Configure ChasePlane camera shake and motion in MSFS with the right tuning order, plus fixes for jitter, double shake and tracking conflicts.
To configure ChasePlane camera shake and motion in Microsoft Flight Simulator, select the aircraft and camera view you want to edit, open that view’s motion or physics controls, start with every effect low, then add acceleration, rotation and turbulence separately. Disable overlapping simulator or head-tracking movement, test in flight, and save the view.
This method applies to ChasePlane on PC with MSFS 2020 and MSFS 2024. Control names and panel layouts can differ between ChasePlane builds, but the tuning order remains the same. Make sure the intended view is active before changing anything; editing the wrong view is a common reason settings appear not to work.
Set up ChasePlane camera motion in the right order
The cleanest approach is to build motion one effect at a time under repeatable flying conditions.
- Select the aircraft and view. Open or create the cockpit view you actually fly from, then enter its editor. Our guidance on building aircraft-specific ChasePlane views explains the view-selection side without mixing it into the effects tuning.
- Create a neutral baseline. Set ChasePlane’s acceleration, rotation, turbulence and related motion effects to zero or very low values. Temporarily disable MSFS cockpit camera shake, pause head tracking and use calm preset weather. Live Weather is a poor tuning baseline because the conditions keep changing.
- Add acceleration movement first. Increase translational movement gradually so take-off power, braking, climbing and touchdown produce a small fore-and-aft or vertical head response. Stop when the movement becomes noticeable without pulling switches or instruments out of easy reach.
- Add rotational response. Introduce pitch, roll and yaw motion during gentle turns. Cockpit rotation normally needs less gain than an exterior camera; excessive roll makes the horizon appear to move twice and can become uncomfortable quickly.
- Tune turbulence last. Change to a repeatable windy or turbulent weather preset and raise the effect slowly. Turbulence can mask every other movement, which is why setting it first usually produces an overactive camera. See our detailed physics and turbulence tuning advice for the interaction between acceleration, rotation and damping.
- Adjust damping or smoothing. Increase it if movement snaps or oscillates; reduce it if the camera floats behind the aircraft or takes too long to settle. Do not use heavy damping to hide excessive gains—lower the offending effect first.
- Save and test the view. Check it during taxiing, take-off, a normal banked turn, turbulence, touchdown and braking. Save only after all six phases feel controlled, then tune exterior views separately.
What do the ChasePlane motion controls change?
Each motion group represents a different force or camera response, so the sliders should not be raised together as one master shake setting.
| Control type | What it simulates | Sign that it is too strong |
|---|---|---|
| Translational acceleration | Head movement from accelerating, braking and vertical loads | The eyepoint moves away from instruments during routine manoeuvres |
| Rotational response | Pitch, roll or yaw reaction as the aircraft changes attitude | The horizon swings, banks twice or continues moving after control input stops |
| Turbulence or shake | Short, irregular movement from disturbed air and related vibration effects | Panel text becomes difficult to read in ordinary weather |
| Damping or smoothing | How quickly the virtual head reacts and returns to its resting position | Too little causes snapping; too much creates delayed, floating movement |
How much ChasePlane camera shake should I use?
Use the lowest settings that communicate aircraft movement clearly; realistic camera motion is usually subtler than cinematic camera motion.
- Airliner cockpit: keep translation and rotation restrained, with enough turbulence to show changing conditions without making the flight displays hard to read.
- Light aircraft: slightly stronger acceleration and turbulence can suit the lower mass and livelier ride, but the instrument panel should remain stable in normal flight.
- Helicopter: use a separate setup and keep high-frequency vibration conservative. Continuous strong shaking quickly looks artificial and makes precise hovering harder.
- Exterior camera: larger, slower movement can look natural outside, but copying those values into the cockpit usually produces exaggerated head motion.
Should I disable the built-in MSFS camera shake?
Yes, while tuning ChasePlane, disable or minimise the built-in Microsoft Flight Simulator cockpit camera shake and let ChasePlane provide the movement.
Some aircraft add-ons also generate their own head movement or vibration. Running the simulator effect, aircraft effect and ChasePlane together creates double bumps and makes damping difficult to judge. Once ChasePlane is balanced, you can reintroduce one additional effect at a very low level, but one system should remain the primary motion source.
Why is ChasePlane shaking, drifting or moving twice?
Unexpected ChasePlane movement usually comes from stacked effects, conflicting camera inputs or editing a different view from the one being displayed.
- Fine jitter while parked: pause head tracking and remove duplicate camera-axis bindings. Our instructions for separating ChasePlane, head tracking and hat-switch inputs cover the usual binding conflicts.
- Two distinct jolts in every gust: disable MSFS camera shake or the aircraft’s own camera effect; two motion systems are reacting to the same event.
- Slow drift or poor recentring: reduce smoothing, check the head-tracker centre and confirm no controller axis is sending a constant camera input.
- Only one view behaves incorrectly: that view probably has separate saved motion values. Select it directly and compare its settings with a known-good view.
- Movement happens with an frame-rate hitch: set every motion effect to zero and repeat the test. If the jump remains, it is frame pacing or scenery loading rather than ChasePlane shake.
- No effect at all: verify that ChasePlane is connected to the running simulator, the correct aircraft profile and view are active, and the relevant effect group is enabled.
Do ChasePlane settings apply to every aircraft?
Not necessarily; treat ChasePlane motion as aircraft- and view-specific even when you begin by copying a familiar setup.
An airliner, light aircraft and helicopter react differently, while cockpit and exterior cameras have different visual requirements. Copying values is a useful starting point, but verify the active profile and save each adjusted view deliberately rather than assuming one global preset will suit everything.
How can I make ChasePlane motion more comfortable?
Reduce rotational motion first, then turbulence and rapid acceleration effects, while keeping the horizon and instrument panel easy to follow.
A wider stable view, restrained smoothing and a consistent frame rate also help. If camera movement causes discomfort rather than adding useful feedback, our practical steps for reducing simulator-induced motion sickness explain which visual effects to remove first.