55: Redefine Virtual Cockpit Zoom Level

I mostly fly with Cessna and I want the virtual cockpit to initiate with a zoom level of 0.6 when a session starts.  There are two options to achieve that:

OPTION 1:  Save a New Default Flight

1) Start a flight with Cessna

2) Adjust the zoom level to 0.6 inside the virtual cockpit with “=” or “-” keys

3)  Save the flight as the new default flight

OPTION 2:  Modify the Default Startup Flight

1) Open the default flight “FLTSIM.FLT” (or the earlier saved default flight) with Notepad

2) Look for Cameras with Guid = {C95EAB58-9E4A-4E2A-A34C-D8D9D948F078}

Note: This Guid number is assigned to Virtual Cockpit in FSX

3) Change the Zoom value to 0.6

Both Option 1 and Option 2 can easily set the zoom level of virtual cockpit to one needs.  However, the zoom level is likely to be changed when the aircraft (Cessna in this case) is swapped.

EXTRA STEPS:
To ensure the zoom level of Cessna remains unaltered, additional steps below are necessary:

4) Open aircraft.cfg of Cessna with Notepad (\Microsoft Flight Simulator X\SimObjects\Airplanes\C172)

5) Look for the two CameraDefinitions with Title=Virtual Cockpit and Title=Right Seat

Note: If the needed titles of CameraDefinitions cannot be found, look for CamerDefinitions with Guid = {C95EAB58-9E4A-4E2A-A34C-D8D9D948F078} instead

6) Under both CameraDefinitions, change the value of InitialZoom=0.6

Besides the zoom level, eye positions (or Eyepoint) inside the cockpit can be fixed as well through the same aircraft.cfg.

7) Under the same CameraDefinitions, change XyzAdjust=TRUE

8) Set value of InitialXyz to:

InitialXyz=0, -0.001, 0.15    (for Virtual Cockpit)

InitialXyz=0.5, -0.001, 0.15 (for Right Seat)

Note 1: IntialXyz defines the eye positon in the cockpit.

Note 2: If it cannot be found, add the line required under each CameraDefinition

Save the file when adjustment is done.  The Cessna will now start with a zoom level of 0.6 and remain at the exact eye positions on both sides of the seat whenever a flight session is started.

Virtually any aircraft can be set in this way for the zoom level and the eye position of one desires.

P.S. The keyboard commands for Eyepoint movements are as follows:

Eyepoint (move back)         CTRL+ENTER
Eyepoint (move forward)   CTRL+BACKSpace
Eyepoint (move up)             SHITT+ENTER
Eyepoint (move down)       SHIFT+BACKSpace
Eyepoint (move right)         CTRL+SHIFT+ENTER
Eyepoint (move left)            CTRL+SHIFT+BACKSpace

Each keyboard click is equal to 0.005 in InitialXyz value.