Hi,Robert is right - this WILL make a VC convert out of you - but only if you're prepared to work with it.I flew the MD-11 last night... entirely from the VC. I've never operated it like that before. I suddenly appreciate it, and it is thanks to the J41.If you have the MD-11, adjust your seat back and up. At the default zoom, things are quite readable (even the SD display!!).I'll get a screenshot and shall post back.Best regards,Robin.

Hi,Robert is right - this WILL make a VC convert out of you - but only if you're prepared to work with it.

For sure, im in no way gonna write off the VC yet - Im more than prepared to have good go at it. Its what Meela mentioned about guage clarity that im a little concerned about. I have the Aerosoft F16, but i find that literally impossible to fly. But, if the J41 helps in getting used to VC, then thats money well spen in my book! Interesting to see that there are a lot of 2D fans still knocking about, and that im not the only one! :-)

I have always been one to use the 2D panel. I debated hard on purchasing the J41 due to it's lack. After 2 days of using the airplane, the ONLY "flaw" I can find with the plane, is the lack of a 2D panel.The VC looks great - I've no doubt it's the best one to be made yet. However, for me, the loss of information while flying is a killer. I use a 22" wide screen monitor with a 1680x1050 resolution (native). In Takeoff and Climb I feel blind flying this plane. I have to choose between:#1 - Default Cockpit View that PMDG provides = great view out the front windscreen...and that's it. Your flying by "feel". No access to any instruments, or information.#2 - Default Cockpit View panned down so that you can see a bit out of the windscreen, and most of the EADI. Limited view, limited info.#3 - Default Cockpit View panned down, and zoomed out. This gives a limited view out of the windscreen, but if positioned just right, you can get in the EADI, EHSI, and most of the left half of the vital engine gauges (Torque, EGT, RPM) - but left engine only. All fonts on instruments are either impossible, or very difficult to read in this setup due to being zoomed out.I primarily use option #3. I don't know how anyone can feel like they are realistically flying a plane, while doing it three quarters blind. Personally, I MUST have the EHSI, Torque, and EGT on screen at a minimum to takeoff and climb. #3 is the only option I can do that with, however, it severely limits your view outside the aircraft, and due to the zoom level, I find it very difficult to read the instruments. I must take a break after climb out due to eyestrain each flight. Perhaps those with better eyesight than my own do not have this difficulty, but there is no getting around the lack of visibility out the windscreen if you want access to the primary instruments that are vital to correctly fly the plane.The folks above who mention the 2D pop-ups - well they don't solve the problem at all. There are only two PMDG pop-ups. The first is to manage ground scenery and open doors. The second is a FMS, Autopilot combo box. The FMS/AP is useful for not having to pan around to use them, but they are not needed / useful for takeoff and climb out (not to mention you have no screen space to fit it anyways during these flight phases).Everyone has their own techniques, likes and dislikes, when it comes to flying these planes. I can respect that. But several times now I've seen someone like the OP here ask about the lack of a 2D panel. To respond that there are 2D pop-ups as some have done here comes across as very misleading to me (but not malfeasance), as these pop-ups do not address the compromises needed to use the VC.I've seen several folks state their previous devotion to the 2D panel, but now love the VC. I do not doubt their sincerity, but am left wondering how they are doing it. I have seen folks post up screen shots of the views they are using (all have fallen into the three categories I've listed). I spent several hours adjusting the aircraft config file optimizing the default camera settings but have come to the conclusion there is no way around it. You have to compromise outside view or crucial instrumentation.Maybe some are using extra large monitors and using lower (non-native) resolutions so they can be zoomed out, and still read the fonts. But dumbing down the resolution makes things a bit fuzzy to start with doesn't it? Perhaps others are able to fly the plane with one hand while able to maneuver the view zoom and pan with the other hand to go back in forth in flight - I cannot. I find trying that to be distracting at best, catastrophic at worst. Then there are those using the Triple-Head-2Go and Track-IR and such. No way the wife allows me to get away with these more exotic (read: expensive) options, and each of those has drawbacks as well.Bottom line is, when it comes to using the VC exclusively, FOR ME, it really takes away from the experience; looks pretty but takes to many compromises to be worthwhile. Eye-candy never trumps functionality in my book.All that said - this plane is an absolute joy to hand fly. The modeling is fantastic... hehe, this is simply an awesome plane but for the one issue of which this post is about. If this plane had a 2D cockpit I'd rank it the very best sim plane ever made. The MD-11 is great as well, but I prefer short haul to long. I hope this kinda lengthy post is informative, without coming across as a bash on the plane. It's a real love/frustrated relationship with the PMDG J41 for me. I bought many planes from PMDG - I'm not bashing on them, or the plane per se, I just strongly disagree with the design decision to not include a 2D panel. PMDG fills a small niche with their fantastic, but complicated and expensive planes. With the exclusion of the 2D panel, the J41 is a niche plane even inside the PMDG community.Steven Letcher

Steven,You just formulated my thoughts exactly. As long as above issues with VC exists, it never can be a replace for 2D.

Its what Meela mentioned about guage clarity that im a little concerned about.

It's not so much the gauge clarity but the fonts (text) on them that get to small and fuzzy to be readable for me. I know the VC is laid out as it is in the real plane, unfortunately where the critical instruments are does not allow them to be on the screen at the same time at a readable zoom level.Steven Letcher

Hi,See the attached. Seems pretty clear to me!!All I did was shift the view back and up, I did NOT zoom out. This is very important.I found the same with the J41 - if you shift the view back and up - this is far better than trying to zoom out. You can still see the prop and the wing, too. ;)See my next post for the J41.Best regards,Robin.

All I did was shift the view back and up, I did NOT zoom out. This is very important.Best regards,Robin.

Wow, thats a damn good shot. I can totally work with that!Just one thing - How did you shift the view back and up? I normally use the - and + keys...

See the attached. Seems pretty clear to me!!

I'm curious to see your SS of the J41. It would seem you are using a 4:3 monitor though, yes? 16:10 (widescreen) means a higher resolution, and thus smaller text at than what you are seeing / using at the default zoom.Steven Letcher

Hi,Here is the J41 VC looking at the PFD as if taking off.

Wow, thats a damn good shot. I can totally work with that!Just one thing - How did you shift the view back and up? I normally use the - and + keys...

I use CTRL+ENTER/CTRL+BACKSPACE to move back/forward, and SHIFT+ENTER/SHIFT+BACKSPACE to move up/down.Once you've set the view, do NOT press CTRL+SPACE - this resets the VC view. Does anyone know how to change the default view?Best regards,Robin.

Here is the J41 VC looking at the PFD as if taking off.

Yeah, you are using 4:3 aspect ratio monitor. With 16:10 you can actually see the gauges for Torque, EGT, and RPM of the port side engine. I'll see if I can get into the sim and tale a SS to post here for comparison. Never tried a screenie in FSX.

Does anyone know how to change the default view?

http://www.fsdeveloper.com/wiki/index.php?...e_cameras_viewshttp://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/library/cc526984.aspxSteven Letcher

Cool, thanks.So can i still use - and + to zoom out of the scenery? I tend to use a 0.50 zoom level when in 2D mode.btw, Im stuck at work at the moment and cant experiment!

I posted something about changing view in the post below.http://forums1.avsim.net/index.php?showtopic=259611&hl=Edit: I was too slow, thanks for posting the links Steven :(

Yeah! You can zoom as well! All you are doing is moving your eye point back (like you moved the seat back).Thanks Steve!Best regards,Robin.

Is there a default way to take Screen shots in FSX? I hit my prt scr button and it seemed to take one, but if it did, I cannot find the file anywhere lol.Steven Letcher

Press V in FSX then look in your MyPictures FSX folder. If you are using Vista use the free 'Snipping Tool' that comes with the OS.

Nobody who has TrackIR ever complained about only a VC panel.