[simpits-tech] Projector impressions

[Justin Messenger]

I have finally started flying my sim with the projector and I was a bit surprised. The only other time I have flown a fighter sim equiped with a projector it had the main canopy covered so you could only see throught the forward windscreen(what a big no, no!). I have my projector projecting about 6 to 7 feet across and I dont even have a canopy (no room for one) so the view out of the pit is unobstructed. Well, I was flying in formation with an F-16 that takes off, circles around the airport, lands again, then taxis and takes off yet again. I tend to fly a bit under it and realized I was looking over the top of my pit's  forward canopy rail at the under side of the F-16. It felt so realistic! Even though I only have the forward view being projected the view is big enough that when looking out of the pit I am looking up, right and left, and even down the sides of the pit. I love it! When flying real planes I am always looking all over the sky for other aircraft and at the ground for
 navigation. This is the first time I've had that feeling with my pit. 
 
The other thing I noticed is how easy flying becomes. On a 15 inch monitor I always had a hard time staying with that pesky little F-16, and I could never seem to land in formaiton with it. Now staying in formation is a breeze and I have made great formation landings every time, and on the correct side of the runway to boot! I have decided a projector is one of the most important parts of building a SimPit if one truely wants a realistic feel. 
 
One mistake I made was painting the inside of the room gloss white not long ago, the walls need to be flat black no that they are not so noticable. Overhead projectors tend to throw out a lot of light around the room.
 
 
Ok, I'm steping off of my soap box now.
 
Justin


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