I have some explaining to do after giving some bad advice. Too much time in the air and not enough in the various set ups!
I incorrectly called Pan very fast panning and Snap as instantaneous
In the Clipboard/Preferences/View there are basically three view options
Instant - This is the instantaneous view I was thinking of.
TrackIR - This is for third party software TrackIR.
Snap - This is the very fast panning action I had in mind.
I have never used padlock direction mode with snap but think it may be simply the same padlock view otherwise obtained by pressing F11 (See next but one paragraph).
In addition there is the F8 key "Pan" - This is a panning action that is not really very fast. When enabled through key F8 your normal view keys control a panning action instead of going to actual points of view. It can be handy in bombers and gun batteries when used with F3 the external view mode (not available to fighters online but OK in bombers online)
Padlock is a bit similar to "Pan" It is an automated panning action once you have "locked" an aircraft in view. Usually the enemy! F11 enables it and then you use the "Tab" key to cycle through the potential enemy targets to lock in view. Control + Tab is to enable friendly padlock.
As Bounder says, you can overide the Padlock View with a point of view selection, but as soon as you release the point of view, it swings back to the padlocked aircraft, providing it is still visible!
Chase view is just that, a bit like a camera view from a drogue you are towing. Might be OK in reviewing films but not a lot else IMO
The views are nicely listed on the Trainers Site Quick Reference sheet
here Hitting "F1" will take you back to the default view.
Some views available offline are not available online in the Main Arena, in particular external views in Fighters and GV's are offline or Training Arena only