Virtual Cockpits

[RAFAIR100]

OK, this might seem like a dumb question from an experienced pilot and flight simmer, but I really don't know the answer.       Why do we have virtual cockpits?  I've never seen one that looks even half way realistic.   So what arey used for?        I'd like to know because I'm trembling on the brink of deleting them entirely.     For me, they just seem to be taking up space !

[Apex]

Many of us simmers are not pilots and perhaps never will be.

[WebbPA]

I posted this a while ago but I'll be damned if I can find it.  It's not my idea or my code and I suggest you back up your original file before you try it.  All I can tell you is that I have tried it several times and it has worked every time.

I use it when models have such abysmally bad VC's that it's better to dump them entirely than to try to make them useable.

When cycling through the panels you will see an 'open' view, as Apex describes - I think his solution doesn't completely eliminate the VC.

As far as removing the VC from the A/C model is concerned, it is perfectly possible and actually quite simple to do, involving only a hex editor and one change to the aircraft.mdl file.

Open the mdl file you want to edit and search for the following hex value: 0022003900

In the SECOND occurence of that string, simply change the 39 in 0022003900 to 00. It should now look like this: 0022000000. Save the changes, OK the creation of the backup file then exit the editor to test it out in MSFS.

Open the .mdl file, hit Ctrl+F and enter 0022003900 in the "Find" box. To eliminate the vc, you must change the 39 in this string to 00. NOTE: Since this same string appears several times in the file, you must be careful to alter the correct string. For example, in the DC-3.mdl, altering the FIRST string only loses the plane's shadow, so leave this string intact and hit "Find next". Changing the 39 to 00 in the SECOND string loses the vc.

Do not change all the strings 0022003900. Because then you would make not only the VC invisible, but also the landing lights and even the plane itself. The best way to remove the VC -and ONLY the VC- is looking for the said string, changing the 39 into 00 for the first appearance of the string and then going into FS to see the result. If it didn't work then go back into the hex editor, undo the change and go to the next appearance of the string and change the 39 into 00. Have a look in FS and continue the operation untill the VC has gone. The string 0022003900 appears more than once in a .mdl file and is something like a command telling to show some part of the aircraft model (the VC, landing lights, the model itself, etc..), so make only the change to the string that handles the VC.

In the two months since this topic was posted it has been determined that only the second occurrence of the 0022003900 string concerns the virtual cockpit, the first occurrence switches off the A/C shadows.

A good hex editor can be found here (Hex Workshop 4.1 - shareware but fully functional for long enough to get the job done and then some): http://www.bpsoft.com/downloads/

[RAFAIR100]

Thank you both for your illuminating and helpful replies.  I think that I'll just leave well enough alone and simply ignore the VCs.       The main cockpits work fine for my flying.

[PisTon]

High quality Virtual cockpits look like this:
http://www.aeroworx.com/gallery/B200/Interior/int05.jpg

[Apex]

Webb is correct, deleting the VC lines in panel.cfg does not eliminate the VC (thanks for that, Webb), only eliminates the gauges.

[Airshow_lover]

I personally prefer the VC over the main panel.

The one thing i wish the VC did have was a way to controll the auto pilot.

[G-EORGE]

For me, the virtual cockpit is just something to look round on a long flight...

[rootbeer]

That's a VC, PisTon? WOW!! If only FS would give 'em to us like that!

[Hagar]

That's a VC, PisTon? WOW!! If only FS would give 'em to us like that!

I believe that shot was taken in FS. Check out the Screenshots forums some time.

The DVC gauges are clickable in FS9, just like the ones on the 2D panel.

[GhostOperative]

[quote] Why do we have virtual cockpits?