Yeah a webcam can give you a nice idea of what it will do but can in no way replace a TrackIR :)

Use autothrottle in the pattern, prior to establishing on the localizer, to ease the approach workload and free up that extra hand. You can control airspeed quite accurately with the autopilot knobs, but pay attention to your flap profile. Then, once you're established on the LOC, or have gone visual, you can disengage autothrottle and hand fly, which I do in all but the most demanding weather. I do tend to use autothrottle up to the middle marker.http://www.2decker.com/media/solent1-2.JPGAlex ChristoffN562ZBaltimore, MD

Yeah, but the webcam trial is free. Do you work for eDimensional or something? LOLCheersRottenlungs

No but I don

I purchased e-Dimensional

I don

Just to add that I am a very satisfied TrackIR user from day 1.IMHO if you fly the heavy iron and fly inside the cockpit most of the time it makes not much sense. But if you fly GA and really have to look around and fly short visual finals, and don't want to stay inside the cockpit and hyponotize your heading indicator you cannot live without TrackIR. There is only one thing I have to say. You need a good framerate of let's say 20 to use it properly. tgherwise it will become all jerky. But the same applies for the mouse view I'd say.Most flight instructors say that the greatest problem of converts from FS is tat they fly inside the cockpit most of the time and don't look outside. The reason is simply what is discussed here. Lack of peripherial vision. And lack of movement. Consider driving a into a curve with your car without moving and adjusting your head permanently. That#s waht you do on short final without a head tracking device. BTW I am in no way affiliated to the company that roduces or sells it.Alex

It

I agree with everything said here about TrackIR but would add not to think about the weirdness of turning your head while keeping your eyes on the screen. Fact is, if you turn your head the TrackIR can't see the little dot anymore. You quickly adjust to a subtle side to side movement and you can alter the sensitivity. It is very similar to your first encounter with a mouse. It takes a little while to adjust but pretty soon you don't even think about it. David

Hi OqvistHey that was just a joke on my post earlier. No offence. Thanks for more feedback. I am intrigued by these devices and I suppose I am more concerned about issues like feeling nauseous. It sounds like the vast majority of TrackIR users are very happy with it and that the nausea issue was unique to that particular user.Interestingly enough I`m learning to fly at the moment and even after 38 hours still have a tendancy to stare at the gauges rather than look out the window. It sounds like TrackIR really does help to improve peripheral vision. What sort of zoom factor and what screen do you use when using TrackIR? Also, can you operate in VC view without ever having to change views (outside of trackIR, assuming you are in an a/c with a decent VC with all the pertinent gauges and control dynamic? EDITED Another question (sorry for all the questions): What sort of PC do you need to get decent performance. I`m currently running athlon xp2400 with 1Gig DDR400 ram and 128Meg 9600XT gfx card. Would it cope ok? I`m really interested in any ways to improve the Human interface side of FS (both visual and control wise) and this is one option. Unfortunately, the wife would kill me if spent even more money. Therefore I have to be a little discerning when selecting addons. Also, in NZ there a very few stockists of FS addon hardware and I`m a bit uncertain about the practicalities of returning stuff (should I be incompatible with it) so that makes me doubly wary.Thanks again for everyone`s input. I`m getting more tempted by the day! CheersRottenlungs

Yup I got the joke but sometimes when I really like something I advertize it to anyone :DI can get nausea by my stereo3d glasses when things get to intense when doing noe flying through trees in dense forests with my choppers that is quite a ride ;)Me I don

Gday OqvistThanks again for the info. I`m gonna have to go away and think abou this one. The Flightsim world has a shockingly large range of addons, that`s for sure.CheersRottenlungs

But the fine thing about TrackIR it enhances every single plane with a VC in FS 2004 so pretty good bang for the buck :D Also you don

hi. i zoom about between all the views using the hat thing to check out the propellor and what the pilot's doing, then i check for the 4th time i put the wheels down and after that i get back in the cockpit and turn off the autopilot put the gps on 3500ft(?)and having lined myself up perfectly for the best landing of the week crash into the scenery 200yds short of the runway. that's what i do and if it helps that's great:9