If we had a pilot model in the interior cockpit view, think of the possibilities...

[Mysticpuma]

Hopefully Oleg will read this post!

Oleg, the engine you are using for the new Sim, looks like it is made for detail and will (I guess) initially be a challenge for some computers, as Il2 was (and to an extent still can be).

Would you please consider adding a pilot's body for the internal cockpit view for a few immersion reasons.

Firstly it would be great to look down and see a body in the cockpit as you fly rather than just a Ghost flying the interior view.

Secondly rather than clicking on the map button and bringing up the mini view, the player could look to the left or right hip and click the button and the pilots hand would then take a map out, this would allow the head to turn in the cockpit, without the view being blocked by the map overlay but the pilot could glance at the map. A (moving) pencil drawing of the aircraft could show the current position?

Thirdly it could be used to add a completely new immersion experience with body specific injury affecting flight.

Instead of the current aircraft damage affecting flight and the pilots view, when injured, steadily getting redder, why not have a five-point injury mark on the body (invisible to the player....but I'll explain). The body has a damage mark added to the legs, arms and chest andmaybe a sixth for the head.

While flying a bullet from an enemy aircraft hits the pilots body (which we can now see if this is included) in the cockpit.

Suddenly it's hard to turn the aircraft left. The Rudder isn't damaged, but looking down you see blood on the leg which is causing the pilot to be hindered in his operation of the aircraft. Similar could be done for the arms, and the chest could mean a steady greying/blacking or redding out?

The pilot has an emergency button which brings out a small medical kit which takes 30-seconds to apply, in which time the pilot is trying to fly and apply a life-saving medical kit. It's immersive!

Lastly, if an injury point was added to the head, as long as the hit wasn't fatal, it would look good to have blood trickling down the screen and the pilots hand wiping it away, but the screen gets smeared, making visibility more difficult, which it would be if you were injured?

After the above, I hope you see why I request that a pilots body be added to the cockpit as it would add so much more scope to the simulation scenario?

Looking forward to seeing the Sim one-day, cheers, MP.

[PeterD]

How would you address the following?
buttons mapped to actions (flaps, switches, etc) , would the arms move instantly or would the movement be delayed?
multiple, consecutive keys pressed, how would the arms react? only the left arm performs the action or can both arms operate them?
imagine that you press two keys consecutively while doing a turn, one would be reached by the left arm naturally since it's on the left side of the cockpit, the other one would be on the right side of the cockpit, if both arms can operate instruments then suddenly the stick would need to move on its own magically OR the left hand would be used for both instruments OR a serious delay would need to be added: left hand operates first instrument, left hand takes control of the stick, right hand releases stick, right hand operates second instrument, right hand takes control of the stick back, left hand releases the stick.

This IMHO would not work very well while ingame, very complex and lots of problems that could "kill" the immersion. However for recorded tracks where you know in advance what is going to happen...different story (and I think it could look great)

[ChrisDNT]

No pilot in cockpit : ghost flying the aircraft !
Pilot with hands in cockpit : who's flying my aircraft ?

So, the best solution is the Lock-On one : only legs visible.

[Talisman]

Please let Oleg focus on more important things for a flight sim. Surely we want to see and use the cockpit without a dummy getting in the way. I don't want a first-aid sim, LOL. Next the pilot will have to be dressed in the correct flying clothing and on and on and on; no thanks.

I for one would like to have a flight sim more than a cartoon game. Pilot damage can be simulated without using a dummy pilot to view it.

Happy landings,

Talisman

[Mysticpuma]

Although I appreciate the points put forward, I would add that it could be an optional switch on or off for the player rather than just being told we don't want it. Nice to have a choice sometimes in a game you buy?

MP

[Feuerfalke]

I'd rather have a complete simulation before adding such entirely and purely eyecandy-stuff. Especially with all the animations that's a tremendous ammount of work and you have to do it for each individual cockpit and station!

You have a pilot on DCS:BlackShark as well. Just plain and simple with hands on collective and cyclic, but after looking at it once or twice in flight, you simply switch it off, because the instruments blocked are much more important for immersion than some puppets arms and knees.

[KOM.Nausicaa]

I think this will end the discussion...posted by Luthier Nov 2, 2009:

"We don't have anywhere near the time needed to animate the pilot model properly. We can put his hands on throttle and stick and feet on pedals, and then in half the cockpits he'll have other levers clipping through his body, stick clipping through his knees, etc. His arms will obscure important gauges on the dashboard.

With our new 6DOF free camera system that allows you to poke your head out the window or "bend" forward and look at the seat back, there's just no way we can animate the body to follow the camera, meaning you'd be able to twist your neck and look back on your own headless contorted body.

So, the answer is no. A poltergeist cockpit is not perfect, but the alternative is even worse. "

[Foo'bar]

Well I would like such a feature but I guess it would be problematic. Look: when I press a key on the keybord I would like to expect to feel the consequence immediately - and I don't want to wait until my alter ego puts his finger to the dashboard and click that little switch. I hope you know what I mean. There alweay would be a less or more delay between hitting a key and getting the result because of awaiting the arm's animation. When I want the flaps out I want them now out and not in 2 seconds.

I rather want no arms/legs before they don't look right.

[Lucas_From_Hell]

Originally Posted by Talisman

he pilot will have to be dressed in the correct flying clothing and on and on and on; no thanks.

So, basically, you want your pilot to be dressed wrong instead ?

Doesn't sound really nice.

About the delay, I think this could be only an eye-candy. It would be too confusing to have the pilot to do every single movement (but, when it comes to delay on flaps, for example, it would be realistic. You only have to move your finger some centimeters and hit a button. The pilot has to extend his arm and pull a lever - and, in some cases, under some good G! So instant response wouldn't be realistic.)

Could be like in DCS - you can see the pilot moving rudder, throttle and stick, period.

[ChrisDNT]

And why simply not choose the Lock-On solution, which is the best "middle-term" solution, for not having a ghost flying the aircraft ?