I have seen several videos where the external cam moved nosetip-close to the windshield or door window shows nice two pilots. Why does the copilot disappear after coming back inside? The difference of distance from the external cam and the pilot seat is mnimal, so why can't we see other people inside in the cockpit? It makes no sense to me...

Because the model probably wasn’t made to be seen up close. It could also be disconcerting to some people.

Edited August 6, 20205 yr by Tuskin38

Imagine this - you pan the view around in the VC to look at the copilot... then he/she slowly turns their head to face you and just stares at you..  (cue horror film music..)

From a more technical point of view, that could be problematic.  If you were to switch point of view so you were in the co-pilot seat, you would be inside that figure's model.  I have done this before (yes, I realize that maybe there's a difference since it's a new version, but we're talking about modelling) and once that happens, you can't adjust switches, gauges, whatever on the panel.  it's like you're stuck there.  And besides, then you'd be missing a pilot.

Edited August 6, 20205 yr by andyjohnston.net

It’s just a design choice all sims make. Plus, if you have a copilot inside, you would need to animate them with high res textures and stuff so it looks right. It’s a resource drain no sim maker has chosen to take on yet.

Maybe one day.

21 minutes ago, HighBypass said:

Imagine this - you pan the view around in the VC to look at the copilot... then he/she slowly turns their head to face you and just stares at you..  (cue horror film music..)

If I was developing at Asobo, I would have gone to the extent of having one of the aeroplane's co-pilots actually do that, but I wouldn't have stopped there. I'd have had the sim analyse the HD of your computer so it could determine your name, then generate some speech so the co-pilot said: 'Hello Dave, do you suppose I'm really talking to you, or is this actually all in your head?'

Edited August 6, 20205 yr by Chock

5 minutes ago, bonchie said:

It’s just a design choice all sims make. Plus, if you have a copilot inside, you would need to animate them with high res textures and stuff so it looks right. It’s a resource drain no sim maker has chosen to take on yet.

Maybe one day.

Not true about all sims. Aerofly has had copilots in the cockpit for several years. And I've got an x-plane bizjet that models FO and passengers very well. Also, had a couple of freeware planes in FSX that had a FO.

I actually REALLY like having a physical FO in the cockpit, even if the model is imperfect. Empty space is immersion breaking for me.

I know a lot of people have just got used to flying next to an empty seat, but a FO in the cockpit would be neat the top of my MSFS wish list.

Yup, there are several freeware add-ons that'll let you put people in your aeroplane. Commercially, Aerofoft's A320 airliner in their standalone Holiday Jet Flight Simulator, has a (rather busty) female co-pilot in the cockpit alongside you, who helps out with flying the jet.

Quite a lot of large aeroplanes are in fact virtually impossible - or at least very impractical - to operate on your own because you can't reach all the controls from one seat. Try taking the parking brake off in a B-17 when you're in the pilot's seat, or checking the overhead panel pressurisation settings in a 737 from the left seat; good luck with that.

So yeah, I'd say putting a virtual copilot (or pilot if you want to go in the right hand seat), is something which would be high on the list of things that would add a lot to the realism of many aeroplanes.

Edited August 6, 20205 yr by Chock

1 hour ago, andyjohnston.net said:

From a more technical point of view, that could be problematic.  If you were to switch point of view so you were in the co-pilot seat, you would be inside that figure's model.  I have done this before (yes, I realize that maybe there's a difference since it's a new version, but we're talking about modelling) and once that happens, you can't adjust switches, gauges, whatever on the panel.  it's like you're stuck there.  And besides, then you'd be missing a pilot.

This isn’t a problem when done right. For example the Huey in DCS models this in a realistic way, so if you switch to the FO seat they deactivate the FO’s model and activate the pilots model. 

1 hour ago, OzWhitey said:

Not true about all sims. Aerofly has had copilots in the cockpit for several years. And I've got an x-plane bizjet that models FO and passengers very well. Also, had a couple of freeware planes in FSX that had a FO.

I actually REALLY like having a physical FO in the cockpit, even if the model is imperfect. Empty space is immersion breaking for me.

I know a lot of people have just got used to flying next to an empty seat, but a FO in the cockpit would be neat the top of my MSFS wish list.

Yeah, I know some 3rd parties and Aerofly have done it. But I'm talking about the major developers doing it right. Aerofly's model is low poly and static except for the arms moving with the controls. 

I don't think any of the big three see it as a priority right now. 

Edited August 6, 20205 yr by bonchie

I really hope they don't do that. A co-pilot model is just a waste of resources and creepy. Also it can obstruct the view out of the right window.

Edited August 6, 20205 yr by sanh

It's also worth bearing in mind too that with the amount of gamers the new sim is purporting to attract, lots of those are used to talking to NPCs in games, and they're gonna think it's a bit cack to be talking to an empty chair in their 747.

3 hours ago, HighBypass said:

Imagine this - you pan the view around in the VC to look at the copilot... then he/she slowly turns their head to face you and just stares at you..  (cue horror film music..)

looks like a romantic movie to me xD

Cheers

Carlos

I was told, Co-Pilots like to twiddle with their yokes.

..but seriously, I'd like an option to turn them on and off inside the vc...and add passengers.  Part of my wish list.