Taxiing - Cockpit View vs. Spot View, plus 'Bonus'

[Xyn_Air]

As usual, everyone, I am baffled and need your help.

First, I noticed a significant difference in aircraft behavior between when I am taxiing using the cockpit view (primarily the 2D cockpit, but the VC is similar, as well) versus when I taxi using the spot view of the aircraft.  While the scale of the aircraft affects the following problem somewhat, I notice that it is rather consistent between different aircraft (from Cessna's to Boeing's).

If I am in the cockpit view while taxiing, the slightest touch on the flight stick makes the view jump around like I am looking out the eyes of a schizophrenic with A.D.D. after drinking a thermos or two of coffee.  Yet, when I taxi the same aircraft in spot view, the motion is as smooth as vanilla pudding.  Furthermore, when in cockpit view, the aircraft refuses to stay on the center line.  Heck, it refuses to stay on any line.  It wanders around more than my one-eyed cat.  Yet, in spot view, the very same aircraft moves down the taxiway like it is on rails.

What the heck?  Is this a graphics setting?  A controller setting (i.e. turn down the sensitivity on my flight stick)?  A pandemic aircraft setting (hard to believe that all the various aircraft could have the same problematic setting, but . . .)?  Why is the spot view so much smoother than the cockpit view?

The bonus question (and one I think that has been answered before, though I don't remember where) is, why does FS make aircraft so 'jittery' when taxiing?  I mean, you barely touch the rudder, and at only 10 knots mind you, and it seems like FS wants to make your aircraft do a 90 degree turn on the ground.  Is this normal for FS?  Heck, is this normal for real life?  I have flown an aircraft once, but never did the taxiing; I certainly don't remember it being that dang touchy in the air!  Should taxiing in a straight line be harder than landing?!?  :(

OK, enough rambling.  Thanks in advance to any and all with advice (or even amusing heckling).  ;)

All the best,
~Darrin

[Wii]

Nooo....taxiing on the line is quite easy (with rudder pedals or a twist handle joystick.) What helps me is finding the point on the cockpit panel that lines up with the line...say this area.

Where the line is with the tip of the cockpit panel (different with every airplane...) if that line is going off somewhere else it means your going offcourse. Though not extremely important, it is a good idea to stay on the line to avoid a wing clipping...I'm sure there are other ways but that's just my way of doing it.

[Xyn_Air]

Er, Wii, I do understand the concept of taxiing.  ::)

My problem isn't finding out visually when the center of my aircraft is in relationship to the center line of the taxiway.  If you had read my question, you would see that my problem is the sensitivity of the controls and the jumpiness of the aircraft when in cockpit view versus spot view.  There is a huge discrepancy in how my aircraft responds between those two views, and I would like my cockpit view responses to be smoother and more like how the aircraft handles when in spot view.

But, yeah, I do know how to taxi.  :P

~Darrin

EDIT:  Before I sound too much like a raging arsehole for my rather snippy response, I am just teasing Wii a bit.  I didn't mean any hard feelings.  But, when the question answered is not the question asked . . . well, we do get to tease each other then, right?  Wii, please, forgive me.  I DO appreciate that you took the time to answer, and with a picture, too!  I love pictures!  SO, please, take any jabbing on my part with a big grain of salt.

[Wii]

No hard feelings here.

Misread qustion sorry bout that...
try pressing ALT going to options/controls/calibrate controller move the joystick handle around if it's too sensitive for your likings then try clicking on the Calibration tab (or whatever other tab is there) and click Calibrate follow instructions etc. If that's not the case then it's pretty much the same for everyone else. Try putting your main screen in the cockpit (vc/2d whatever) and press '[' right click and go to spot view and adjust camera and refer to that view when needed. Also a helper on lining up with landing on line/taxing on line.

One more thing, do you have rudder pedals or a twist handle joystick? If not...that's hardcore

[Xyn_Air]

No hard feelings here.

Misread qustion sorry bout that...
try pressing ALT going to options/controls/calibrate controller move the joystick handle around if it's too sensitive for your likings then try clicking on the Calibration tab (or whatever other tab is there) and click Calibrate follow instructions etc. If that's not the case then it's pretty much the same for everyone else. Try putting your main screen in the cockpit (vc/2d whatever) and press '[' right click and go to spot view and adjust camera and refer to that view when needed. Also a helper on lining up with landing on line/taxing on line.

One more thing, do you have rudder pedals or a twist handle joystick? If not...that's hardcore

I am thinking of adjusting my joystick sensitivities down a bit.  I am not sure if that is part of the problem or not, but it would also help on landings where I have a tendency to over-correct when trying to line up with the runway.  Probably give that a try this weekend sometime.

As for putting the spot view in a PIP window, that is a freaking genius idea!  Thanks!  Not only will I try that for taxiing, that would be enormously useful for pushbacks and landings, too.  Sure, a bit like 'cheating', but hey, FS cripples our other sense already, so a little 'cheating' to compensate for that should be OK.  ;)

And, yes, for goodness sake I do have rudder control (twisting flight stick).  I shudder at the memory of the days when all I had was the keyboard . . .  :o

Thanks-o-much, Wii.  And, I'm glad you aren't torqued.

~Darrin

[Wii]

No hard feelings here.

Misread qustion sorry bout that...
try pressing ALT going to options/controls/calibrate controller move the joystick handle around if it's too sensitive for your likings then try clicking on the Calibration tab (or whatever other tab is there) and click Calibrate follow instructions etc. If that's not the case then it's pretty much the same for everyone else. Try putting your main screen in the cockpit (vc/2d whatever) and press '[' right click and go to spot view and adjust camera and refer to that view when needed. Also a helper on lining up with landing on line/taxing on line.

One more thing, do you have rudder pedals or a twist handle joystick? If not...that's hardcore

I am thinking of adjusting my joystick sensitivities down a bit.

[Layne.]

I have the same thing but i just think it is because when your in spot it is a larger object turning and it is even zoomed out more whilst in the cockpit it is smaller and not zoomed out thus moving a bit faster in your eyes but actually moving the same speed as in spot.

In FSX it does nto do this i must point out

[Xyn_Air]

I have the same thing but i just think it is because when your in spot it is a larger object turning and it is even zoomed out more whilst in the cockpit it is smaller and not zoomed out thus moving a bit faster in your eyes but actually moving the same speed as in spot.

In FSX it does nto do this i must point out

I used Wii's advice and put a spot view in a PIP while in the 2D cockpit, and I have to say taxiing went much more smoothly!  Even the jumpiness in the 2D cockpit view seemed vastly decreased.

I would agree that a component of all of that is what is perceived versus what actually may be going on.  I know that when I am looking at the aircraft taxiing in the spot view I am less likely to manipulate the controls as usually things seem to go better.  It could be that I am simply overreacting in the cockpit view.  Still, I also tend to think that FS is a little twitchy when it comes to aircraft and taxiing.

Meh.  At least I have found a way to get it done.  Heh, I feel kind of silly that I forgot about the ability to put differing views in PIP's . . . but,  being a bit silly would be nothing new for me.



~Darrin

[beaky]

Taxiing is the hardest thing to learn in RL flying... and it's damn near impossible in MSFS.

And Xyn, I think your perceived differences taxiing in Spot view vs, Cockpit are due to the fact that you are not going to move your controls quite the same way in both views; it's bound to happen.

[Zaphod]

And Xyn, I think your perceived differences taxiing in Spot view vs, Cockpit are due to the fact that you are not going to move your controls quite the same way in both views; it's bound to happen.

I think Rottydaddy may have hit the nail on the head.
I find I overcontrol (use the rudder too agressively) when in cockpit view, where as I can immediately see the reaction to any control input in spot view and adjust accordingly.

Just a thought

Zaphod.