Visual Distance of aircraft

[Gunny04]

I fly with FS 2002/Fs 2004 guys in a flight squadron of bomber missions with fighters etc they have a distance (in FS2002) of 20 miles, where as in FS9 you get 10, is there any type of fix for increasing the visual aircraft distance? Thanks, Cheers, Gunny

[alrot]

Not That I know,But Unless If you got a colition trayectory, your local center or those whos got you on  radar screen in your transponder code(squad) should warning you,I don't think even in real life you wouln't be able to see it, maybe in the night you may be able to see the lights, but 20 nautic miles is a long distance ,maybe Ticas device or radar in your plane shoud tell you.....but I dont know, I doubt it..Lets hear another opinion

[garymbuska]

If you can see a plane at 20 nm than you have the eyes of a eagle. At that distance even in clear weather it would be rather hard to make out the shape of any aircraft. At night on a clear night you might be able to see the recognition lights but that is about it.
The aircraft you spot in the skies in real life flying at flight levels of fl320 and higher are hard to see and that is only 32,000 feet hardly a fraction of 20 NM.

[beaky]

A moving plane is a damn elusive target in RL even at 5 miles, in daylight... in FS9, I've had traffic called by ATC at less than a mile, and still can't see them, even in spot view.
I think sometimes they're not actually rendered for some reason... either that, or I'm going blind...

[gryshnak]

An article I read many years ago in a piloting magazine had a scary example of visibility problems.  Stand way back from the monitor, 30 feet away is ideal but if you can't manage that then at least stand on the other side of the room.   Now take a look at the image on the left:

If you're flying in uncontrolled airspace and you see a shape like that, compare it's location with a bug spot or something on your windshield.  If the shape stays in the same location but gets bigger, you're on a collision course with another plane.  Flying something like the default C172, you've got about NINE SECONDS before impact unless one of you gets out of the way first.  And that's on a day of good visibility!  If the day is dull or overcast, use the image on the right instead.

And have a pleasant flight

Gryshnak

[beaky]

Good one, gryshnak... now add in the possibility that said aircraft may be below your altitude, climbing... against the typical ground clutter, even a white airplane can be really hard to spot.
Don't know what Gunny can do about flying with a squadron of pilots with "super-vision"... eat more carrots, maybe?

[Gunny04]

I'm talking about when the NAMES of people appear, I need 20 miles like FS2002 so I can do my formation/Flight groups...... Sucks flying blind all the time..... Cheers, Gunny

[Jakemaster]

Names only appear at 10 in FS9, I dont think theres anyway to change that.  If Im flying at night ill usually spot planes well over 10 away from the lights, other than that I need the red letters.

[garymbuska]

Jakemaster That sounds about right when I fly at night you can see the red and white lights on air craft a long way off. And as for the aircraft that ATC warns you that is within 1NM by the time they tell you about it it has allready gone by you. You have to look all around you front back sides and up and down just to find the intruder. So if ATC tells you there is a plane within 1nm do not expect to see it in front of you unless it over took you from the rear.

[Gunny04]

rgr that, I guess I'm outta luck, unrealistic to fly over germany in the middle of the night in a WW2 era with your lights on....... Germans would turn you to dust, well, Looks like I'm outta luck, Thanks for the replys mates! Cheers, Gunny

[beaky]

I'm talking about when the NAMES of people appear, I need 20 miles like FS2002 so I can do my formation/Flight groups...... Sucks flying blind all the time..... Cheers, Gunny

Oooohhhh... you use the labels. Not my thing. I know FS is harder in many ways than RL flying, but I try not to "cheat". But then again, I don't do any MP flying; might change my tune if I start doing that.

[simonmd]

Formation flying with 20nm between you? Er, am I missing something here?

[Gunny04]

Yessir you are, I am a P-51, P-38 Fighter pilot and I gotta guard the bombers with me life! and well It so happens I Cant see where the bombers are to guard em and I gotta pray to find em or Auto follow them.... not fun, and if say a german (if we ever have any) Comes up on em and I gotta shoot off, Its pretty bad..... Formation flying at 20NM? no, Bombers flying off at 20NM yes.... all the time I guess, CFS has like 50 mile distance, wish FS had it, Cheers, Gunny

[simonmd]

Ah, ok, get the idea. 20m seems like a long range though! Right, may I suggest that you add a radar to your panel then most of these have a range upto 80nm so you'll always have a bearing on your bombers.

[Gunny04]

How might I go about adding a radar to the panel? I used to know, but my memory fails me! Cheers, Gunny