Was wondering if the NGX will have a HUD modeled into it?Thanks,Chris R

Yes, the HUD will be modeled including optical collimation in the VC. (only other aircraft I know of that has this is the superb VRS F/A-18E)

Correct me if I'm wrong, Ryan, but I have two questions regarding the optical collimation. Firstly, will it only really be of benefit to people who have TrackIR (or similar) and not so much of a benefit to those of us who can only use the hat-switch on our joystick to change our view around the virtual cockpit? Secondly, if the above is correct, will we have an option to disable optical collimation in order to (hopefully) increase frame rates if it is of no use to us or if we simply do not wish to use it (or can't due to fps issues on older rigs)?

What the hell is optical collimation?

Optical Collimation is just lining up your eyeline correctly. It is similar to adjusting the pilots seat so that that the instruments can be read correctly. I doubt very much if it will have much effect on FPS since the key factor there seems to be manageing clickspots.

What the hell is optical collimation?

Notice at 4:25 how when the pilot brightens the HUD, it appears to stay in one spot relative to distant objects, it's optically cullimated, and set to infinity. No matter where you move your head. the "Information" Set on the display always points to the same spot. this is good for a couple things.Visual Targeting, as done many times in the F-16 with a Constantly calculated Impact point for a given Munition *Typically a bomb for CCIP*Visual Reference.This would be good for something like say, knowing exactly where the runway on a 3.5 degree glide slope, just "Tag" the 3.5 Pitch marker to the Runway's 1000 foot markers, and then setup your speed and pitch/power so that your Flight path indicator matches that 3.5 degree pitch down, and the the 1000 footersyou can fly a perfect Glide visually using the HUD and have no need for something like a VASI/PAPI.the significance of the optical collimation is that where as if say, the 3.5 pitch marker was a little piece of wood, and you moved your head higher, the runway appears above that 3.5 degrees Pitch marker...........this is no good it can't be used for visual reference to an outside visual cue *Which would be the runway* with the HUD optical collimation and set to infinity. you may now use what's displayed on the HUD, with what's on the ground :), and recieve accurate Results.Ryan

Optical collimation is great, but what I want in the HGS system is all 3 modes with full CATIIIA support. I would also like to see the runway displayed on the HGS, and as a nice setting, add clickspots to the Airspeed and Altitude bugs, so you can set them without having to look over at the MCP.Just my 2 Cents.

It's going to work exactly as it does on the NGs that are equipped with it... please don't worry about features etc, we're on it. ;)

Awesome!

Hey Ryan, can you shed any light on either of my questions? Particularly with regard to TrackIR.

Hey Ryan, can you shed any light on either of my questions? Particularly with regard to TrackIR.

Sorry I don't see much sense in that question. They used word "collimation" and people are already on the defensive. It has nothing to do with TrackIR or benefits/no-benefits. It is a simple byproduct of VC modeling, the same way as the end of the runway is naturally "collimated" and you can't turn it on/off to get extra FPS.

Yes, the HUD will be modeled including optical collimation in the VC. (only other aircraft I know of that has this is the superb VRS F/A-18E)

And the Accusimmed P-47 from A2A simulations.JB

Good to know that the HGS is going to be in there in such detail. What I'm hoping for with the new version of the PMDG NG is that a lot of what are non-standard customer options are going to show up on it, such as VSD on the primary flight display, all the funky upgrade whistles and bells for IAN RNAV capable displays on the DUs too, with all the attendant automated comms gear in there as well and the V11 FMC software update fully implemented to make use of it all. Don't want much do I? LOLAnyway, fingers crossed, it would be fun to have all that malarkey so proper RNAV stuff could be attempted, as well as all those dodgy low vis approaches into places with limited ground aids. However it turns out, I'm looking forward to seeing it, although to be honest, it would have to be a total donkey for me not to end up buying it, as most developers could paint 737 on the side of a paper plane and I'd probably have to buy it; the 737 is easily my favourite airliner by a very long way indeed.Al

Sorry I don't see much sense in that question. They used word "collimation" and people are already on the defensive. It has nothing to do with TrackIR or benefits/no-benefits. It is a simple byproduct of VC modeling, the same way as the end of the runway is naturally "collimated" and you can't turn it on/off to get extra FPS.

Well, if it's all the same to you Michael, I'll wait for a reply from one of the people at PMDG who definitely know what they're talking about.

In the VRS Superbug it is possible to disable collimation, but it doesn't increase FPS by 1%.The collimation will benefit everyone, no matter if you use trackir or just move your eyepoint using keyboard shortcuts, it will work the same. FSX has a nice effect of natual head movement so collimation will be visible during rapid banks and accelerations too. Of course TrackIR/Freetrack users will benefit the most because they very often change the eyepoint in VC.

And the Accusimmed P-47 from A2A simulations.

If I remember correctly the first addon aircraft that had optical collimation was their He-219 for FS2004 several years ago. Since then, almost every aircraft they released had this feature. They make gunsights, not HUDs, but the modelling trick is the same. Also F-16 from Aerosoft, and F-14 from Iris have collimated HUDs, so it's not as innovative as Tabs says. Anyway, it's a great feature, especially for Trackir owners and I'm looking forward to see NGX cockpit in action.