It may not be the absolute do or die deal breaker for a simmer who doesn't use track IR or some such and only uses a single monitor. I pan around with the hat switch and for the majority of my flights I'm not looking over my virtual shoulder (bad airman, naughty airman!). I'll cheat and go to an external view sometimes to get a visual on an airfield, but I do that regardless of plane  (plus I like the eye candy)

Anyhow - here's the view - front, right and left of the VC at a zoom level which works for me about 0.6 for the Pucara which is a head-out-of the-window aeroplane most of the time.. Any further left or right, and down a bit and the lack of structure can be seen.

Just thought I'd throw myself to the wolves.. I mean put this out there for discussion and info. 

Thanks for posting this, I've been confused by hearing that there is only a front view VC, but looks like I misunderstood to an extent?  My concern was that if I panned to the side the VC would simply stop and I'd see nothing, is that the case (it doesn't look like it by your screenshots).

Hi Dave,

Yes the modelling ceases, but at least you can almost pan 90 degrees left and right. However, the rail extends further than the cockpit floor... In addition to the VC where you can pan the view, there are two fixed front views - starting cockpit view and flying cockpit view. The flying cockpit view just moves the viewpoint upwards so you can see above the top of the windscreen..

To be fair to AH - they do show the extent of the modelling in their product video, but I  initially thought that I wouldn't be able to pan the view at all..