With so much discussion about this, I thought I would setup a poll.

With so much discussion about this, I thought I would setup a poll.

Good idea !! I reckon most real airline pilots would prefer 2d panels. JMO. Frederic.

Whenever I flew on a 2D cockpit where we have more keys available, but after watching the flights using an EZDOK cam with a PMDG 737 NGX I think that my preference will change.

Depends on the plane flying for me - some addons are horrible to fly in VC being too hard to control at times but others are just as easy to fly in any mode. Just personal choice in most cases and with addons like Ezdok and TrackIR about (or even a mouse click setting) it has become a lot easier.John Ellison

The level of detail put into the 3D panel, it's hard for anyone not to use it.Amazing work PMDG!

This was hashed out for the MD-11, confirmed with the JS41. There's no real performance limitation to VCs now, and the 2D panel has too many perspective limitations. I believe there was a post around here that defined their (PMDG's) position that they were moving towards VC only (akin to the PMDG's Position on FS9 Development post), but I could be imagining things.

if you had asked me 3 years ago I would have said 2D. Now after the MD11 etc I just not use the 2D panel. I do use the overhead 2D and CDU 2D pop ups but all my flying is now permantly 3D. Also Track IR and Ezdok make panel navigation in the 3D world a pleasure. Just my opinion and everyone has a prefrence.

I can't use 2D panels anymore. Not that there's anything wrong with them, I just find it much easier to use the VC with mouse look than to open up different panels each time I need to do something.

This was hashed out for the MD-11, confirmed with the JS41. There's no real performance limitation to VCs now, and the 2D panel has too many perspective limitations. I believe there was a post around here that defined their (PMDG's) position that they were moving towards VC only (akin to the PMDG's Position on FS9 Development post), but I could be imagining things.

I'd say it was the 3D view that has the perspective problem. If you zoom out enough to see sufficient field of view in the VC the perspective becomes distorted. 2D panels never suffer from distortion. In the VC the overhead panel looks completely wrong from the pilot's seat. The view appears to be side on, but it never looks like that in a real airliner flight deck. OK once you get used to it, but utterly unlike real life. I suspect this has a lot to do with the way the brain interprets what the eye is seeing, but also when you look up at the overhead you tend to tilt your head back and lean inwards towards it. In FSX you just rotate the eyepoint in a very unnatural way. If you have TrackIR then no doubt these limitations of the VC are overcome. Because head tracking is not a viable option for many, due to cost, 2D panels should always be provided. There should be a choice because it comes down to choice and personal preference. The supporters of 3D views cannot claim VC's are better therefore 2D is no longer necessary. However I would accept a 3D only view as long as 2D panel popups were still available. I love the J41, but I often find I'm having to go hands off on the controls while I slew the view to the panel I want and operate the switch/knob/dial. Especially if using spacebar plus mouse to slew quickly. Engine starts are particularly difficult in a 3D only cockpit. You can be much faster in your selections in a 2D panel. 3D can be improved with pre-recorded views but generally you have to cycle through these to get to the one you want. In the 2D you can usually click on a hot spot and go straight to the panel you need. My recollection of the PMDG view was that the high end simulations would have both 2D and 3D. The J41 was not in that category and was to a certain extent a prototype of what could be achieved in the VC. 3D only cockpits are fine for single seater planes, preferable even. Two seat airliner flightdecks are more realistically presented by 2D panels. I use the VC for hand flying when I'm not expecting to interact with the panels much. When things get busy I opt for the 2D view. Kevin Hall

Especially if using spacebar plus mouse to slew quickly

You might have already tried something like this in the past, but assuming you aren't already using your middle mouse button for something, try X-Mouse. Create an FSX profile, assign the middle mouse button as enter, then change the mouse look control inside FSX to the enter key. Now you can press your middle mouse button instead of having to sit there and use spacebar. http://www.highrez.c...ttonControl.htm

I guess I use a bit of both. While in cruise and not playing around with the cockpit I always have the 2D panel up but for taxi/takeoff/approach/landing I find myself mostly in the VC. Also like Cuddly1956 said, there are alot of aircraft with bad VCs and some really good freeware with none at all so I am maninly in the 2D when not flying a qualiy add-on.

I use abit of both in different airplanes but now with the NGX I use 3D.

Since I got a PC that could handle it, I switched to 3D and never looked back.

I'd say it was the 3D view that has the perspective problem. If you zoom out enough to see sufficient field of view in the VC the perspective becomes distorted. 2D panels never suffer from distortion. In the VC the overhead panel looks completely wrong from the pilot's seat. The view appears to be side on, but it never looks like that in a real airliner flight deck.

That's quite the statement. First, the 2D, by its inherent nature is in and of itself a distortion. You cannot take a 3D object and make it 2D without that distortion. Take a look at the 2D for the NGX, and you'll see a vertical center pylon. From the perspective of the pilots' seats, it's not going to be vertical. In this case, concessions were made, and distortions accepted. In the case of the 3D VC, your zoom level greatly affects the distortion as it fisheyes at various zoom levels. Zoomed at a natural level, there is little to no distortion, but you need to pan, just as you need to move your head in real life. As far as the overhead looks, your assertion is wrong as well. On the real flight deck of the NGX (among others), you'll need to lean over slightly, and lean back to get a full view of the panel (imagine the overhead view, zoomed out slightly, with a slight left slant, if you're sitting left seat). If I sit straight up as if I'm looking straight ahead and turn my head, I'm going to have an awkward view of the overhead. Really, your issue is the eyepoint, not the VC.

I used to strictly fly only 2D, but the QW757 started to move me towards 3D, and when the NGX came out, I totally converted to 3D. I decided to try the TrackIR again, after performance issues on my old computer about 4 years ago. All I can say is WOW. I will never touch a 2D panel again. the VC with TrackIR is by far the most realistic and fun way to fly, it really adds so much to the simulation. I'm never flying another 2D only aircraft the NGX converted me :(