READ BEFORE USING!
This information is not provided by FSAviator; he suggests you fly using FS2004 instead. This information is only for those who insist on using FSX but also want to fly realistically.
You must make these changes to FSX before flying as described in the Propliner Tutorial. This is due to unrealistic zoom levels coded into the default FSX program. You should also use these zoom levels for all your realistic flying.
1. First, open each of your Flight files (they end in .FLT) in Wordpad. They are usually located in your C:\Documents and Settings\[username]\My Documents\Flight Simulator X Files folder. Replace [username] with your user name on your computer. To open this file right click it and choose Open With, then select Wordpad from the list. If Wordpad is not on the list, select "Choose Program" at the bottom and find Wordpad in the list. You should UNCHECK the box marked "Always use the selected program to open this kind of file", unless you do not want FSX to start when these files are double clicked. Then look for the Camera sections:
2. Find the Camera.1.1 section (this is the default 2D Cockpit view):
[Camera.1.1]
Guid={B1386D92-4782-4682-A137-738E25D1BAB5}
Zoom=0.75 << This should be edited to 0.73
Translation=0, 0, 0
Rotation=12, 0, 0 << This should be edited to the
VIEW_FORWARD_DIR value
Edit the Zoom= line to Zoom=0.73
Edit the Rotation= line to match the VIEW_FORWARD_DIR value in the panel.cfg file of the panel used by this Flight's aircraft. For example, if the VIEW_FORWARD_DIR value in the plane's panel.cfg file is 11.0,0,0 then the line should read Rotation=11.0,0,0. Note that if you have used a special value for FSX this must be returned to the original FS2004 value. Note also that if this is not a CalClassic panel you might have to determine the correct value first (see the Simulation Control Interface Tutorial). Any changes you make to this value from what is originally in the plane's panel.cfg file should be changed in that location as well.
3. Find the Camera.1.2 section (this is the default VC view):
[Camera.1.2]
Guid={C95EAB58-9E4A-4E2A-A34C-D8D9D948F078}
Zoom=0.75 << This should be edited to 0.73
Translation=0, 0, 0
Rotation=12, 0, 0 << This should be edited to the
VIEW_FORWARD_DIR value
Edit the Zoom= line to Zoom=0.73
Edit the Rotation= line to match the VIEW_FORWARD_DIR value as determined in step 2.
4. Save this flight.
5. Repeat this for all other flight files you will be using to fly propliners realistically (and for those you want to have realistic zoom levels). Make sure this includes your default flights, found in your FSX/Flights folder.
6. Next, you need to change the zoom levels for each of your aircraft (if they have "extra" VC views). In the FSX/SimObjects/Airplanes folder you will find all of your aircraft folders inside. Only the flyable aircraft need the following edits, not AI-only aircraft. Inside the first flyable aircraft folder you will find a file called aircraft.cfg. Double click this file to open it in Wordpad or Notepad. Near the top you may find section(s) for the Virtual Cockpit that look something like this:
[CameraDefinition.001]
Title = "Right Seat"
Guid = {195EAB58-9E4A-1E2A-A34C-A8D9D948F078}
Origin = Virtual Cockpit << Look for Virtual Cockpit
here
MomentumEffect = Yes
SnapPbhAdjust = Swivel
SnapPbhReturn = False
PanPbhAdjust = Swivel
PanPbhReturn = False
Track = None
ShowAxis = YES
AllowZoom = TRUE << Change this to FALSE
InitialZoom = 0.75 << Change this to 0.73
SmoothZoomTime = 2.0
ZoomPanScalar = 1.0 << Change this to 1.0
ShowWeather = Yes
XyzAdjust = TRUE
ShowLensFlare=FALSE
Category = Cockpit
PitchPanRate=20
HeadingPanRate=60
InitialXyz=0.5, 0.04, -0.1
InitialPbh=0, 0, 0
Make the edits in red above if this view has an outside window view. Repeat for any other Virtual Cockpit sections that have an outside window view. Save this file.
7. Repeat these aircraft.cfg file edits for every aircraft you want to fly using realistic zoom levels. Remember, anything else will result in a video game, not a flight simulator.
8. If you have edited any of the CalClassic panel.cfg VIEW_FORWARD_DIR values from their original FS9 values, change them back to the now correct FS9 values. The tutorial will describe how to check this value for other panels. To calculate new values for other panels refer to the Simulation Control Interface Tutorial.
9. If you have edited any of the Eyepoint values in any CalClassic plane's aircraft.cfg file change them back to their original values.
10. (Optional). If you want to be sure that FSX has the correct zoom values when starting a flight from scratch (I'm not sure how this would happen, though), you can edit the default view specifications in the Cameras.cfg file (in the same folder as your fsx.cfg file). Edit the zoom values of the sections that match the GUID's listed above in steps 2 and 3 to 0.73. Save the file.
11. (Optional). Now that you have set the VIEW_FORWARD_DIR to the correct values,
at least some versions of FSX will cause this value to revert to 0 if you press
Ctrl-Spacebar to reset the view (i.e. the horizon will move to the middle of
the screen). To avoid this problem in Cockpit view, use the 8 key on the Numpad
(with NumLock on) to reset the view instead.
In the VC view, it appears there may be no easy fix. A workaround is to create
your own VC Camera Definition in your plane's aircraft.cfg file. This will revert
to the correct view angle when you press Ctrl-Spacebar. To do this copy and
paste this section into your aircraft.cfg file at the bottom of any existing
definitions (many cfg files will have no definitions at all; you may then place
this just under the General section):
[CameraDefinition.001] << Change this to the next
higher number to those in your existing list
Title = "CalClassic VC View"
Guid = {41DA7BB7-64A7-475E-BA1E-B8FA7C0C8FE7 }
Origin = Virtual Cockpit
MomentumEffect = Yes
SnapPbhAdjust = Swivel
SnapPbhReturn = False
PanPbhAdjust = Swivel
PanPbhReturn = False
Track = None
ShowAxis = YES
AllowZoom = FALSE
InitialZoom = 0.73
SmoothZoomTime = 2.0
ZoomPanScalar = 1.0
ShowWeather = Yes
XyzAdjust = TRUE
ShowLensFlare=FALSE
Category = Cockpit
PitchPanRate=20
HeadingPanRate=60
InitialXyz=0,0,0
InitialPbh=11.0, 0, 0 << Change this to the VIEW_FORWARD_DIR
value of your plane's panel.cfg file.
Use this view (titled "CalClassic VC View") when you want convenient view resets.
Now you are ready to fly with realistic zoom factors and VC window views at all times. However, you should monitor the zoom levels of your default flight on a regular basis, in case downloaded Flights or Missions have caused it to change from 0.73. Make the changes in steps 1-3 to any downloaded Flight. Also, be sure to make the aircraft.cfg edits to any new aircraft you download as well.