[Armistead]

I never played RFB more than a few patrols and that was many years ago. They're numerous AI values including the environment settings. RFB should be easier as far as the ranges that you're spotted than TMO. I don't recall if RFB uses stock traffic or he reworked the traffic like TMO. You may want to try it with RSRD and that should give you correct bases, promotions and traffic.

Keep in mind the larger a plane is the further away your crew visuals and radar will pick it up.

RFB may be set different as far as TC, seems some mods don't default to real time upon radar contact, just give you the contact info block and sometimes by the time you get to real time...you're dead. Most simply hit one key for a compartment like F5 to get to default real time rather than beat on he TC minus key over and over.

The only thing that makes sense here would be a plane. If it happens again and u get damage, just stop where you are at real time for a bit and have a look around, wait and listen, if it's a plane it should be returning back.