Shift+F1 (maybe F2 but it's one of those)

I think I'm gonna use 1946 as more of a screw around type of game, and BoP as my mroe serious game. I like the action in BoP, it's a lot more than 1946, I just wish there was a no respawn mode....

Sorry for double post, but thanks, I'll try that.

just look for 'gunsight view' in the controls, you can just set your own key for it

About your question on the gunsight: In many German planes the gunsight was off center to the right. There is nothing to be fixed, this is an accurate representation of the German cockpit. It was off center so it would would not be in the way on landing, taxiing etc. To look through the gunsight it was enough for the pilot to close his left eye (this is what shfit+F1 simulates). Why this works has to do with the mechanics of the gunsight and with optics, and that is another explanation. But the Bf109 cockpits in IL2 1946 are 100% correct.

LOL. Come to think of it, I think I'll probably regard my GT 5 Prologue & FORZA 3 as a bit of a 'screw around' & keep my Mario Karts going as the serious alternative.

I looked at that too and thought the same, but I figured ehh, I will let it go...

Sigh, Yep! Fair play to him I guess. He's more than entitled to his own opinion.

Find it a mighty baffling statement though:

1946
Flutter effects, realistic engine management, fuel mix, stress effects & damage, realistic t/o & landings, realistic gunnery effects, limited ammo & fuel, gun harmonization, etc etc ... all optional.
Mission editor, allowing you to quickly & easily set up a mission of your choosing, dropping in any plane, vehicle, building, object that you see fit; Quick mission builder set up aswell as superb online play ... all optional.
Weather effects & time of day.
Fully interactive set of radio commands inc. wingmen orders aswell as comms to & from the tower & even the choice to switch over to enemy frequency.
Choice to fly sorties in real time or just skip to the next waypoint or action
Every flyable aircraft with interior cockpit inc. every station within a bomber.
Dynamic campaigns aswell as thousands of downloadable content such as new campaigns, missions, aircraft, again ... all optional
Tons of camera views & angles aswell as the option to view back your entire mission via the track recorder, from any angle or any aircraft in the theatre at the time & even the ability to drop in a simple static camera at pre-mission at any point on the map of your choosing.

BoP
Umm.. hang on, gotta be something, oh yeah, limited ammo & fuel ... optional.
Weather effects & time of day...optional.

Strange to call that as the "more serious game!"

He's not saying BoP is a more serious game, he says he's using 1946 as his screw-around game, and BoP as his more serious game.
Just like you can use Forza as your screw-around game (bumping into others more than actually racing) and Mario-kart as your more serious game (actually racing, however arcade it may be).

As I've probably pointed out before...

In all honesty, despite some major issues found in the game (which I have gotten over pretty fast), I find BoP to be much more fun than 1946. 1946 is more challenging (realistic), but that doesn't mean I'm going to enjoy playing it.

What would I play if I wanted a realistic aerial combat sim set in ww2?
-IL-2 Sturmovik: 1946

What would I play if I wanted to just shoot down a few Bf-109's and enjoy myself?
-IL-2 Sturmovik: Birds of Prey