I never thought I could make it using virtual cockpit but I've forced myself to use it for a good 10+ hours flying, now I'm used to it there's no way I can go back to 2d ... But how can I get rid of the 2d panel from when I cycle throughout he cockpit views ?

Gary!Why would you cycle, use one single key to reach the spot view. / Leffe

Yea, since the MD-11, the 2D panels rarely get used here. :D Oh crap, an another 737 is flying formation with me...gotta go.

Yea, since the MD-11, the 2D panels rarely get used here. :D Oh crap, an another 737 is flying formation with me...gotta go.

Heh, while I was typing that reply, this fella was sneaking up on me. Enroute from KSEA to KSJC w/FSCaptain:

What is a 2d panel?Seriously, the quality of the VC makes the 2d panels look very poor... G

well i use the 2d panel the most

With the 3D panel you can't see your instruments and the outside unless you zoom back unrealistically (fisheye lens effect). The 2D panel in FSX, anyway, with a big monitor gives you the correct outside perspective and also lets you see your instruments. That's why I also only do 2D. (Try it sometime -- fly the C182 or C172 in its virtual cockpit, then take a "familiarization" flight in a real cessna at a flight school and note how everything looking out the front window in the real world suddenly seems so SLOW and the runway so WIDE. That's because of the fisheye effect you get with the VC).

With the 3D panel you can't see your instruments and the outside unless you zoom back unrealistically (fisheye lens effect). The 2D panel in FSX, anyway, with a big monitor gives you the correct outside perspective and also lets you see your instruments. That's why I also only do 2D.

Actually I disagree, not that it really matters in these type of discussions, but when I started taking lessons back in the late '80's I had a bad habit of looking down at the panel too much and not looking outside. My instructor used to get ticked because he/she would have to keep telling to me look out the window and not fixate on the panel. Part of that bad habit I attribute to using the version of FS at that time which was only 2D panels.In real life, be it driving or flying, you can't really look at both the outside and the dash/panel of the car/airplane without glancing back and fourth, which to me makes using a 2D panel seem unrealistic. Hence using a VC with either TrackIR or panning up and down to look at the panel using a hat switch I feel is more realistic.I do agree though that using extreme zoom levels of .30 to .70 to see both outside and the VC panel is equally unrealistic due to the fish-eye effect and extra peripheral that you wouldn't normally see looking forward, as well as the fact that even if you move the eye point forward it still gives a shrunken appearance if you will and makes it look like your flying from the back seat.To each their own though, not everyone likes the same thing and there's nothing wrong with and it's no skin off my back if people use 2D's or .30 zoom levels. I was forced to use 2D panels back in the FS9 days with the PMDG 737 at that time due to not having enough of a computer then to get acceptable performance from a VC, but these days I fly only VC and like the POV a lot better as well as being able to look around more naturally.One thing that is nice about using the NGX in VC is when or if you choose to use the HGS, it eliminates the need to even really see the panel, especially if you have most of your controls mapped to hardware or the keyboard. Sean Campbell

Got my beer and snacks ready for the up coming show that sure to come

Real men fly 2d

due to a lower end system, i developed a flow of using both 2d and 3d. preflight, cockpit preparations= 2dtaxi, takeoff= 3dclimb, cruise= 2dlanding, taxi= 3dshutdown, secure= 2d i really like using both.

Gary!Why would you cycle, use one single key to reach the spot view. / Leffe

Really ? How do I make that work ?

Real men fly 2d

No... real men fly real airplanes which don't have 2D panels.

What is a 2d panel? Seriously, the quality of the VC makes the 2d panels look very poor... G

Indeed, the PMDG VC is awesome. However... The 2D you get in the NGX isn't top notch,far from it. There are many 2D cockpits out there that are of far superior quality. You aren't comparing like for like. I admit though, as a VC hater, I'm now a VC convert too... as long as it's equal in quality to the NGX VC. Martin Wilby

Honestly I prefer 2d panels: I've never loved 3d panel that for me are resourse-suckers: I got a quite powerful system (one years old): HP Pavillion 6311 Win 7 64b, hard disk 1,5 Gb 8GB Ram Ati 5450 video card 1Gb with dual core but when in cruise with 2d panel I got 70-150 fps (no fps limiter) when in VC I got just 20-30 fps...I had also one "freeze" just at touche down when I was flying with VC.... Ciao Andrea Buono