Virtual Cockpit - Is there one?

[Stanner1953]

I just loaded OFF.

1. I am having difficulty with the cockpit views. Is there a Virtual Cockpit? I find that I cannot pan smoothly with my joystick hat. How do I turn on the VC?

2. Is there a 2D cockpit? How do I turn it on?

3. I have questions regarding the circle in the upper left corner of the screen.
What do the red and blue triangles represent? Is my aircraft shown in the
circle? I know my aircraft appears in the map.
I also have other questions regarding the missions etc.
Is there a manual or documentation that explains these things? I looked
in the OFF folders but found only the listing of key commands.

I find that the visibility is so limited that it makes dogfighting quite difficult.
A workable VC would go a long way to help. Is there a way to set up a smooth workable VC such as in FS2004?

Thanks.
Stanner

[Sparrowhawk1161]

I have flown CFS3 and have learned it's different than FSX. The 3d cockpit is their and the 2D cockpit is optional. The 3D cockpit is more like the 2D version of FSX... You pan down... you see gauges...and when you pan up... you have a heads up view. That's what I see.

The circle in the uppper screen is like a "radar"... allowing you to find targets to destroy! Red means bad! Enemies. As far as you are concerned... you are always in the middle The circle changes as you get closer to a target and you are in the middle. Blue triangles are your friends...allied stuff. Don't kill them!

Unless starting out! It's fun to destroy your own airfield and watch it go up in smoke! I love doing that!

But, when you get more serious? Now you destroy anything that is in red... meaning enemy ground units..enemy fights... bridges any thing thats in red!

When you are in free flight mode... it's possible everything is in red... But, when you start missions.. blue is friendly and red is not.... the center of the circle is you! You will see yoursefl getting closer to a target... when you are getting close... look down and see what you need to destroy.

In CFS2 and CFS3, the circle is important. You have only screen, usually...unless you have created a giant cockpit with many monitors and throttles and joysticks and rudder pedals... these people really into the game and make whole section of their basement into giant cockpit...envy!

But, with a little screen, that circle tells you where you should go... red...enemies... blue...good guys or somewhere to land after a mission...if you can...getting shot and all...your lucky to land!

As, far as a owrkable VC... well..that's what you get! You have that cockpit... you have an outside view you can pan..and a spot view.

Spot view...is great... you can guide the aircraft to the target!

Let's say you are very realistic mode! You have to change the cokpit view from all sides provided to see the instruments and where you are in the game.

FS2004...and FSX... gives you a panning view of a virtual cockpit! CFS gives you what is called windows...more primative...maybe they will come out with something better? BUt, "regular" flight simulators like FSX allows you to pan in a mor realistic manner...something that regualr flight simulator do...

Combat flight Simulators...I guess..figure you will be looking at the target more than instruments and just show windows...yuck!

[Mathias]

There is no 2d panel in CFS3.
Hit the print screen button button to turn the 3d view from snap to swivel.