How does the Padlock view work?

[Skyyr]

I've looked for information, but couldn't find any detailed info. Could someone provide a rundown of how it works? When using it, it didn't seem to do anything different than the standard in-cockpit view.

[FLS]

To padlock an enemy use the Tab key to select them then F11 to padlock. If you lose lock you have to reaquire  manually. To padlock a friendly use Shift Tab to turn on friendly lock then Tab to select. You'll see a bracket on the selected icon.

[Soulyss]

Padlock will only track a target that can otherwise be seen with the manual system... if the padlocked aircraft leaves your field of view (flies under your plane for instance) then you will have to reacquire and lock it again manually.

[RipRap]

Padlock will only track a target that can otherwise be seen with the manual system... if the padlocked aircraft leaves your field of view (flies under your plane for instance) then you will have to reacquire and lock it again manually.

Is there a viable reason or benefit to use padlock? If you lose sight of the locked target plane and lose the padlock, why is it part of the game? And to what purpose would you lock a friendly? 

[BnZs]

Is there a viable reason or benefit to use padlock?

In other combat flight sims padlock is somewhat useful or even necessary because the viewing systems in most other combat flight sims have a quality called "suck" which HTC wisely chose to engineer out of AHII, giving you instead a viewing system that approximates the ease of tracking available to the Mk. I eyeball and swivel-neck in real life.   

[bbosen]

In other combat flight sims padlock is somewhat useful or even necessary because the viewing systems in most other combat flight sims have a quality called "suck" which HTC wisely chose to engineer out of AHII, giving you instead a viewing system that approximates the ease of tracking available to the Mk. I eyeball and swivel-neck in real life.   

Hehe good answer!
 

[RipRap]

In other combat flight sims padlock is somewhat useful or even necessary because the viewing systems in most other combat flight sims have a quality called "suck" which HTC wisely chose to engineer out of AHII, giving you instead a viewing system that approximates the ease of tracking available to the Mk. I eyeball and swivel-neck in real life.   

So what you're saying is, it serves no purpose.
Thanks much

[BnZs]

Indeed, the snap view system with views correctly adjusted is so much better for SA and maintaining the sense of spacial relations in flying. If you're seeing the con in your up-left view for instance, you know instinctively he is above and to the left of you, something you can lose while using padlock views in other sims.

[Soulyss]

Is there a viable reason or benefit to use padlock? If you lose sight of the locked target plane and lose the padlock, why is it part of the game? And to what purpose would you lock a friendly? 

There is no advantage to padlock (which I believe is intentional).  The only reason I can see why someone would want to use padlock is if they are a mouse user, or otherwise can't easily manipulate either a hatswitch or the numpad on the keyboard. Even then I think it would making maintaining SA more difficult.  If you have the buttons or the hatswitch on a joystick then I think manually tracking targets is the better way to go.

[WWhiskey]

If you are in a guaranteed one v one,,,   Try it out,,
 it feels a lot like track ir to me but you need to remember how high you are or you'll smack the ground.

[FLS]

Padlock is nice for viewing films of duels.