rHey guys, I work as an airline pilot and I read this post before I went to work this morning and thought that I will try this out today while on cruise altitude. We have a so called Multifunction display on the flight deck that shows all the traffic around you as you fly.
This is my conclusion (My eyesight is perfect... so far...)
At 5nm (9.2km) I can usually easily spot an AC and i can even tell what type is it is. However at thi distance its very difficult to tell if is a 737 or an Airbus as the share similiar shapes. Smaller planes are very difficult to ID at this distance. You can usually tell, if its a Kingair (due to its T-tail) or smaller, but to know exactly is almost impossible.
Remember that a 737 or Airbus are alot bigger than the planes we talk about in game!!
Also these planes are white against a blue or green background and that makes them alot easier to spot! many times someone is passing you, according to your instruments, at say 15km and same altitude and both of us try hard to see him but in some light conditions u see noone even though u know he is there somewhere! Obviosuly at night its alot easier with the strobes and beacons flashing.
Im not so sure i would be able to even see a 109 at 10km or maybe even 6-7km and I certainly would not be able to ID such as small plane untill ALOT closer!
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