Instruments in Spot plane view like CFS3

[Springer6]

Does anyone know if FS2004 can be modified to show flying instruments in the spot plane view like you can in CFS3 ? Yes I know you can open an instrument panel view and superimpose spot plane window on top, but this is very frame rate hungry

[flyboy 28]

Hi, helen. Try pressing "W" or "Shift+W"... Somthing with W. lol

[Springer6]

Nah ...Thanks for the input ,but W just cycles panel/ basic instruments/clearview when you are already in cocpit view .   Shift W does something wierd.

I hope that you are right and there is a command to get basic instruments in Spot plane view ( it is Shift W usinf FS2004 commands {default is F5 } in CFS3.

However I think that it would require some clever person to work out how to tweak the programme.

Nevertheless this feature should be included in FS 2006

[Graycat8524]

Heya Helen,

You're right about the FS 2004 default key assignments.  Ctrl + W opens a new window and cycles the view around the different AI aircraft in your area.

W cycles the panel as you have already described.

Shift + W raises and lowers the Water Rudder in the default FS 2004 Cessna 208 amphibian (and some Add-On amphibians).  On the MAAM Sim B-25 Briefing Time Add-On aircraft it closes the pilot's window.

As far as a Mini-Panel is concerned I made one a long time ago for FS 2000 which (along with several modifications over time) I still use while in FS 2004 Spot View.  I have it mapped to Shift + 5.

If you need further assistance let me know and I will be happy to help out.

[Springer6]

Thanks ,  I would be very interested in knowing how to make a "mini panel" for use in spot plane view. I presume that you use this without having to open another window and it is not as frame rate hungry as opening another window.

Please tell more. This feature would seem to be very useful and is one of the few good features of CFS3. The instruments are also nice and big, they are translucent and can be dragged and dropped anywhere on the screen.

I cannot understand why MS have not introduced this in their mainstream sims.

Thanks also for the explanation of Ctrl+W. I always wondered what was going on

[Graycat8524]

No problem Springer6--

Mini-Panels are very easy to make and use.

Use the SimV Instant Messenger to let me know what you want on your Mini-Panel and I'll make one up for you using the FS 2004 default gauges.  

Please let me know the following:

1.)  How big do you want the gauges?  Mine are 40 x 40.  Kinda small, however, you can read them just fine.

2.)  What FS 2004 gauges do you want on the Mini-Panel?  I'll make sure to use only default gauges.

3.)  Where on the screen do you want the Mini-Panel to appear?  Top-Left corner of the screen?  Top-center?  Bottom-Right?  Mine is in the Bottom Center.

4.)  Do you want the Mini-Panel to be a particular size or do you want it to be resizable?  I have mine a particular size so that I can add it on to any aircraft in my "fleet" and it will remain the same size for all aircraft (no matter what screen resolution you are using).

Copy/Paste the contents of the Panel.cfg file for the aircraft you want it on and I'll even configure it for you!

You can't get service like that at your local drugstore!

I have a pretty hectic work schedule for the next few days so don't expect it back in an hour.  I'll get it done!  I promise!

[Springer6]

A big thankyou Graycat, for the mini panel.

PROBLEM SOLVED!

FANTASTIC ! allows use of most instruments in Spot plane (or any other) view.

Transparent background to the panel and best of all barely any effect on frame rates.

Microsoft should install this feature as standard.

Brilliant! Thanks again

[Graycat8524]

No problem at all.