Once the runway is in sight I briefly switch to external view to get an oversight then back to cockpit for the landing.
I’m not saying you should take-off or land in cockpit view, use it in any way you like of course. For ultimate realism you should use cockpit view (obviously) and as a real world pilot I’m not able to use the external view for landing. All I’m saying is that it would be easier if the external camera was orientated around the aircraft longitudinal axis or in relation to the air instead of the ground. When flying in a “crosswind” (in-flight there technically isn’t any crosswind) the camera is showing the aircraft crabbing, would be better to have the aircraft orientation in relation to the air shown rather than to the ground.
The beauty of a flight simulator is you can do anything you want. Just for grins I occasionally like to fly a complete VFR pattern using only the external view. It is easier to choose a “low and slow” aircraft such as the Robin DR 400. I set the sim up for a clear day at noon local time. After takeoff when I turn to downwind, I pan to have a look at the runway to see if I am parallel, level off at what looks like 1000 feet AGL, and pick a point straight ahead to fly to. When the end of the landing runway is at 45 degrees, I start the turn and configure. Around the turn, I keep the view of the airplane between me and the runway and try to fly to a final approach position where I am panned behind and above the aircraft. Since it is noon and clear, I have a nice aircraft shadow to guide me to a smooth landing.
Certainly, it helps to have a feel for the airplane. The way to do that is fly enough circuits in the traditional manner so you know what power settings to use around the pattern (especially on final), and the rate of descent and airspeed required to make a smooth landing in the touchdown zone.
If you screw it up, you will still live to fly another day!
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