>I am a VC only pilot unless I am forced or its just to>difficult and time consuming to get to the switches.>That said.....>When are they ever going to get the LANDING LIGHTS figured>out?>Whats the deal? Is it a FS problems?>1/2 of my planes the landing lights are really just a>novelty.>Same with the cockpit instrumentation.>For most its all or nothing and some seem tied in with the>time of dusk at which they come on.>Another peeve. Window SHADOWS:-mad >Yeah Yeah it was cool for a while but now its just plain>annoying.>I bought the Alphasim B-25 and while flying at night, you have>this riduculous reflection of a empty seat staring at you.>Some addon reflections are so strong you cannot see outside.>And Pleeeeeeeze. No more jet pilot helmet and mask>reflection!>Dont get me started on the external nature sounds:-grr >I am doing a flyby at Aerosofts Dillingham in one of the>loudest,ear piercing,4 engine,gut rattling C-130s and what do>I hear?>A freakin bird chirping! Or how about sittin in a CH53>helicopter that you can hear for a mile and you can hear the>waves lapping at the shore.>Ok, ok, Coffees kicking in and I am ranting.>No more shadows,external enviromental sounds or at least make>them optional.>2d cockpits.....Well I guess the airline guys need them but>most GA,helis and smaller planes can get away with out em if>the vc is done right.That was hilarious! :-lol Good points though; and I also have days when the caffeine kicks in all too well! *:-* I personally enjoy the OPTION of hearing environmental sounds even when the engine(s) are running (in certain environments).But I would like for others to have the option to turn them completely, off or to have them audible only when the engines are off.I spend most of my time in locked spot view admiring a gorgeous aircraft flying in beautiful scenery, but when I'm in the cockpit I have NO use for anything more than the faintest of subtle windscreen reflections; in real life GA aircraft flying, a properly maintained machine-buffed windscreen will hardly show reflections at all. ;) But I would like for other users to have the option of flying with more visible windscreen reflections if they wished.FSX DX10.x preview cockpit shadows look interesting, although my hardware+OS can't display them yet. I also have little use lately (but used to enjoy this in FS2002's FS Sky World) for the artificial scenario of flying VFR in heavy clouds (even IFR, what tower controller would let you take off in that weather, and if you did, believe me... in real life flying you wouldn't want to go there except in a "hurricane chaser" aircraft!).:-roll But I am glad other users have the option of flying with real world or user-configured weather with realistic clouds, thunder, and lightning if they wish.One nice thing about the FSX 3D virtual cockpit (VC) is that if constructed properly, it reportedly can display with less FPS hit than an average 2D.If I want an "Omnimax" or "Imax" flight, I follow the Rhumbaflappy (Dick Ludowise) recommendation to move the "Eyepoint" down so far below the cockpit floor that NO part of the aircraft shows; then I don't need the 2d cockpit hat switch "snap" views feature!{FSX install path}UIRESKneeboard_keys.htmVIEW COMMANDSEyepoint (move down) SHIFT+BACKSPACE <-- Press repeatedly in VC to tryPS: It's best to turn off head movement latency aka "MomentumEffect" in this view!http://forums.avsim.net/dcboard.php?az=sho...08782&mode=fullJust my 2 cents worth...Happy Flying! :-coolGaryGB

Jim.You obviously are ranting for no reason at all and if you think through this issue logically you'd find chirping birds in a C130 totally realistic.Anyone knows that the reason that you heard the bird chirping in the C-130 is because the loadmaster had the rear cargo-bay door opened to get in some fresh air and a flock of pelicans flew into the airplane. Since you were too busy flying the airplane, you failed to notice that one of the pelicans snuck onto the flightdeck, made a nest under your seat, laid eggs and they subsequently hatched as you were flying over Dillinham. What you heard was the sound of young pelican chicks "chiping" out to the mother pelican who had flown back into the galley to get them some snacks. As you flew away from Dillingham the mother pelican returned with coffee and peanuts from the galley so the chirping subsequently stopped. The mother pelican then took her chicks and flew out of the flight deck, pecked your loadmaster's eye out (you will notice he is no longer standing in the rear cargo bay because he is getting medical attention) and flew away.Now that the situation has been adequately explained, I must ask that you apologize to the community for making false accusations.Thank you.Mike T.(On his 5th cup of expresso)

I'm kind of the opposite.I fly mostly VC now, whether it be CLS DC-10 or light GA. I used to be 2D only but I have changed in the last two years for whatever reason.RhettFS box: E8500 (@ 3.80 ghz), AC Freezer 7 Pro, ASUS P5E3 Premium, BFG 8800GTX 756 (nVidia 169 WHQL), 4gb DDR3 1600 Patriot Cas7 7-7-7-20 (2T), PC Power 750, WD 150gb 10000rpm Raptor, Seagate 500gb, Silverstone TJ09 case, Vista Ultimate 64ASX Client: AMD 3700+ (@ 2.6 ghz), 7800GT

Kevin,Thanks for that gem!Thats the best tip I have heard for a long time.

Good point Mike!That's the main reason why I haven't bought the C130 - I only like 2D pelicans.......!Toni.

HEY....Expresso Mike...That was hillarous.....LOL

I also need and expect 2d panel views.All the above mentioned problems will be fixed in the next version of FS once the "waving hands" are one-hundred percent perfect. Providing there are a few hours of development time left.

I have a confession to make ...I really, really hated Flight Simulator for the most part until 3D virtual cockpits were introduced.I just couldn't get past not being able to see out the windows and get my bearings.2D panels definitely have a purpose, and a usefulness (see OP point about multi-monitor setups). But as for trying to fly with them ... I just never could get beyond it.

>>Dave,>>>>Would you pay extra to get a 2D cockpit?>>>>Say for example that the default add-on ONLY came with a 3D>>cockpit ... but also had a version that was 25% more money>>that came with a 2D cockpit also.>>>>Would you then purchase and pay the extra money for your>>specialized cockpit?>>You bet I would if it had no wing /interior details includedWith FSX you cannot have it both ways...The "wing/interior details" are part of the VC model (interior model). They will be visible in the 2d panel when you use the hat switch to look around.Either comment out the _interior entry in the model.cfg file for real FSX aircraft......or move the eyepoint down below the model for an unobstructed view.

I just purchased the A2A B377 Stratocruiser, which does not have a 2D panel. This was a minus in my mind until I spent some time in it. It is a little extra work, but the view from the flight deck of this particular aircraft is so unique I don't think a 2D panel could have captured it.I have always preferred 2D panels myself, except for GA a/c, but I'm glad I was willing to give the Stratocruiser a chance.

Hey Bill Lemmings(hope I spelled it correctly)your statement;Either comment out the _interior entry in the model.cfg file for real FSX aircraft...Can you expand on that thought please.....All I have / want is true FSX models.....

FalconAF,Regarding the TripleHead2Go device and 2D panels. All you need to solve this issue is to purchase a 4th monitor. When the aircraft loads, shrink (drag) the 2D panel down to your center monitor. User the handles on both sides of the panel window - not the outside scenery). Then, undock the window and drag it down to the lower monitor.Now you have all scenery in the top three monitors and the 2D panel in the lower monitor - all at the top resolution for the TripleHead2Go device. This works great.fb

As for my opinion, I prefer the 3D cockpit, but I have one monitor right now. I do have a Triple Head, but it's sitting un-used. One monitor with a TrackIR is okay for me for now.I can see where some folks would want to have 2D for specialized setups like home-built cockpits. I don't think ACES is playing much to that demographic, however. The vast majority of sim-pilots have one screen, no TrackIR.2D or 3D cockpit, the thing I value the most are well-organized pop-ups and click-to-enlarge gauges. I found it amusing that another reviewer thinks that pop-up buttons detract from a cockpit. I totally (respectfully) disagree. I don't like using the keyboard to control my virtual aircraft, and so I map out as many controls as I can to gaming controllers. I especially do not like memorizing shift- and ctrl- key combos. If I can't map out the button, then I like having clickable controls in the cockpit. Going back to LOMAC for a while was a real education: I had forgotten that the beautiful cockpits are not clickable at all -- what a drag!The best of all worlds is a click-to-enlarge gauge. If you want to see the gauge in detail, you just click on it. If you don't, you click on it again. No extra pop-up buttons. As for developers, creating 2D cockpits is time-consuming and expensive. Many that I have spoken to cite cost-effectiveness as a reason to cut out 2D cockpits from their products. Again, it's a scenario where the developers are working to please the largest demographic for the least amount of outlay. Jeff ShylukAssistant Managing EditorSenior Staff ReviewerAVSIM

>>As for developers, creating 2D cockpits is time-consuming and>expensive. I think what a dev would mean if they say this, is that when the VC is done, they don't feel it is financially feasible to spend time and outlay to make a 2D panel.My experience has been that it's more time consuming and expensive to make a VC. Anyone with a paint program, a text editor, and a set of gauges can make a 2D panel. But try making a VC with those tools. No go.RhettFS box: E8500 (@ 3.80 ghz), AC Freezer 7 Pro, ASUS P5E3 Premium, BFG 8800GTX 756 (nVidia 169 WHQL), 4gb DDR3 1600 Patriot Cas7 7-7-7-20 (2T), PC Power 750, WD 150gb 10000rpm Raptor, Seagate 500gb, Silverstone TJ09 case, Vista Ultimate 64ASX Client: AMD 3700+ (@ 2.6 ghz), 7800GT

I don't pay unless it has both 2D and 3D. I prefer pop-up gauges in both 2d and 3D.In airliners I fly with VC for takeoff and landing. 2D once I'm above 10000. For GA I usually fly 3D unless it's a long flight.So I got to have both if you want my money.