I found this myself, and am sure others have before me. I searched GT for related topics and didn't come up with much about how to do it again or where to obtain similar modifications.

I will post it. It's short and easy.

If you're going to use stock star ships in your mods all you have to do is edit the ODF.

We will use all_fly_awing for an example, open this ODF file.

Shortly under [Properties] you will see

//FirstPerson = "ALL\allxwing;all_1st_cockpit_xwing"
Remove // so it looks like
FirstPerson = "ALL\allxwing;all_1st_cockpit_xwing"

// Tells the original files ignore this, removing // will add the cockpits.

For multiple seater ships, you will need to scroll down the ODF file and find every instance of
ForceMode = 1
and make it
ForceMode = 0

and unkill all instances of //FirstPerson so it looks like FirstPerson

Of course inside ALL\MSH you can edit the cockpit textures to your liking.
Several ships will use the same texture, You can add new textures by making your own TGA and making the ODF use it where it says FirstPerson = ""

Screenshots:
Arc170 - Jedi Fighter - V wing http://tinypic.com/r/1688z9i/8
Tie Fighter - Interceptor http://tinypic.com/r/qqbm6a/8
REP - Alliance Gunship Ball Turrets http://tinypic.com/r/5bo3rk/8

Hope it helps!

Of cause this tutorial already exist. (faq, custom first person.)
Anout chaning the cockpit. It's not just the tga. You can also change the whole msh from the fp.

But maybe this post will make other modders to use it. I really love fp for figthers