I, like everyone else on this forum, am eagerly anticipating the release of the 777. I too, like many others, am disappointed that it's not coming with a complete set of 2D panels. I am not here to start another debate over 2D panels and why PMDG is not developing them for this plane. I would, however, like to know what worked for many other people who had to make the transition from 2D to VC. I've been using flight simulator since FS2, about 30 years now, and I am a commercial pilot as well. No matter how much I've tried over the years, I just can't get comfortable flying with the VC. I have Track IR, I have EZdok, and I even buckled and purchased the J41 earlier this summer to force myself to fly with the VC. I still hate it. I agree that the realism lies within the VC. I grew up with the 2D panels though and I guess I'm just set in my ways. Similar to video gaming with the Wii and Kinect these days......I still prefer to sit down with a controller (which I hope doesn't disappear anytime soon =P). Anyway, if anyone else in their 30s, or older, who's had to make this transition can give me some tips, I'd greatly appreciate it. 

hi

 

what exactly do you hate about it and what exactly do you like about simming ie what is it that draws you to simming . for example for me its the submersion factor that sort of carries me away. although I love the complexity of systems and turning knobs and using the fmc I need more than just that now daysthats simp[ly not emersive enough for me I need extremely complex systems as well as great 3d eye candy to get the same kick out of simming I used  to be able to get from soley 2d panel flying that's why using the vc is essential to me. anything else is unrealistic visually plus a real flight deck is a 3d environment so the vc is the only way for me, I too have been flying in fs for a long time before vc's ever existed so made the transition. the trickiest part of only using a vc is trying to click and turn knobs and buttons sometimes if there is turbulence etc like heading select for example but I just have a hot key to turn off ezdoc or what ever im using momentarily if necessary.also using ezdoc preset close up  views for thing like the fmc is very handy . makes things much easier than manually zooming and panning in to the key pad when ever u have to punch in to it etc.

I could never go back now

 

kav

 

 

Anyway, if anyone else in their 30s, or older, who's had to make this transition can give me some tips, I'd greatly appreciate it. 

 

It's all about forcing yourself out of the old habit.  Really, I found the only thing holding me back was the habit or familiarity with the "2D way," and getting used to the 3D way was a matter of just flying with it.  It becomes as familiar as turning your head in a real plane.  After a few flights of forcing yourself to be more reliant on looking around versus 2D views, you work right into it.

 

It's a process.  If you look back in the MD-11 forums, I was vehemently opposed to the idea of 3D only.  Now I'm 3D only myself (post J41.)

From the first moment I loaded a VC. I cannot believe people like a 2d panel. That feels onrealistic. I never fly a 2d panel in fsx. That was the main reason I dropped FS9.

I loved my Ultimate Boeing Panel that was 2D in FS9, I could not have cared less about VC's in FS9, I tried them and hated them because I either had to use the horrible default interface or use a 3rd party software camera tool that I did not want to spend money on. However my tranistion to VC has a very wierd twist to it; the switch began with MICROSOFT FLIGHT, thats right, not a typo, MS Flight. When I first loaded it up I looked for a 2D panel only to find a VC, I bought the Maule and after a few flights and using the hat switch and simple keybind to pan around the VC I quickly thirsted for more, this is also where I fell out of favor with FS9 and switched to FSX. This started my FSX adventures around Hawaii as a comparison between FSX and Flight, to which FSX won due to aircraft availability and flight dynamics. I quickly hated the default aircraft VC's in FSX (especially the King Air 350 which is my favorite GA turboprop) and went looking for something better, I came across Carenado and bought the Piper P46T Jetprop and fell in love with HD VC's and have not looked back since, for me now its VC or its not for me.

I accidently kept pushing "A" and guess what...

For me, the transition came naturally as I switched to FSX. The things clicked.  For one, the visual quality is much higher in FSX by nature of higher texture resolution possibility, and smaller vertices possibility, combining to create a VC which does not feel like looking at a cabin of a scale model. Also, I think the fluidity is better. Especially with true 3D animation driven gauges.

 

Couple that with the genius of pressing spacebar and finding out "Hey, I can look around by mouse!" and I only used 2D ever again when performance was sorely needed. Purchased EZCA a couple months later, fully expecting to head for a refund ina while, but it ended up being money very well spent. Nowadays VC is a must for me.

I am flying in VC since I bought my first addons: The LevelD 767 for FS9 and PMDG 737 for FS9. 500 years ago.

I found a trick to get around VCs:  

 

I use a rather broad "general" 3D view for my primary monitor (something like a "glareshield view"; it may take a bit of panning and zooming until it looks o.k.) and open up separate (2D) windows for the other nifty controls and displays I need. The 2D windows get undocked and dragged to my secondary monitor.

 

The "frozen" 3D view is pretty much a "clone" of my former 2D flightdeck view, with the other 2D windows supporting and enhancing it..

 i fired fsx once, liked the 747.. got the pmdg 747 and so it started.

Started using VCs when they first appeared in interactive detail for FS9...

 

I always found the 2D panel views as contradictive of what I had personally experienced in cockpit environments. Setting the right viewpoint for myself has always been central to this, which allows at least some of the peripheral vision one gets in the real world.

 

Once you get used to it, you may use the odd pop-up panel for certain things, like CDU input maybe, but you won't look back I would guess...

 

A

My first dip into VC's was on the A2A P-40 and after a few minutes of getting used to it I couldn't believe what I was missing out on and now I can't even force myself to fly with a 2d panel. You will get used to it after awhile. 

From the first moment I loaded a VC. I cannot believe people like a 2d panel. That feels onrealistic. I never fly a 2d panel in fsx. That was the main reason I dropped FS9.

 A lot of it is also due to the computer that one has .

 

 

- 

 

I only started using the VC once I had a computer powerful enough.

I toyed with the VC in '98 (I think - was it? Looking time ago), but performance suffered badly. By FS9, the PC was a bit better. I was frustrated by the view on landing - couldn't see the runway over the 2D panel and that would annoy me immensely. So the I got to point where I'd set up in the 2D panel and land in the 3D. Then FSX came along, where the VC is just as functional as the 2D and that was it. I still use 2D pop ups such as FMCs and maybe overheads or APs, depending on the (non-trackIR, only joystick hat switch) reach. By the time Flight came along it was a non-issue, although it never got far enough to have the sort of complexity where view might be a problem.

 

Mike

 

(Scratch that... I think 98 was the first time I could see bits of plane in other views...)

Hello,

 

I used to be hard-core" 2D fan, mainly because I found the navigating in 3D very cumbersome and besides, in the MD-11, 747 and Level-D 767 for me the 2D was much more clear and readable than the VC.

 

But with the J41 and the 737NGX I bought EZDOK, and now I am totally "converted".

 

The MD-11 and 747 I stil fly in 2D, because my first VC was as mentioned J41 and 737NGX; so the "old" VC's looked not so good in comparison.

 

The ability in EZDOK to look around (especially when taxiing!), and to create viewpoints is a great plus.

 

 

Regards,

 

Wijnand Lindelauf