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MD11 vs. B777

Old 10-20-2014, 06:37 AM
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Default MD11 vs. B777

Hello Guys,

I have a question, that some of you might be able to answer.
At the Moment I am flying the MD11 and now I have the chance to train on the Boeing 777. The route structure and the kind of flying is interesting on both fleets. I think the MD11 is quite challenging to handle, nevertheless it is a rewarding plane.

What would you do? What do you think about those planes?

Best regards from Europe,

SEADUCK
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Old 10-20-2014, 04:12 PM
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I flew the MD11 for 4 years, and the 777 for 8.

No comparison, the 777 is a much, much, much easier airplane to hand fly up to cruise, and to land. The MD11 is a basterdized DC10 with too small a wing and a goofy CG management system and a computer controlled "LSAS" system. (longitudinal stability augmentation syst) That none of the Majors who had them (Delta, American) are flying them any more, and replaced them with the 777, should tell you something.

We used to call it the "MD-911", as in, "CALL 911!"

The 777 on the other hand is a puzzy cat, easiest landing airplane I've ever flown, and won't try to screw you at every chance like the MD911 will. If you've been flying the MD11 for awhile, you will be amazed at how much easier the 777 is to fly/land.

Last edited by Timbo; 10-20-2014 at 04:24 PM.
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Old 10-20-2014, 05:19 PM
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There's a name for guys like Timbo, who flew the MD-11--survivor!

GF
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Old 10-21-2014, 06:28 AM
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After flying the MD-11 for eight years I think it's a fantastic machine. However you have to realize and treat it like its a though breed racing house. I've been on a hourse a couple of times but if you gave me a racing hourse and said take a couple of laps around the track I would be out of my league. So too with the MD-11. I treet it like I'm coming aboard an aircraft carrier. There is little room for error. You must be on centerline. You must not have any drift on landing. Once you make your flare you must understand that power now controls the glide slope and nose controls the airspeed. IE naval carrier aviation. Woo to the pilot that flares the airplane and feels a sink and pulls the nose up more to land. It takes a pilot to manage the MD-11.

The triple seven is a piece of cake. If you can land a cessna 182, you can land a 777. With a two hundred foot wingspan, when you hit minimums your already in ground effect. Our crosswind limitation is 38 knots without being in a wing down top rudder situation . In fact if you do choose to land it that way the crosswind limitation get clipped down to 32 knots. Literally when you you get to 20 feet on the radar altimeter all you need to do is to change the pitch of the aircraft one and a half degrees nose up and let it land.

Both aircraft are good machines. I still say put the FMS of the MD-11 into the 777 and you would have a dynamite airplane. JMHO.
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Old 10-21-2014, 07:06 AM
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Originally Posted by galaxy flyer View Post
There's a name for guys like Timbo, who flew the MD-11--survivor!

GF
I had already been on the MD88, so I was pre-bent! After a while on those two airplanes, nothing scares me any more!

Remember the cliche':

"Boeing builds airplanes, McDonnell Douglas builds....Character!"

It's true, and I've still got that MD Twitch to prove it!
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Old 10-21-2014, 01:52 PM
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Thank you for your thoughts. It was very interesting to read. If I read between the lines and interpret your thoughts correct, the MD11 is more fun, but the B777 is the more reliable and more straightforward plane?
I think I will take the opportunity and go to the B777, but I am sure I will miss the mighty MD11.
Btw. how is the aircraft handling of the B777? Is it fun to fly her manually / raw data? I like to fly the MD11 manually, the only thing that I dislike are the unbalanced control forces. Pitch versus roll seems just not right for me. On the other side, coming from the A320 I do not have much comparison.

Thanks for your input!
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Old 10-21-2014, 06:02 PM
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The 777 is a 'fly by wire' airplane, but the control forces are very even in, pitch, roll, and yaw. All are very light and very easy to be smooth with it. I've had some of my best landings in my life in it. As was mentioned above, you get into ground effect and it will just float on like a Cub. Floating too far is about the only thing you have to worry about.

If you really want to roll it on, hold the speed brake lever as you touch down, and allow it to come up very slowly, otherwise it will pop up as soon as the first wheel spins up and drop you the last 3 feet and ruin a perfect landing.

I think the 777 is much more 'fun' to fly than the MD11, because it flys like an airplane, not like a dump truck. I like an airplane that you don't have to worry about near the ground. With the MD11, you have to be on your A game for every landing, and you'd better know where the CG is too or you might be surprised when you flare!

The 777 is not as automated on the overhead as the MD11 though, you still have to turn on/off all the pumps and packs.
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Old 10-22-2014, 06:53 AM
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I only got to spend about eight months on the 777 but by the end I was starting to like it. It was my first glass airplane so I was a little intimated at first but once I got the hang of the flows and where to look for what info I wanted I was alot more comfortable. The T7 fly alot like other Boeings and "feels" like a real airplane. I went from the 777 to the A320 and I feel like I have taken a huge step backwards. Not only in the technology but in aircraft handling. The airbus is like playing a really big video game and has some gotchas while the 777 felt like a real airplane and put the pilot more in control of flying/managing the systems.
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Old 10-22-2014, 04:17 PM
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I've been on the MD two years. Came from the 75/76 flying those for 10 years. The MD definitely keeps you on your toes a lot more than the 75/76 ever did. But hands down I really like the MD. No more 4 legs a night as with the 75. Two legs max and then to the hotel.
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Old 10-22-2014, 05:56 PM
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Been on the MD11 for a few thousand hours. Without question, it is an admirable freighter.

Career-wise, you MUST get on the 777. The MD is becoming a dinosaur, flying all over Africa these days....
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