View modes

[WebbPA]

This is really a 2 part question, but here goes:

1. Of what conceivable use is tower view?  If I want to watch myself take off or land I get a much better view from spot plane.

2. How can I stop spot plane view from circulating?  I want to fly the Grand Canyon in the Extra (like Zaxxon).  In cockpit view I can't see the walls and I eventually hit one.  Spot plane view (curiously in "loop" mode) seems to be the best at "locking in" a view but it moves around too.  Can't I lock in a constant view at 50 feet and 5 degrees?

[FSTipster]

I've seen question 1 raised many times over the years and  I don't really have an answer for you I'm afraid.

Question 2 - first, if you hit the spacebar when in spot view, it resets the camera angle to behind the plane which you might find useful.

A better solution is Active Camera. With that, you can position yourself (your view) exactly where you want.

[WebbPA]

Thanks Tipster.

I tried active camera once but didn't get instant gratification. Maybe try it out again.

I would still hope that FS alone would allow me to do this.

[FSTipster]

Here's something different whilst we're on the topic of view modes:


First: BACK UP YOUR FS2002.CFG FILE

The add the following to it:

Under [CONTROLS] put this line:

pan_in_cockpit_mode=1

Then under [keyboard_main] put these lines:

PAN_LEFT=9,8
PAN_RIGHT=9,9


Now when you're in the 2D cockpit view, you can pan your view around in the same way as in the virtual cockpit. This can be done by either using the hat switch on your joystick or the tab key (for panning left) and shift+tab (for panning right).

Note that the spacebar will centre your view when you're done looking around.

It looks a little strange at first because the view of the cockpit itself pans with you. But this is seen by some as an assett as it allows you to keep your eye on all your instruments whilst looking around.

Give it a go. If you hate it - just restore your original FS2002.cfg file.

Edit: It'd solve your problem with seeing the canyon walls from within the cockpit WebbPA  ;)

[Calb]

IMHO, what he's asking for in Ques.2 is accomplished by this:

1. Click Views on the main menu and select View Options.
2. Select Spot View, if you aren't already in that view.
3. UN-check Gradual Transitions (lower center)
4. Click on the Type dropdown window and select Fixed.
5. Click in the small aircraft image window to activate it
6. Notice the red line - it's a handle.  Drag it with mouse to position the view angle.
7. Just under the window there is a place you can enter the viewing distance and the RELATIVE altitude.

Note:  You can change your position, zoom and angle from the sim using the normal keyboard pan controls.

Cal
hover long and prosper

[FSTipster]

Excellent tip - I for one have never even looked in the view options.

Edit: Just tried it and i'm not sure it's going to help in this case.

"Fixed" holds the heading of the view, so it doesn't follow the tail or direction of the aircraft but stays at whatever heading it was set at.

I thought what WebbPA meant was how to avoid the viiew "slipping" when you turn. It moves off centre quite a lot sometimes.

No doubt he'll clear that up.

[WebbPA]

Calb's answer was what I was trying to remedy.

Apparently, "fixed" doesn't mean "fixed".

When the aircraft turns in fixed view mode the viewer's relative position (eg, 5 deg up, 50 ft behind) does not.  At least not simultaneously.  You are no longer directly behind the aircraft but are behind and beside it

I have unchecked gradual transition but that doesn't help.

[FSTipster]

Yeah - fixed means fixed heading for the point of view - not relative the aircraft.

I'm experimenting with Active Camera now - I'll ge back to you if I have any luck.