Version 2.1 -

Click here to read a review on Avsim Online

DESCRIPTION OF THE MODULE

With this module you can enable additional views in Microsoft® Flight Simulator 2004. Several new camera views are selectable from the FS 2004 - Options menu. When activated this module replaces the original tower and virtual cockpit views of FS 2004.

Active Camera 2004 menu

OPERATION

1. FLY BY

Within the dialog box you can define the duration (in seconds) and the virtual camera altitude relative to the airplane (in feet, negative values are accepted)
You can also select the placement of the camera e.g. always right, always left or random.
The camera can travel around the airplane.
You can define the distance of the camera relative to the airplane
You can define the camera longitudinal angle

A fly by sequence with the Ford Tri-Motor

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2. APPROACH VIEW

You can ask Active Camera 2004 to project the virtual camera on the ground along the current track flown by the aircraft (Approach View). Above the defined camera transition altitude Active Camera 2004 tracks the aircraft continuously in Fly-By mode. After setting the position of the observer camera Active Camera 2004 computes the estimated touchdown point and the virtual camera movement along the ground is frozen. It simulates the position of the observer (spotter). This view is useful if you are playing a recorded flight video. (your FS2004 directory – Options – Flight Video).

Above the defined camera transition altitude the fly-by mode is always active

At defined camera transition altitude the observer view is automatically switched on

The virtual camera tracks the airplane until the end of the video or replay

Principles of the Approach view :

In Approach view, the module computes a target touchdown point. Thanks to the point and click function simply point the mouse cursor on the scenery window. Press SHIFT and click on the right mouse button. You have set the position of the spotter camera. You must be in virtual cockpit mode.

Point and click function of Active Camera

You are in approach

Point the mouse cursor on the scenery window. Press SHIFT and click on the right mouse button. You have defined the position of the spotter camera. You must be in virtual cockpit mode to do this

During the Instant Replay you can observe the aircraft

During the Instant Replay you can even change the position of the camera (in real time) with SHIFT + right mouse button. Note you can also change the height of the observer camera (parameter “Vertical offset” in the setup menu)

3. SPOT PLANE VIEW

Important note: A 3 button mouse or a mouse wheel is recommended.

You can pan and zoom with your mouse in spot plane view. Simply PUSH and HOLD the wheel (or the center button)

and while moving the mouse you can look left, right, up or down. You can zoom in and out using the wheel.

Panning is easy and precise :

PUSH and HOLD the wheel (or the center button)

Rotate the mouse wheel to zoom in and out.

“wobble camera” effect : In spot plane view mode there is a kind of head latency effect.

4. VIRTUAL COCKPIT AND PILOT VIEWS

Important note: A 3 button mouse or a mouse wheel is recommended.

A. Internal Pilot View (virtual cockpit)

When in the virtual cockpit you can move anywhere in the aircraft. Simply PUSH and HOLD the wheel (or the center button) and while moving the mouse you can look left, right, up or down. With the wheel you can zoom in and out. You can even move left, right, back or forward, rotate left and right (Num. pad keys 4, 6, 2, 8, 7, 9).
Ambient sounds : sounds (cockpit noises, steps, buffeting, screeching) can be enabled/disabled through the Active Camera 2004 menu.

Push and hold the mouse wheel or center button to pan everywhere in the virtual cockpit.

Rotating the mouse wheel allows you to zoom in and out. It is not necessary to push and hold the wheel

Thanks to FS2004 interactive virtual cockpits, it is easy to move the mouse, pan and click, so allowing a more immerse way of flying.

You can even walk in the virtual cabin as far as you wish. Use Num. pad keys to move left, right, back or forward, rotate left and right. You can still pan and zoom with the mouse in the virtual cabin.

You can sit as a virtual passenger and create wing views.

Saving/Loading Presets Views:

You can save up to 10 preset views per airplane (internal or external views).

Every time you want to use preset views with a particular aircraft, simply load the airplane, then load the related *.acv file through the FS 2004 main directory. You can save as many presets as you wish, the number of *.acv files is UNLIMITED.

We have prepared basics sets of views for each default FS 2004 aircraft. These views are our preferences and can be edited as the user requires.

Head latency, ground turbulences, pre-stall buffeting

In the configuration dialog box you can define the head latency rate (0-2). We have programmed an algorithm simulating head movement that is dependant on the airplane motion (a bit like in real life). Test this amazing feature with turbulence (flying the DC-3) or playing aerobatics in the default Extra 300S or RealAir Marchetti SF260.

You can define the ground turbulence rate (0-2) for use when rolling along the runway, as well as the pre-stall buffeting effect (0-2).

Theory of the pre-stall buffeting :

The reduced airflow over the flight control surfaces affects the control effectiveness. The sound of air flowing along the fuselage is reduced. Just before the stall occurs vibrations, uncontrolable pitching or buffeting are beginning. If the Active Camera 2004 pre-stall buffeting effect is enabled, a stress sound will be played by the module. We used the RealAir Marchetti SF260 (courtesy Rob Young) as a realistic flight model during the development (http://www.realairsimulations.com/home.html )

B. External Pilot View

When in the virtual cockpit press X. You are now outside the aircraft. You can move to the left, right, forward or backward and walk (or even run) around the aircraft (using both number pad keys and mouse). When you move forward, backward, left or right, your head is balancing or "shaking". You can even crouch in order to make a virtual pre-flight inspection. The sound of steps is played while the virtual pilot is walking. This view is useful for virtual preflight purposes, not especially for walking around the whole field or landscape.

Move everywhere around the aircraft and perform a virtual preflight. You can closely inspect the detail of the gear mechanisms, for example, in great detail.

The pilot height is approximately 5.85 feet (standing up) and 2.85 feet (crouching down). In the dialog box, you can define the running speed (in meters per second, from 0.0 to infinity).

You can even crouch. This feature useful for virtual spotters and aircraft designers who want to verify the attention to detail

Walking around : Walking speed can be defined (meter per second) in the appropriate field (dialog box – external view)

5. TRAFFIC TRACKING VIEW (Padlock like in combat simulators)

We have programmed a built-in TCAS (Traffic alert and Collision Avoidance System) in the Active Camera 2004 module. With this option enabled you can track any AI traffic flying in the vicinity of your aircraft.

Operational purpose: It can be used if you wish to look out or if you suspect a traffic conflict. This is useful when, for example, ATC asks you to report traffic in sight or ATC reports you traffic.

Ability to track and lock the traffic view on the current AI

The pilot's head tracks automatically the AI

6. SCENERY PADLOCK VIEW

It is possible to padlock any point on the scenery window (Ideal for visual airfield patterns, click on the runway threshold).

From the virtual cockpit simply click anywhere on the scenery and the pilot’s head will follow this point automatically. In the setup menu you can also edit the position of the padlock point if you know the co-ordinates (latitude and longitude, altitude).

Press CTRL + right mouse button to set the padlock anywhere in the scenery window. Then press CTRL + F12 to enable the padlock point. Press CTRL+F12 again to disable the padlock (and pressing space bar allows you to return quickly to the instruments for scan).

During the visual approach the selected point on ground is continuously tracked

You can still reset the padlock point whenever you want (CTRL + right mouse click)

7. TOWER SPOT VIEW

Press CTRL+SPACE from the virtual cockpit to enable this feature from the virtual cockpit.

This is a vertical translation of the eye point in VC. With this option enabled you can monitor, track any AI traffic flying in the vicinity of virtual control tower. Mouse panning and zooming, AI tracking and padlock are allowed.

Option group Tower Traffic Tracking appears in the setup dialog box.

Max aircraft to track : define the maximum number of AI aircraft to track.
Max distance (nm) : define the maximum distance of AI aircraft to track relative to the observation tower.
Height of the Tower (feet) : define the height of the observation tower (up to 300 feet)

Tutorial.

1) Set the Air Traffic density in FS2004 - Options - Settings – Traffic to 25% (or more, depending on your PC performance). There are many 3^rd party AI traffic add-ons.

2) Position your aircraft near a control tower. From the Virtual Cockpit press CTRL+SPACE (sound is automatically switched to OFF)

3) Pan around the virtual tower (either with mouse or num pad keys)

4) Monitor the traffic by using the shortcuts (Pressing CTRL+SHIFT+A enables the AI monitoring, CTRL+SHIFT+S toggles next traffic. Obviously the view will constantly change to the nearest AI if you use this feature in a crowded airport.

5) Then lock any AI and follow its path (press CTRL+SHIFT+Q). Keep in mind that while the “lock” option is enabled you can no longer pan with the mouse and / or num pad. Zooming with the mouse wheel is still allowed.

6) When finished press CTRL+SHIFT+Q to unlock the tracked AI. Press CTRL+SHIFT+S to toggle next AI traffic.

7) When finished press CTRL+SHIFT+A to quit the AI tracking mode then revert back to normal virtual cockpit mode (press CTRL+SPACE again)

PLAYING A RECORDED FLIGHT VIDEO OR INSTANT REPLAY

ALL of the Active Camera views are usable when playing a recorded FS 2004 A Century of Flight Flight video or Instant replay.

SHORTCUTS

You can access major functions of Active Camera 2004 through shortcuts

Assigning key events through the interface:

Active Camera 2004 uses 52 customized keyboard shortcuts (hot keys). Some of these shortcuts may be in conflict with other 3^rd party add-on you have installed. The user can edit and assign customized hot keys through the built-in graphic interface.Either keyboard combinations and joystick button events can be assigned.

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Download

Click here to download the demo (fully functionnal, limited to the Seattle area)

Get the licence via secure servers

Active Camera 2004 is available as shareware.

1. through Paypal (this link sometimes doesn't work with Internet Browsers like Mozilla, Firefox - works fine with Microsoft IE 5.0 or more):

Once done we need your User registration key.

Open the Active Camera 2004 menu (FS2004) - Options – ActiveCamera 2004.
Click on “Register”.
Your computer will generate the unique number which is your User registration key (32 digits).
Send the User registration key to activation@anticyclone.be. Please keep the same e-mail address you used for the transaction. To avoid any error, copy this long number to the clipboard (press CTRL+C) and paste it in your e-mail (press CTRL+V).
On receipt of your User registration key we will generate your personal authorization key code. We will send your authorization key code to you by e-mail, not later than the next day.