Dammit, just use the built-in max unwrapping tools along with the texporter plugin! From version 7 onwards, max has unwrapping tools so far ahead of lithunwrap et al that there is no reason at all to use external programs. You can look for unwrapping video tutorials on Youtube if you're having trouble. Start with a really small model, like a car or something, and do that from start to finish: Model -> Unwrap -> Texture, so that you get an idea of the pipeline necessary to complete a realtime model before trying something complex like an aircraft, or chances are just you'll get stuck and lose interest.
*Edit: Say what, there are excellent max tutorials on www.3dtotal.com if you navigate to "free stuff" -> "tutorials".