exactly im excited for affordable headsets in a couple years, the quest 2 is already pretty amazing.

Same here. VR is really starting to make big improvements. My hope is that in 5 years or so 4k+ per eye at 60Hz+ will be very affordable. I'd like to get into VR flight sims, but personally, I'm willing to wait for this next step.

The crazy thing is, that VR hardware took ages to drop in price. And still it really doesn't get any cheaper, because most hardware just does not get produced any more and you have to rely on new tech or buy used.

@@quecksilber457 well.. people ar dropping 3000, 4000 or even more eruos for a television, 1500-2500 for a sound system.. compared to that are the 300-1000euros for most vr-headsets not realy much

@@Kraeuterbutter 👍👍👍

Thanks. I really like your informative and well produced channel. I was not fully committed to VR since as a retired airline pilot I am always thinking training potential. Until now I loved VR for fun flying, air combat and sightseeing but the low resolution and inability to interact with charts/checklists and controls/switches was a limiting factor for serious training. I now see that the resolution issue is essentially solved in Aero as charts and displays are easily readable. I also see how pass through video for mixed reality and hand tracking is about to solve the interaction with controls issue. I am all in on VR now. I soloed at 16 in 1968, flew F-4 fighters in USAF , and 35 years of Airline flying but I have to say this is an exciting time in flight simulation. Thanks for your contribution to this rapidly evolving technology.

@@rbarlow I'm sincerely honoured to have someone such as yourself watching my channel thankyou! I agree, VR has finally reached a critical point where it can be utilised for serious flight training even for the consumer (although as you rightly say, the price of admission is grossly high at the moment). However, there's so much development happening and I am too, very excited for the future of our hobby. Take care (subbed)!

Yes Simmers complain about the cost of things that cost less than a few gallons of Avgas. Even an expensive sim setup is worth it if you can train and avoid expensive Hobbs time

@@rbarlow And when it comes to simming VR will always be a kind of cheap solution compared to a full homebrew cockpit.

Just to follow up. My Aero arrived a couple of weeks ago, but I had no time to used it.. After finally setting everything up and trying it... only in MSFS (so far). I'M BLOWN AWAY! This thing is incredible. The clarity and smoothness is what I've been dreaming of for a very long time. It actually feels like I'm in a real cockpit and when flying in IMC, it's very convincing. Can't wait to fire up DCS World this weekend 🙂

@@redtailpilot that's great news! I like hearing the full feedback

@Jip Jackson Well said. I started with the CV1, then Rift S, then 8KX (which I sold to help fund the Aero). Also sold the CV1 awhile back. Still have the Rift S and will probably sell that as well.

Remember this is my first initial impression after only a couple days. So far I haven’t changed my mind but you might look at some other reviews before you spend this much money

Thanks for watching.

I try, thanks

It is unlike me to buy luxury items … I drive a 2006 pickup truck😊

@@rbarlow ..why change something when its not broken! 😄👍

Have a 93 yo mom that needs a lot of my time since Pandemic but I manage to trickle out content

Check out the PiMax Crystal as it is cheaper and has very good initial reviews. I will have one in a couple weeks and will do a review after I test it

@@rbarlow I also have my eye on that unit as well. A little nervous about lack of “pro” hardware pedigree that the Varjo has, however I am always open to less expensive options. Looking forward to your review!

You will like the Aero I feel sure

not only that: with accurate colors you can use it also as desktop-replacement when working with pictures or videos

@@Kraeuterbutter Its not THAT accurate though. Needs to be over %99 DCI-P3 for that kind of work

@@Navhkrin for professional work.. for me as hobbiest i also have not a calibrated monitor.. but a monitor with good colors, yes (not fokused on gaming though) with all of my 9 headsets so far: you can forget working with fotos... they often look like some cheap 6bit- notebook-displays.. so: i dont need over-the-top-colors which professionals need and use.. but whats now in most headsets is unusable i think 99% sRGB would be already a great improvement to my current headsets

Black level is the most important thing next to colour accuracy and that is where this headset lacks on top of the barrel distortion

How is it?

For sim-racing or flight-simming you don't need controller nor base-stations with the Pimax. I'm using it just with it's 9-axis only and don't miss anything substantial, but it's for sim-racing only and looking closer to the dashboard or leaning outside is just not what you do in race-cars or even can do because of the HANS-system. But in a figher jet you are strapped to your seat as well and one base-station alone is just enough for every seating position game. What's more missing with the Pimax is a passthrough-mode.

Yes the collimated displays are great but even they lack the 3D that a VR system can provide

@@rbarlow Working with MIL training, even they are using Varjo on limited basis. Its really pushing the envelope for training in realism. The big boys are on top for very specific reasons but MS/DCS could topple them in the right circumstance. A lot of UPT bases used those programs to grease the wheel during covid for things like formation flying - over the internet with instructors in dallas and studs at Vance (etc). Its just simple, it works and it works better than the $17M+ machines being used. A computer and a headset ushering in 3-5Hrs in the plane before solo, unbelievable for my 1980s flight training experience.

Ha ha I was a class76-06 grad from UPT at Vance. We had fixed base instrument sims with NO visual at all. How times have changed.

Great that you could unload it since it didn’t work for you. Thanks for your comments

I always shut motion smoothing off. Didn't realize anyone actually liked using it. Interesting.

Hey, long-term G2 user here. Would definitely recommend you try OpenXR and Open Composite with your G2 to cut Steam VR out of the loop. In a nutshel, even better clarity and FPS.

Interesting concept!

Thanks for the sub!

Sadly so am already getting used to this new toy so the wow factor is being lost. I need to put my Reverb G2 occasionally to remind myself. Good luck.

Have you considered a sport pilot license?

@@joelv4495 I have recently learned about this since my original medical special issuance training and subsequent solo. It is at least an option thankfully.

This resolution will be cheaper in a year or two. Just a matter of time.

I predict: In a year or two an equivalent headset will be the cost of the G2 at launch. Technology marches on.

So does hardware price :)

Love my G2! Had to do some mods on it to get it comfortable but it gives a plenty clear picture!

VR works great with all the above. I have the Honeycomb yoke, throttle quadrant and Thrustmaster pendular rudder pedals along with a Saitek radio and they all work fine in VR. If you're worried about not being able to see them you quickly get used to it. I haven't once looked at my keyboard as I type this either and have no problem typing. VR will only replace your monitors not your hardware, seeing the yoke move in VR whilst actually pulling back on your real physical yoke feels amazing!

@@kevinbrook7033 Thanks much! I need to give it a go!!

@@ervmoore1111 You will not regret that decision 🙂VR is awesome - really another dimension. I have almost the same controller hardware as you, and I fly in VR. Exclusively, for over a year now. Not once did I feel tempted to go back to 2D flying...

Exactly as Kevin says. I bought a 49" ultra wide in anticipation for FS2020. I built a console with my Saitek switch panel, multi-function display and made a couple of G1000 interfaces with encoders and switches. Then tried VR. I never power on the monitors for my G1000's but with a bit of fumbling and familiarisation, you soon get used to reaching out to the right place or find a known reference point and feel across to the others.

@@djtaylorutube Appreciate you folks taking the time providing feedback! Appears I will be taking my flight sim to new level based on your input, my challenge now is selecting a product. To get my feet wet looking at Oculus Quest 2 but it appears there are several options 64, etc. Understand important to purchase cable. The Varjo Aero is worth monitoring, hope price does come down a bit! Thanks again guys!

A little “click bait”-ey?

@@rbarlow 😏 What we cockpit builders are waiting for is an affordable mix of VR and MR to be able to handle switches etc.

Very true!

Yeah good point. I tried some non- haptic gloves and they were a bit. Of a disappointment . If the technology works it is indeed a good option but still you lack to see a physical chart or checklist. Still building a physical cockpit is not for everyone so in that case haptic gloves would be a great way to go.

These units are made in China so like it or not there will be Chinese knock-offs for $500 in a year or two

Early adopters always pay the freight for the massed. I usually just wait but as I get older the time for waiting seems to be waning 😀

I tried the Aero with glasses and found that to be a very uncomfortable experience (tried two different pairs of glasses). I can not use the Aero without corrective lenses. Luckily inserts will be available within the next two weeks. With inserts, I believe the Aero will be a rather comfortable headset. Noticeably heavier than the G2, though.

You can buy correction lenses. Should fix your problem. Its more comfortable than wearing glasses and its just about 100 $ extra.

No Only MSFS ans XP11 so far. I need to try it.

Hello. Like you I wear glasses (reading glasses). I got my Aero on April 22 and I wear my glasses inside this headset with no problem whatsoever. There is more room inside than with the Reverb G2 for comparision, however it will be largely dependent on how large your frames are. Sebastian at MRTV indicates there is not enough room while others (Mark at the Flight Sim Hanger for instance) report an experience similar to mine.

Definitely a big negative. I also miss inside out tracking. The resolution is impressive however.

Actually I would love to see Knobster adapted for use in VR. Even when hand tracking is finally available turning knobs, especially dual concentric knobs, will still be difficult. What if you could “touch” the knob in VR to select and make inputs with Knobster? The Knobster API is available on Git Hub for anyone vr who might want to write a plug-in to make this happen. Look at this idea I tried a while back using Air Manager Arduino. kzfaq.info/get/bejne/o72Wfs57yaecio0.html

Yes definitely better Valve is 1440 x 1600 pixels per eye. Vatjo Aero is 2880 x 2720 per eye. The HP Reverb G2 is 2100 x 2100 per eye. The Aero is way better than the G2 so although I haven’t tried Valve Index I gotta think it is much clearer.

I second this. I currently use the Valve Index and would love a comparison. I feel like I could use a wider FOV and am considering a PiMax.

Competition is good for all of us

What you say is true. I drive a 2006 pick up truck and some of my neighbors have Mercedes. I think my pick up truck gets me to where I need to go just as well as near Mercedes but it is a personal decision. I was quite happy with my reverb G2 but honestly this is better if money is not a factor. Unfortunately it always is. Thanks for your comment.

@@rbarlow you are right. I have similar specs 3070 rather than 2080ti, what I wonder my issue is, I cannot really run the system at 100%resolution without drop of FPS. So when it says resolution is better I wonder if it makes sense on my system. What are your settings?

I'm sure it's a very good headset, however 2000 euro plus the extra for the tracking stations is an awful lot of money, I also have the G2 which I bought last November, with the NIS scaler it fine for me at the moment, I will give it 6 months and see where we are in the vr world. The explosion in New headsets coming in 2022 is certainly interesting.

Is it worth 4X as much as my G2? Is a Mercedes worth 4X as much as a Chevy? 😃 Both will drive you to the store. Personally if I didn’t have some “sim money” to buy it with I probably wouldn’t have bought it… My wife would see to that. I paid the early adopter premium and this technology will be mainstream in a year or two. In defense of VRFlightSimGuy I think he is well intentioned and honest but his excitement and enthusiasm for our hobby often misinterpreted.

@@julianhall2008 Give it time. We'll get this clarity in a few years for 500

Which model?

Early adopters always pay a premium to be first and that helps recoup the developer’s costs allowing prices to drop fir the wider audience. All tech is that way. But with so many headsets being developed I think things will evolve quickly. Good point you make. Thanks.

I would wait. I think the technology is going to make great strides in the next year or two

@@rbarlow for sure. Same with the RTX 3000. I skipped it thanks to Bitcoin mining and have my eye on The 4090. I noticed Phillip pointed out the Brunner Yoke in one of his images. I know you have a Yoko yoke but if you have a chance you should, as a pilot, try the Brunner hardware. I have the MKII yoke and Pedals and will never go back. As a pilot myself it’s incredibly immersive and will take your VR experience to a new level.

@@MrScott_e I have a friend with the Brunner controls and my initial experience wasn’t that great. It felt like it was fighting me. He now has it tuned better and it worked much better. I need to give it another try but like some motion systems I’ve tried, it is hard to get it exactly right and if it isn’t it is very noticeable. Of course there is the cost too and trying to get maximum immersion return on sim investments. Right now I would advise people to get a G2 and a decent CPU/GPU for the best experience per the money spent. Unfortunately until good hand tracking or mixed reality are ubiquitous in headsets VR has its limits for real pilot training. I think most all the manufacturers have seen that mixed reality is future of VR and are working feverishly to beat the others to market. Varjo will have to lower prices or try to cater to high end professional and military contracts with deep pockets. I ordered a Lynx-R1 in a kick starter quite a while back which offers color stereo pass through video and ultraleap hand tracking but it is taking them a while and will probably. arrive late this year. It is only 1600x1600 per eye. By the time it arrives there may be other similar products available. Sad since Lynx really shocked the big guys with their prototype and probably spurred the big guys to add pass trough technology.

@@rbarlow correct. Getting the setting right for the plane you’re flying is key. I have great setup for the TBM in both X-Plane and MSFS. I feel the plane n the ground through the pedals and the tracking of the MKII in flight is incredible. It follows every movement of the Sims yoke whether hand flying or on AP. A truly amazing experience but comes at a steep price. I’ll stick with my triple 60” 4k screens until VR makes significant advancements - Heck, I hardly use my G2 as it is because so have a ton of hardware and displays that give me the tactile feel of actually flying and on long haul flights I can see sitting for hours with a headset on my face. Reno air racing….now that’s where VR shines. Take care and keep the great videos coming. Love your point of view.