Although I really enjoy flight simulation, it can sometimes get boring. I wonder if this boredom is less in VR.
I’m currently in the process of building a new PC. The only component I’m still missing is a graphics card. If VR would turn out to be the right choice for me, I would go for an RTX 5090 for my new build. I can’t try VR on my current system because it’s way too slow for that.
What has your experience been like switching to VR? Does flying feel more exciting then?
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I’ve been flying in VR for a very long time (since Jan/2017) and I can never go back to flatscreen 2D. However, I still find it useful to use 2D mode to setup flight control sticks.
I still remember the huge WOW factor the first time I tried flight and racing sims in VR. I’m pretty sure it will be the same for you.
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With VR you are sitting right in the cockpit with all the instruments around you, and you can turn your head, just like sitting in the real aircraft.
It’s a completely new level of immersion, you don’t have a small 2D monitor in front of you
I will never go back to pancake mode.
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Switched to VR a couple of years back. Never flown in 2D again other than setting up FMCs or things like that. If you can afford a new PC with a 5090 and if you are able to fiddle around a lot with software to get everything right, than VR is a very good option to get more out of the sim. Time Compression is also a very good thing against boring cruises. 
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It’s certainly more immersive but I wouldn’t necessarily say more exciting.
If you get bored easily it might be worth considering that the headset makes it awkward to look at or do anything else whilst flying.
If you feel bored of course get a VR headset plus fly ONLINE. This is the right medicine.
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For me, definitely a lot less boring! Doing fairly trivial stuff just feels a lot more immersive in VR, and therefore more entertaining.
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VR totally changes the sim for me. Especially when flying near other aircraft, with everything being full-size and right there you get the sense of danger. Visuals when flying formation are just nuts. Ground ops force a lot of situational awareness if at busy airports.
You can easily judge distance and don’t have to rely on perspective. VR really changes everything. It’s as close to actually flying as you’re going to get. Highly recommended.
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Hi @SechsLarve42525,
I’ve been flying in VR for five years now. From my point of view, there’s no way back. You may miss the feeling in your back and stomach, but apart from that, it’s just like flying for real. It’s a whole new world.
Unfortunately, VR improvements and bug fixes often seem to be a second priority, and to enjoy the experience properly, you really need a machine that’s specifically built for it. It’s demanding, but absolutely worth it once you’re in the cockpit.
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As a real airbus pilot, VR is the closest way to interact with the airplane like we do in real life.
Using the VR controllers you reach the knobs buttons and levers with your ‘hands’ as we do in the real airplane. This way you still maintain your spatial awareness and also muscle memory for your flows and duties. I’m flying since 2006 but even nowadays, I’m still a very active flight simmer because of VR.
Here some videos from my youtube channel.
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Nice one thanks.. I’ll take a look at your channel. I notice you’re using FSFO which is what interests me. I’m trying myself to get a workable routine to be able to interact with FSFO and also SayIntentions. I’ve only had my Quest 3 for three weeks now so I’m still very clumsy using it. I have to keep going into and out of VR.
Its VoiceAttack and Pilot2ATC
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Oh right I’ll take a look thanks
Thank you very much for all the answers!!!
Looks like I’ll have to get into VR as well. I’ll get a RTX 5090 and maybe start with a Quest 3 to see how it goes.
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If I May recommend you something, have a look to the YouTube Chanel of vrflightsimguy. He spent a lot of time reviewing all the headset on the market having flightsim in mind
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VR is awesome and I’ll add one more suggestion: choose shorter routes. I can’t imagine getting bored if the cruise phase is only long enough to brief the approach. Or, if not flying A to B, pick more demanding scenarios that keep you busy.
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Does the size of the cockpit in VR feel the same as in a real Airbus, or does everything feel smaller in VR?
Exactly the same size. You don’t loose your muscle memory in any action. Remember that you can change this scale too.
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Here I usually do my cockpit preparation, and as soon I reach 10.000 ft, I got out of VR, and then just jump into VR mode to the descent preparation again.
Like in the real Airbus, from 10.000 upwards, we are just monitoring systems, not interacting much. I do the same in VR
I fly VR with my Pimax Cristal Light. I Stared with Oculus Rift, HTC Vive, Quest 2, Reverb G2…
I also have a motion Chair. Vor VFR Flights its amazing, like you are in the real Cockpit. Now with SU3 Beta, I`m really happy with the performance.
I have a 13700k and a RTX4090 and 64GB DDR5 RAM.
You really should it give a try.
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