Before I begin, allow me to point out I am in no way a programmer; this proposal is something that sounds like it should be a simple modification of an existing in game value, but that is with zero actual knowledge. That said:
I have been thinking for a long time that our sixward view in CLOD is extremely ahistorical. I just could not reconcile all the accounts of pilots weaving all over the sky, needing wingmen, coming back with neck cramps, and generally be killed unawares from the rear, with our ability to effectively clear your six to 180 degrees effortlessly. We have plenty of pilots who can effectively fly in reverse. So I decided to check how realistic the current FOVs are in CLOD. The answer is that our pilots are super human in their ability to look rearward as I'll demonstrate momentarily. I believe that by limiting the range of motion available to the view - and the game already naturally stops you around the 180 degree mark - you could more accurately simulate what a pilot could actually see.
The Issue
There are a couple key numbers to hihglight before we go into lots of pretty pictures:
1. The angle a human neck can turn to one side: Variable on source, but the highest claim it around 80 degrees.
2. Human field of vision: You get about 60 degrees of focusable vision (30 degrees each side of a center point,), and another 30 degrees on each side of binocular peripheral. You also get some monocular peripheral for 15 degrees - aka "what was that movement?' - and the ability to "rotate your eyes" for about 15 more degrees, albeit only temporarily and losing a lot of field depth. Try looking out the back of your car while driving and you get the idea on how those last two work. You definitely aren't focusing on any car that is more than 100m away from you.
3. The angle you can rotate your center line without moving your body forward: 5-10 degrees, usually towards the lower end in men.
What that means...with pictures!
Now, those numbers are important because added together they provide the following criteria for realistic observation capability (which granted, would be straining your neck and core to do indefinitely, but our virtual pilots are all ripped) that you be able to shift your view point, to include moving your eyes, only 100-105 degrees left or right from where the center of your body is. (Neck 80, torso 5, eye roll 15). How does that compare to CLOD?
This, a typical CLOD "self six" is according to my track IR, a whopping 174 degrees rotation of my point of view to the left without any "center of body" movement.
CLOD UnMOD 174.jpg
This is the 105 degrees that you are actually capable of rotating your body and eyes before you start leaning forward and out.
CLOD Porop 105.jpg
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