How To Finally Fix Forward Views in FS2000 for Maximum Realism

By FlightSim.Com Staff

The old default 737 with that double zoom window out the front. Sure, frame rates are better but what kind of a world are you looking at? In addition, do you think real pilots see the runway like that? Frame rates are highest this way, but you'll have a hard time flying with this over blown viewpoint on the world. It's like wearing binoculars on every takeoff!

When seeing the world from a real cockpit, or from the easily configurable FLY! cockpits, one can see that the true perspective on FS2000 is silly. Let's fix this! I have been holding off on doing an article like this for a long time, until I can come to grips with every configuration I have tried, and that I have found one to stick with. I finally have. I want to be able to see more of the runway below me, and up near the nose of the aircraft. Yet, I want to get rid of the horrible zoom effect, and bring back some of the perspective I used to have in FS98, where there was actually a real sense of speed going down the runway.

The new perspective. Better looking right? Now, you'll see the runway as a real pilot would, with a better zoom default. The frame rate did go down some, but I found it a case where your flying will be so much more enjoyable, it's worth it. Saving a situation is a smart idea whenever configuring things, so you can keep it this way.

The first thing I did was to hit [backspace] and then hit the [-] key. This makes your zoom about 50% of default. For months, I ran this way, and indeed, it gives a much better speed sensation and awareness. But, I concluded it's just a tiny bit too "fisheye". So, now, hit the [shift][+] key five times. This will smoothly zoom you back in about 5 increments. This is what I have concluded is a realistic zoom level.

This is the default 777 panel, with overhead piece edited out. It's "dragged down" a bit to show more outside views. I use it in the Phoenix 777, where that panel robs frame rates to a large extent. Not only does this run smmmmooootttthhhhllllyyyy, you'll enjoy a more realistic viewpoint.

Next, you must fix your favorite panel to be moved down the screen a bit. This will open up the forward view some more, as if you were in the captain's seat, being able to look out and down more, as in FLY!. To do this, most panels need the upper portions "removed". If you have a panel option to remove overhead panel, as in many panels, then that will work fine. Unselect it. However, some panels, like the default 737 and 777 panel do not have this option. What I have found is that the overhead panel when laying on the viewing window, reduces frame rate. So get rid of it. Unless you really need any starter switches etc., then you'll live without it fine and enjoy the frame rate boost.

To manually remove the overhead portion on any panel (I have done it on PSS's 777, the AETI's 747-200, and the default 777 panel) - you want to open up Windows Paint. From there, select the main panel .bmp from your aircraft/panel directory. Now, using a paintbrush on Paint, select a black color. Black is used to define where outside views show. By hand, "erase" or paint black over all the overhead panel parts and center posts. Close, and save the panel. Now, when you load that airplane, you'll have the panel, minus any frame rate gobbling overhead parts. And, now, you can slide the panel down with the mouse, to a level that suits you fine. I slide mine down enough to still leave any working switches visible, but certainly cutting off any unneeded blank space.

Edit your panel config to have this line, or add it in. Adjust the default value of 0, to a 10. That's all there is to it!

Now that the panel is moved down, you're two thirds of the way to getting finished. My final step is to open up the panel .cfg file using Windows Wordpad and get to the line where the [views] section is listed. If there is no listing, you can add the lines in yourself. You want a VIEW_FORWARD_DIR number of 10. This will tilt the view down 10 somethings, I don't know what. Anyway, it's like hitting [shift][enter] a few times, but now it's locked in forever, and not lost when you change views! Save the .cfg file and exit.

Now, restart FS2000 and load the airplane you worked on. Take the panel and slide it down. Hit [backspace] once, then [-], then [shift][+] five times. Drag the viewing window down into place where you want it to fine tune your perspective. I take the right side in a margin, to simulate a centerpost. Finally, look up [keypad 5] for a second. When you come back, the new tilt angle will be loaded. For some reason, when you load up the airplane with a saved mode, sometimes the tilt is not recognized until you look somewhere else. Don't ask me why, I don't know. But now, for the rest of your flying in this plane with the edited panel.cfg, you'll have this new, more accurate perspective!

I still enjoy using the default 777 and 737 panels, over all others. The reason? Frame rates again. Call me a kook if you want, I am willing to give up some personal panel touches and innovations, to keep frame rates up there. For using the PSS 777, I have edit my config file to contain all parts of that wonderful panel, except the forward one. It works good this way.

So now you have an easy method for "fixing" all those panels people make. I'm not trying to put down the great effort all the authors out there put into their panels, it's just that I am so hung up on frame rates and how they effect the flight, I must do a bit of panel designing (or destroying) myself. Even if you decide to use a great panel such as PSS's 777, then at least remove the center post and overhead part. In their panel, all the functionality is on a separate overhead panel anyway, so you're not loosing anything by doing so. Maybe someday, designers will just enable a switch for the overhead panel. This way, you can slide things around and adjust your views to match that us FLY!ers can not live without, when FS2000 comes a callin'!