Wow.  I don't even know what to say after experiencing this HMD.  My company does VR for people with disabilities so I am able to get my hands on some top level HMDs and hardware, and I was fortunate enough to hook this up to my 5900x/3090.  I am a bit speechless.  I am literally without words.  I put the Oculus on 5 or 6 years ago and was taken back by the immersion, but the screen door, poor performance and love for OLED displays made me set it aside quickly.  The lack of clarity wore me down with in five or ten minutes, but the 3D feeling was impactful.  I got a G2 about 18 months ago and I tried.  I wanted to love VR, but again, it wore me down.  The god rays, the sweet spot hunting, toilet paper roll view, and poor performance made me feel like something was off.  I figured VR at best was 5-10 years away from getting me on fully on board.  Well, the Varjo Aero has blown my "word not allowed" mind!  It's insane!  The clarity and smoothness is unworldly.  I really thought we were an optimistic half decade away from this type of experience, but I have spent the last week living the dream.  It's incredibly smooth and the clarity is like looking at a 4k (maybe 3.5k to dial down the hyperbole) monitor.  It's completely changed my perspective on immersion and the future of flight sim overnight.  A week ago I was programming 50 switches a plane between my bravo throttle, MCP, GF knobs, yoke, and VR insights panel.  I was thinking about a 3 monitor set up, heck maybe even a projector and getting back into cockpit building and investing in some real sim gear modules.  Those ambitions are long gone.  A mouse, a yoke, rudder pedals and a throttle.  This is all I will ever need.  The only equipment in my amazon cart is a YETI cup with a straw because you can't drink a pint (or water) out of a glass with the headset on.  I am not sure what else I can say.  The next level immersion exists.  The Varjo Aero makes TrackIR seem like 1972.  I'll admit, 2D OLED has better blacks, contrast, etc, but I have put this headset on people mid flight in a Cessna over the rockies and watched them experience real discomfort, fear and complete awe.  I have never seen authentic reactions quite like that.  In work settings I have watched people come to tears experiencing a flight at sunset over the California cost.   It's surreal to watch the reactions.  It's humbling and exciting!

Even crazier is that I can't max out the resolution with a 3090!  The max IPD is 39 and I run it at 35 PPD.  I know there are issues with VR for people out there that may never be overcome considering the human experience, but if you are thinking of investing in 3 screens, over priced MCPs, and overpriced panels so you can spin knobs, etc.  I highly, and I mean highly recommend you look at this insane HMD and jump into VR.  It's just unbelievable.  Whatever you think you know, whatever you think you hate about VR, pretty much got fixed and is out there for an albeit steep price, but it's here.

 

Personally, I believe VR is the future and will replace screens in the near future for gaming. I have the Oculus Rift S with OPENXR and its amazing. The only thing with VR is having something stuck on your head for long flights. I only do short GA flights in it. I know you can take it off your head but you get my drift.. I switch between VR and 2D with TrackIR and it balances out. Great to hear you're enjoying it. 

Lets see what the next gen VR headsets offer when they arrive. 

7 minutes ago, Ridvan Celik said:

The only thing with VR is having something stuck on your head for long flights

No arguments here on that front. Some people act like it’s laying your head in a pillow but I find that hard to believe. There is weight and there is pressure. It certainly effects everyone different. 

43 minutes ago, TravelRunner404 said:

Wow.  I don't even know what to say after experiencing this HMD.  My company does VR for people with disabilities so I am able to get my hands on some top level HMDs and hardware, and I was fortunate enough to hook this up to my 5900x/3090.  I am a bit speechless.  I am literally without words.  I put the Oculus on 5 or 6 years ago and was taken back by the immersion, but the screen door, poor performance and love for OLED displays made me set it aside quickly.  The lack of clarity wore me down with in five or ten minutes, but the 3D feeling was impactful.  I got a G2 about 18 months ago and I tried.  I wanted to love VR, but again, it wore me down.  The god rays, the sweet spot hunting, toilet paper roll view, and poor performance made me feel like something was off.  I figured VR at best was 5-10 years away from getting me on fully on board.  Well, the Varjo Aero has blown my "word not allowed" mind!  It's insane!  The clarity and smoothness is unworldly.  I really thought we were an optimistic half decade away from this type of experience, but I have spent the last week living the dream.  It's incredibly smooth and the clarity is like looking at a 4k (maybe 3.5k to dial down the hyperbole) monitor.  It's completely changed my perspective on immersion and the future of flight sim overnight.  A week ago I was programming 50 switches a plane between my bravo throttle, MCP, GF knobs, yoke, and VR insights panel.  I was thinking about a 3 monitor set up, heck maybe even a projector and getting back into cockpit building and investing in some real sim gear modules.  Those ambitions are long gone.  A mouse, a yoke, rudder pedals and a throttle.  This is all I will ever need.  The only equipment in my amazon cart is a YETI cup with a straw because you can't drink a pint (or water) out of a glass with the headset on.  I am not sure what else I can say.  The next level immersion exists.  The Varjo Aero makes TrackIR seem like 1972.  I'll admit, 2D OLED has better blacks, contrast, etc, but I have put this headset on people mid flight in a Cessna over the rockies and watched them experience real discomfort, fear and complete awe.  I have never seen authentic reactions quite like that.  In work settings I have watched people come to tears experiencing a flight at sunset over the California cost.   It's surreal to watch the reactions.  It's humbling and exciting!

Even crazier is that I can't max out the resolution with a 3090!  The max IPD is 39 and I run it at 35 PPD.  I know there are issues with VR for people out there that may never be overcome considering the human experience, but if you are thinking of investing in 3 screens, over priced MCPs, and overpriced panels so you can spin knobs, etc.  I highly, and I mean highly recommend you look at this insane HMD and jump into VR.  It's just unbelievable.  Whatever you think you know, whatever you think you hate about VR, pretty much got fixed and is out there for an albeit steep price, but it's here.

 

I know what you mean - my Varjo is amazing. Trouble is I still want the tactile experience of at least the important flight controls and I want them in the right places now. Flaps, trim wheels, quadrant, landing gear, ideally some nav equipment. There's a facebook group Hybrid Cockpit (nothing to do with me but I joined) that are promoting the VR + controls idea. https://www.facebook.com/groups/2064773260428312   

A very nice read and the first time I’ve considered VR again in sometime. For me the issue is the price as it is with a lot of people. To justify this purchase to the mrs I need it slashed in half easy. Guess I’ll be a couple of years away enjoying it at such great quality.

the best is yet to come:

"Sony is making 4K 4000 x 4000 displays for Apple's headset with a 1.4-inch diagonal."

https://www.tomsguide.com/news/apple-vr-and-mixed-reality-headset-release-date-price-specs-and-leaks

 

1 hour ago, Ridvan Celik said:

Personally, I believe VR is the future

I thought garlic bread was the future?

When MSFS matures enough for VR, and as the hardware prices come down, I suppose I will not be able to resist trying VR at least.  In my own head I think I am still about a year to 18 months away from that now.

18 minutes ago, Chock said:

I thought garlic bread was the future?

Things move on...  It's now Domino's pepperoni twisted dough balls - believe me - I had some last night - amazing!  

But does it still have a scuba mask type field of view? It can be as clear as glass, but if it still has that, then it’s a no from me. 

2 hours ago, Ridvan Celik said:

Personally, I believe VR is the future and will replace screens in the near future for gaming.

Do you have facts and evidence to back up your claim?

13 minutes ago, Ianrivaldosmith said:

But does it still have a scuba mask type field of view?

yes, but a much smaller scuba mask, i.e. shorter and therefore more comfortable, as the above SONY/Apple VR headset picture shows clearly. Apple's AR glasses is also under development, same article that I quoted above.

Edited April 16, 20224 yr by turbomax

40 minutes ago, Chock said:

I thought garlic bread was the future?

Or that. 

10 minutes ago, Ricardo41 said:

Do you have facts and evidence to back up your claim?

Did you just completely look past the "Personally, I believe" part and just went straight to being a knob or did you just post without thinking because being on Avsim is your life. Some people seriously need affection in their life... its turning them stale, get out there don't be shy talk to women.. they don't bite...hard. 

Edited April 16, 20224 yr by Ridvan Celik

18 minutes ago, Ricardo41 said:

Do you have facts and evidence to back up your claim?

Of course not. Facts and evidence are for explaining the past. No facts and evidence can predict the future. Otherwise we'd all be horse betting billionaires.

Predicting the future is all about extrapolation, intuition and imagination.

I agree with Ridvan, although I'd say 'medium future', when putting on VR gear is as easy as slipping on a pair of sunglasses.

Edited April 16, 20224 yr by Petraeus

Well, been a long time Flight Sim guy, just switched to VR. Started with Quest 2 just to try it, was sold on VR so went with HP 2. Like many VR folks have told me, once you try it, you won't look back. That has been my experience, don't believe I will ever use my three screens again. I use a mouse, all the panels, Honeycomp yoke, throttle, pedals as before (did take a little time) to get the feel where all hardware it located. I would love to go with $2000 VR unit but my HP2 unit using openXR tool kit with tweaks, very pleased. I am a GA, short flight multiplayer group guy.

travelrunner404/, thanks for sharing. Excellent.

For those of you who'd like to experience some flying using only your hand controllers, and not being forced to use your mouse & flightsim hardware, give VTOL VR a try.

It's something like a "lite" version of DCS, but was built specifically for vr from the ground up. This means that every switch, knob, dial and control surface in your cockpit is interactive and all cockpit instrumentation and textual displays are clear and easy to read. It comes with a host of tutorials as well to get you acquainted with engine startup, flying, controls, weapon systems, and even carrier ops and mid-air refueling. It also has a free roam mode for times when you just feel like flying and not doing a mission.

It's more than worth the $30. In fact I'm planning on buying the attack chopper DLC after I get my head wrapped around the default aircraft it came with. Oh btw, it also has Coop MP/ shared cockpit, and also PvP modes, if you like. 

It's a sim, but perhaps more simcade as the systems are not 100% accurate as in DCS so it would make a perfect fit for those that want a "lite" sim that is very immersive yet will respect your time. Give it a try, for a VR sim it allows you to control everything freely without needing to always feel around for your hardware.

For Quest 2 owners...you can buy it on Steam (pcvr) and play it tethered or using your Airlink connection (wifi). I have a new wifi 6 router with 160Hz band so Airlink works flawlessly for me with this title.

Edited April 18, 20224 yr by hangar