So, ChasePlane is out. Officially. After what felt like forever in development (or maybe that’s just me
refreshing the Parallel 42 page a little too often), we finally have a proper camera system for Microsoft Flight Simulator that isn’t… well, frustrating.
They’re not calling it “ChaseCam” anymore, by the way—it’s ChasePlane for MSFS, and it’s aiming to do for the sim camera system what ActiveSky did for weather realism. Big claim. But here we are.
I’ve had a chance to mess around with it, and here’s how I feel so far.
Okay, so what is ChasePlane?
At its core, ChasePlane replaces the stock camera system with something that actually feels like it was made for human beings.
You get:
– Drag-and-drop camera control
– Unlimited custom views per aircraft
– Physics-based camera motion (with just the right amount of shake and sway)
– Cinematic fly-by options for those of us who like to watch our landings like it’s a Fast & Furious sequel
– And something I didn’t think I’d care about until I did: view sharing, where you can download presets other people have made
If you’re someone who creates content, streams, or just likes things to look good while you’re flying, it’s honestly a massive step up from default.
What it gets right
There are some standout wins here. The interface is clean and visual—no weird menus buried behind cryptic keystrokes. You move the camera by dragging it. That’s it. It’s such a simple thing, but it feels like the kind of feature that should’ve existed from day one.
Also, the camera physics? Surprisingly well-tuned. You get this subtle head movement on takeoff, a little roll when you bank hard, and if you’re flying something like a 172 on a gusty day, it really sells the feeling of being in the aircraft, not just watching it.
For video creators (or people who just like watching their approach on replay five times because, let’s face it, it was a good one), the cinematic options are brilliant. You can finally set up those buttery-smooth pans and dramatic tail views without feeling like you’re trying to wrangle a rogue drone with broken controls.
The stuff that still feels a bit off
Now, I’m not going to pretend everything’s perfect.
There were a couple of weird moments—camera views resetting, things behaving unpredictably after switching aircraft, that kind of thing. It was version 1.0, so I expected some rough edges, but it’s worth mentioning. Especially if you’re the kind of simmer who just wants things to work out of the box without a lot of setup. They have since gone on to release a number of updates and I’ve not seen any strangeness since.
Also, and I guess this is more of a personal gripe: you do have to put in a bit of effort to get it dialed in. If you’re the sort of flyer who wants to load in and fly without thinking about camera presets, motion sliders, or view categories, ChasePlane might feel a bit “extra.” Not in a bad way—just… more hands-on than some might want.
And yes, it’s £28. Which feels about right for what it is, but I get that some folks might hesitate. Especially with how many free mods are out there.
Currently, there are a few limitations, the biggest for me being that there is no Tobii Tracking support, it’s “coming” but it’s not available yet and no indication of when it will be available. So if you use it, you either have to live without it for a while or hold off getting ChasePlane.
For all the current limitations, check out this page
So is it worth it?
If you’re even slightly picky about how things look in the sim—or if you’ve ever found yourself shouting at the drone camera for not behaving the way you want it to—then yeah, I’d say it’s worth it.
But it’s not just plug-and-play magic. You’ll need to take a little time to set it up properly. Tweak your views. Play with the motion settings. Maybe grab a couple of presets from the community. It’s that kind of tool. High reward, but only if you put in the work upfront.
That said, once you’ve got it dialed in? Total game-changer. Honestly, going back to default cameras now feels like driving without power steering.
Final thoughts
ChasePlane isn’t just a better camera system. It’s a better experience. It gives you control, flexibility, and that layer of immersion that, until now, felt oddly missing in MSFS. It’s not perfect yet—but it’s already really, really good.
And more importantly, it feels like something made by people who actually use the sim, not just develop for it.
So yeah, it’s found a spot in my pre-flight checklist now. Right alongside toggling live weather and checking if my controller is actually connected this time.
Let me know if you’ve picked it up—curious how others are finding it, especially after a few flights. And if you’re still on the fence, maybe hold off a bit and let a few updates roll in. Either way, it’s one to watch.
Thanks for reading. Want to read more? Check out my other posts.