VIRTUAL CAMERA SYSTEM FOR AIRCRAFT

The virtual camera system supplies terrain views to occupants of an aircraft, by employing a virtual reality image generator, disposed on the aircraft, that generates a terrain display image corresponding to a perspective based on supplied position data. At least one aircraft position sensor disposed on the aircraft supplies actual aircraft position as a position data to the virtual reality image generator. A display device disposed on the aircraft and coupled to the virtual reality image generator to reproduce the terrain display image for viewing by passengers within the aircraft. The image generator includes processor programmed to generate the terrain display image using actual aircraft latitude and longitude relative to the Earth and further using a synthetic altitude that differs from the actual aircraft altitude. The synthetic altitude is used above actual aircraft altitudes of a predetermined threshold; otherwise the actual aircraft altitude is used.