It would vary by aircraft.  Even a Cessna 172 and 182 are noticeably different in my opinion.

snippyfsxer wrote on May 5^th, 2010 at 6:49pm:


That is quite possible in many taildraggers.  Like in my first reply, it really varies from airplane to airplane.  Some airplanes have good views over the nose, some don't.

snippyfsxer wrote on May 5^th, 2010 at 10:37pm:


I'm curious as to where you have the eyepoint set longitudinally... if I were to set the view at 85% and put the eye point about where it is in RL (just in front of the headrest), I wouldn't have anywhere near that much view, to the sides, anyway.

At any rate, what you show there looks about right, as compared to RL... although the panel would appear closer. But I think the human eye has a wider field of view than the sim- even with the panel taking up more of the foreground, it's usually quite easy in RL to determine where the runway edges are, with your peripheral vision.

Without Track IR, I find it very difficult to simulate what can be seen in RL, and I don't like to move the eyepoint around in flight, especially during landings...so my usual compromise is to set the zoom at about 70%, and set the eyepoint about where it would be in RL. This works pretty well with most sim models, but with taildraggers and some large "trikes", I may have to bump the eyepoint up on final, or while taxiing, to simulate "craning your neck".
Sometimes, if it is an open-cockpit job, I might do what biplane pilots often do, especially with a passenger in the front seat: lean my head out over the side to see past the nose.

Seeing past the nose is very important when landing, because as long as it is possible to do so, just before touchdown you need to concentrate on the far end of the runway. Being able to see that point is more useful, for keeping you centered, than the peripheral view. It's also the best focal point for judging your attitude at touchdown.

but when flying something like the Lockheed Vega, I just line it up best I can and hope for the best.  Maybe RL Vega pilots were able to lean forward and see a little more, I don't know.

olderndirt wrote on May 6^th, 2010 at 9:27am:


I have a 3 screen setup, and my eyepoint is ahead of the headrest, zoom is .85, and I'm translated down somewhat from the default view for this plane.  The virtual yoke is directly center of it all.  The outer two screens are essentially in the periphery of my vision.  This is what I see on my center screen:

snippyfsxer wrote on May 5^th, 2010 at 6:49pm:


Being a short person, back when I was flying the Cessna 172N, the glare shield often comes close to covering the whole view for me during the final second or two of the flare.  That screenshot you posted above seems a bit too high from my point of view... though I've never been in a piper.  I normally have to straighten myself a bit before I can even see the nose of the plane.  I'm 5'7" btw.

Had I used a cushion, my feet might not have reached the rudder pedals!