Since getting a new computer at Christmas time '08, I've been flying FSX in the VC exclusively--without Track IR. I never thought that I would enjoy the VC, but now I find that I simply can't go back to 2D cockpits.I've been seriously considering buying a Track IR, but I don't use headphones, and I really dunno about wearing a baseball cap--that's something that I rarely, if ever, do, and I don't know if I could become accustomed to putting on a hat just to fly ....

As much as we simmers love the VC and especially using TrackIR I can tell you almost every high time real world pilot find VC's and the TrackIR quite annoying. They can get used to it but they will hands down prefer a 2d panel representation. This is based on my experiences giving presentations to real world pilots (I am one myself) and demoing the equipment. ...and no, I am not demoing on a mini laptop with a folding joystick, I am demoing on a 25.5" widescreen sitting on top of PFC Cirrus II hardware with the latest TrackIR5. I can tell you for doing actual instrument training protocols that counts... iow paying for the instructor time you wouldn't want the distraction. Yes, it is highly entertaining and I find it more fun myself.

Since my Van's RV6 (which I haven't flown since yesterday) has a bubble canopy; I find that I prefer sim flying with the RealAir SF260, and it's VC bubble canopy most of all. IMO, it's far more life like than any 2D cockpit. Note: This is VFR flight, where my eyes are not stuck on some instrument presentation as with IFR.In my real world; flight is all about the scenery, as we have some of the best varied scenery in the world, within just a few hours by plane. Grand Canyon, Monument Valley, Lake Powell, Jackson Hole/ YellowStone are just a few of the examples. I don't get a real world kick out of flying in IMC; only to see the runway in the last few seconds. If that's all flying was about (IMC/IFR)..................I'd stick to a desktop computer!As you can see, I'm much more interested in mountain, desert, and backcountry flight, than IMC conditions where I see nothing out the windows/ windscreen. VC's are still somewhat limiting, but offer much more of a panaramic & realistic experience than 2D's.......................for what I call the real purpose of flight. Flight to me, is seeing the world from a different perspective. Not just a means of getting there faster.L.Adamson

I use only aircrafts with good vc. Sadly it means I don

As a TrackIR user VC is the only way to go!

In a lot of the other flight sims I use - which are invariably glider sims Al

Say Al, you ever fly on the Condor Servers?

Since my Van's RV6 (which I haven't flown since yesterday) has a bubble canopy; I find that I prefer sim flying with the RealAir SF260, and it's VC bubble canopy most of all. IMO, it's far more life like than any 2D cockpit. Note: This is VFR flight, where my eyes are not stuck on some instrument presentation as with IFR.In my real world; flight is all about the scenery, as we have some of the best varied scenery in the world, within just a few hours by plane. Grand Canyon, Monument Valley, Lake Powell, Jackson Hole/ YellowStone are just a few of the examples. I don't get a real world kick out of flying in IMC; only to see the runway in the last few seconds. If that's all flying was about (IMC/IFR)..................I'd stick to a desktop computer!As you can see, I'm much more interested in mountain, desert, and backcountry flight, than IMC conditions where I see nothing out the windows/ windscreen. VC's are still somewhat limiting, but offer much more of a panaramic & realistic experience than 2D's.......................for what I call the real purpose of flight. Flight to me, is seeing the world from a different perspective. Not just a means of getting there faster.L.Adamson

I am going to have to disagree with you're opinion on IMC. There is no better feeling of success when you execute a perfect approach to minimums in real life. Breaking out at minimums, to me, is an amazing feeling. But then again that's just my opinion and has no more weight than yours.

I've been seriously considering buying a Track IR, but I don't use headphones, and I really dunno about wearing a baseball cap--that's something that I rarely, if ever, do, and I don't know if I could become accustomed to putting on a hat just to fly ....

That is what has been holding me back from getting a TIR as well. People talk about how great it is, but, like you, I don't wear headphones and haven't worn a hat in probably 15 years, and don't know if I could put one on just to fly.I know NaturalPoint has a 30 day return policy, so maybe I should just purchase it one of these days and return it if I don't enjoy it.

Flight to me, is seeing the world from a different perspective. Not just a means of getting there faster.

Spot on. I like the view out best of all too. Which is why I spend a lot of time just panning about in spot view, watching the plane and the scenery go by.But when I'm actually IN the cockpit, I do still prefer the 2D panel if it's an airliner like the PMDG MD-11. In the Cessna or M20 I use the VC most of the time.

Say Al, you ever fly on the Condor Servers?

Yup, not for a while, but yes I do. You'll find me listed in the Condor Club where I have a subscription, and probably find me on the forums from time to time too, I also fly competitions in Silent Wings occasionally.Wearing a hat for Track IR is no hardship for me, I usually do so anyway...Al

If you have rudder pedals and a joystick with a twist function then you can do what I do, assign the twist function on the stick to the pan view axis.

Just did this today (thanks for the suggestion, hadn't thought of it before) and it works really well with my Sidewinder FF2. I'm still using the hat for panning up and down--although I do find that while flying (as opposed to starting up or shutting down), I'm using the hat a lot less, as I need to look left and right a whole lot more than up and down.

Since getting a widescreen monitor I'm moving toward more VC flying. At least eh MD11 has apanel cfg just for widescrern keeping the aspect of the gauges correct.However there are defiately different generations of VC- the MD11 is awesome, the LDS 767 is simply good. I'm a heavy flier in FSX.I'm going ot end up using a 720P Home theater projector for FS eventually :) with a second monitor running the panels. I've got the hardware now (and a nice basement HT!) but my pc is on another level until we have a second child.Tim

I fly VC all the time in the general aviation aircraft cessna 172, Beech Kingair etc.In airliners I generally use 2D for take-off and landing and VC in cruise.I use FSX.Guy

Track IR and VC only FSX and FS9

It's still mostly 2d cockpits for me. I just can't give up the clarity the 2d gauges have. Many of the VC's I've tried are so dark, depending on the postion of the sun, that it's just too hard to read the instruments quickly. Most of my flying is IFR and I've found I need all the fps I can get when doing a weather approach into a large (detailed) airport.I do use the VC on the RealAir SF260 and the Eaglesoft Twin Commanche. Both are very clear and don't seem to have a large effect on the frame rates.Dale

VC exclusively since it was introduced - I used to have to make panels so that I could control everything without going into full 2d - but not really a problem now......G