROC or level flight is maintained. You MUST follow SOP and click these buttons OFF again BEFORE disengaging the A/P at decision height. Failure to do so can result in a suddon shift in the angle of attack and make your landing precarious, at best. This function is not available in the FS2004 version of my panels, as the FSX fly-by-wire gauges are written in ACE .XML.
CREDITS
These panel sets are based upon freeware Overland Co., Ltd., Antonio Bucoli and Marco Spada MD-11 bitmaps, which I have edited for this project. Mediterranea Virtual has been gracious in allowing me to adapt Bucoli's bitmaps and Marco Spada has kindly supported freeware projects, like this one, incorporating his work.
Additonally, I wish to thank the following gauge makers:
Philippe Wallaert - A prolific panel maker and builder of many "go-to" gauges for my panels. His autopilot components are at the top of my panel making tool-box. His MD-11 CRT gauges, and others, are critical to this project.
Ken Mitchell - It would be difficult to imagine an FS airliner cockpit, whether jet or prop, Boeing, Airbus or McDonnell-Douglas without Mitch's gauges. His .xml gauges were extensively adapted by me to create the new overhead for this project.
Eric Marciano - THE author of radar systems. Exceedingly generous with his freeware radar used by me and many others which competes with his greatly enhanced payware systems available here: http://emarciano.free.fr/En/RadarHome.htm
Jacob Larsen - Originator of the incorporated V-Speed gauge, VSI/TCAS and other annunciators used by my panels. Author of the wonderfully complex FSX Maersk Air Boeing 737-2L9 available at FLIGHTSIM.COM: jela737m.zip. His latest version is available at AVSIM.COM: boeing7372l9maerskairoymbzv3.zip.
Stefan Liebe - Stefan brought call-outs to FSX and his A32X callouts are incorporated in these panels. He is also the author of the best A321 gauge enhancement package around. I use it exclusively in my A321s and in my A319s and A318s. Available at FLIGHTSIM.COM: a32x_v1.zip.
Matt Smith - Prolific 757 painter and default gauge fixer. Matt has taken Stefan Liebe's altitude call-outs gauge and refined it. His "CALLOUT_BigJets" is incorporated in my MD-11 panel.
Doug Dawson - The man behind the sound.dll. We simply wouldn't have sound in the FS world without Doug.
LEGAL
This project is FREEWARE. Commercial utilization, in any manner, is strictly prohibited. Authors who have agreed to the utilization of their bitmaps or gauges for this project retain their rights.
Ken Wigginton
kenwig0556@aol.com
July 30, 2019