Hello,

 

I am a student and the simulation at school is done through FSX 2004 (sigh)  and have a few questions.

 

They insist (I am not discussing that) on having one screen for the view (so as to focus mostly on what is outside) and the instruments on another.

 

Without going into adding hardware I wish your input on the following configuration.

 

- main screen: plain view without hub and some data displayed

- second screen: local map with instruments

 

 

With the above I get a good frame rate.

 

Question 1: can I assume that the bottom of the main screen corresponds to the top of the nose of the plane ?

Question 2: is there a way to increase the size of the instruments on the local map view ?

Question 3: As I use the joystick to look left and right regularly, the view moves back every time to the 2D cockpit and also moves my 3D cockpit to its original position: is there a way to a: get the view to stay "plain view" after looking left or right. b: have the 3d cockpit "remember" its position ?

Question 4: any other configuration recommended ?

Regards,

 

Philippe

I'd recommend getting TrackIR and using the 3D cockpit zoomed in a bit.  Having such a mobile viewpoint is a very different experience from using a fixed view and a hat switch.  It takes some getting used to after normal flight simming with a fixed view, but it feels more natural.  Not everyone agrees, so your mileage may vary.

 

I've found that with TrackIR, doing a crabbed approach is much easier.  Sure, you can move the fixed viewpoint with the hat switch, but I like to look around a lot.  Once you get used to it, you may find your landings are gentler;  this was the case for me.

 

Hook

One view.....3D cockpit.+ TrackIr (approx. the cost of one lesson and worth every penny)

 

As the above poster.

 

The most important view for a PPL (and for most other pilots) is OUTSIDE. In VFR conditions analysis of the best pilots showed they spent roughly 80% of the time looking outside and not just anywhere. General scan coupled with visually clearing the space they were about to manoeuvre into or which presented the greatest collision threat.

 

This area of training is in my opinion  crucial and poorly taught.....at least for us civilians. Research visual scans (military and civilian) , collision avoidance and discuss with your instructors. Remember practice makes perfect....and it also makes permanent . So beware  garbage in garbage out.

 

TIM 

As I have learnt, VFR is most of the time outside, but you should also refer to the instruments every few mins. As VFR as you all know is "Visual " so hey look out and enjoy the view.

 

 Hmm, there is a utility to pan around with the mouse like FSX for FS2004 it is F1View. It should be available in the forum library.

 

Yes headtracking TrackIR is brilliant, but I use my own with FacetrackNOIR.

As the others said one cockpit + Track IR

 

Also consider getting a ipad and putting a mapping program like sky charts pro on it, it can receive data from XPX, puts your position over a real ans current section/terminal/ir map, and you can also use it in the cockpit IRL to get rid of some of the large paper maps.

Try out Pilot Edge network as well... Great tool for VFR or IFR.