Preferred View?

[AlisterC]

Now thats a cool screenshot subs!
2D pilot here, unless I'm vfr in something small

[ZK-Brock]

In FS9 I used the 2d and VC equally, but now I have FSX I use the VC exclusively.

[towerguy]

I use 3d as I have the cockpit build going on which has the switches and now the mags as well that work and the track ir3 - occasionally switch out to spot just to see the view.

[Zöltuger]

i'd like to use the VC more, but the autopilot switches and such are nearly impossible to use outside the 2D panel (until i master the keyboard autopilot)

i do like to flick around the views tho, just to see the model in flight. but this can mess with the scenery- floating buildings and autogen

[Bandit]

I use a combination of Spot and VC. For pretty much the reasons already stated by others.

Spot for looking around at the aircraft and scenery.
I've now got F1 View installed after someone here recommended it. So fly VC using that or default set at 0.50.

Since I mainly fly choppers I enjoy panning around the cockpit and looking down through the bubble in VC.

[Timmo]

I use a mixture of 2d and VC when flying.....VC mostly in choppers but even then it can get a bit frustrating as you really need your eyes flicking around the place as a reference (especially in the hover and difficult approaches)....maybe i should speed up my VC panning speed...

The main limitation with the 2d cockpit is lack of screen real estate: If i had another screen id put all the radio, GPS, engine controls onto that.
As it is now, by the time ive found and clicked on the radio button, changed frequency etc im a few miles down the track.....its obviously a lot quicker in the real world.

[Charl]

The main limitation with the 2d cockpit is lack of screen real estate: If i had another screen id put all the radio, GPS, engine controls onto that.

A second monitor becomes essential once you get used to it!
Here's something I read I know not where, but thanks to whoever figured it out.
I like to fly fullscreen, but then you can't have windows open for the other gauges.
Wrong!
In fullscreen mode, go to 2D cockpit view.
Open, say, the radio stack (Shift2) then nudge it a little more than halfway off the screen:



Close it, and the next time you open it, it appears on the second monior!
You can arrange all your secondary instruments there.
Then, the best part, you can switch to VC view and they stay there.



It changed the way I used the sim.
Second moniors also don't need to be that expensive, of course your video card must support this.
I was surprised that there didn't seem to be too much computing overhead when adding a monitor.

[Ian Warren]

Well ... when the work needs to be done the VC! , but when course set happy outside SPOT and watch the dymanic's , workins off the plane , great .
I can't vote because VC/Spot is one . On the other side , people would say 2D/Spot , both have there caterogy and both good , but both also go with each other ?

VC/spot
2D/Spot

Maybe need to expand , I VC all the time in approach/takeoff but fix'd spot and veiw AC in the whether or in cruz .

Ian

[HardCorePawn]

Close it, and the next time you open it, it appears on the second monior!
You can arrange all your secondary instruments there.
Then, the best part, you can switch to VC view and they stay there.

OR... it could send FS and/or your PC into some sort of LSD induced trip

When I go into fullscreen, open the radio stack and nudge it over its OK... but when I hit shift+2 to close the radio stack, FS locks up, the CPU jumps to 100% and the 2nd monitor looks like one of those magic eye pictures

I'm thinking FS and my video drivers dont get along, so no fullscreen for me... guess I'll just have to live with doing it the long way... windowed and undocking all the various windows onto the 2nd monitor...

[SUBS17]

Why 3d cockpits make 2dpits obsolete
http://www.simhq.com/_downloads/air/FSX ... ackIR4.zip
I was nearly expecting the pilot to walk down the aisle while watching this .

[ardypilot]

Over the last few weeks I have been learning to love the VC mode more and more, and now would change my poll vote from spot to virtual cockpit.

My favourite models include really decent VCs including the Carenado Collection, my Airhead Citabria, the Christian Eagle II and the FSNORDIC Maule, plus all the wonderfull FSX default aircraft.



Panning around from inside is such a great perspectice and seeing everything bounce with the turbulance is something not represented from an outside view- plus it makes me feel more like I am really flying rather than just simming. Nuff said.

[G-HEVN]

I voted 2D, and in FS9 that was/is certainly true.

In FSX, I'm starting to like the VC, particularly in the RealAir Marchetti, and Rick Ppier's Chippie. One of the problems (and it's still a problem in the default aircraft) with the VC is that switches and dials get hidden behind the yoke. These are often important things like engine gauges, carb/pitot heat switches etc, forcing you into the 2D panel to perform engine management etc. The other, more serious problem, is simply low resolution, crude and fuzzy 3D cockpits that are truly unpleasant to be in.

For IFR solely by instruments flying, the big IFR 2D panels are great until final approach where you need to be able to look up at decision height and (hopefully) see the runway! If I'm letting the autopilot fly (and lets face it, a hand flown 4 hour flight is hard work!), then I'm likely to wander about, make coffee, read the paper/email/forums and play about with the other views.

I do like to use the external views for looking at scenery, the plane, other traffic etc. but not for actual flying.

[Alex]

For IFR solely by instruments flying, the big IFR 2D panels are great until final approach where you need to be able to look up at decision height and (hopefully) see the runway! If I'm letting the autopilot fly (and lets face it, a hand flown 4 hour flight is hard work!), then I'm likely to wander about, make coffee, read the paper/email/forums and play about with the other views.

I do like to use the external views for looking at scenery, the plane, other traffic etc. but not for actual flying.

Yep, thats what I do as well.

Alex

[Pato]

You're supposed to LAND as well?
Incidentally ZK-MAT, I find having aircraft shadow on helps.

Please inform a newbie how you have aircraft shadow on?. Cheers.

[Alex]

Its in your graphic display options as far as I know.

Alex

[JonARNZ]

In terms of panel views being obscured in VC, in FSX I had a similar issue until I discovered if you hit the A button it will cycle through a number of panel closeups still in VC view to get around the problem, its fast, has sensible locations to get at those awkward spots under the yoke or tweak the radio, and works well once you are familiar with it.

If I had read the manual it wouldnt have taken me 2 months to find it

[BerG]

Virtual cockpit for practising IFR, so it makes it easier when I get into the real thing.

[brownbox]

I fly 99% of the time with the 3d VC, cause theres more buttons to press. It is a pain in the backside trying to click a switch on the other side of the cockpit in a 747 though

[G-HEVN]

In terms of panel views being obscured in VC, in FSX I had a similar issue until I discovered if you hit the A button it will cycle through a number of panel closeups still in VC view to get around the problem, its fast, has sensible locations to get at those awkward spots under the yoke or tweak the radio,  and works well once you are familiar with it.

That assumes the model designer had the foresight to add the extra panel views (and also that the views he added are actually useful...). Certainly the RealAir panel views are good. Planes importted from FS9, though, are a different story...

Regarding BerG's comment on using the VC for IFR, Of course one of the things about real flying in any kind of bumpy/turbulent air (be it VMC or IMC) is that it can get real difficult to grab hold of the knobs and switches, and keep hold of them to change settings. The VC models this aspect of flying rather well!

[ZK-TJL]

In terms of panel views being obscured in VC, in FSX I had a similar issue until I discovered if you hit the A button it will cycle through a number of panel closeups still in VC view to get around the problem, its fast, has sensible locations to get at those awkward spots under the yoke or tweak the radio, and works well once you are familiar with it.

If I had read the manual it wouldnt have taken me 2 months to find it

Jon.........That's classic . Gutted!!!!!!! HAHAHA

Any way.........I'm more VC since I got FSX. Currently I spend most of my time in small planes, the I find the VC works well in these aircraft for IFR and VFR flying.