Quote:
Originally Posted by gap
If that wasn't enough, I will add that a Spitfire flying at its service ceiling of 11,000m, in theory could be detected (and on turn, it could detect us) at a distance of ca. 385 km. This is the trigonometric calculation, but for such a long distances other factors like air density and human eye's resolution (called "surface factor" within game files) come into the picture.
Has anyone thought about that? Are aircraft spotted in game at the same 20 km distance as ship's smoke? 
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The Spitfire pilot would need exceedingly good eyesight to spot an object the size of a Mk VII at 385 Km as it would have an apparent height of only 0.025974025974026 m and a length of 0.174025974025974 m,
working on the theory that a Spitfire pilot would be able to detect an object with an apparent size of 2 metres in length (
highly unlikely) then he would be able to spot the Mk VII at a distance of 33.5Km.
Conversely the Mk VII crew with the same capabilities as the pilot would be able to see the Spitfire with a wingspan of 11.23m at a distance of 5.615 Km.
At a distance of 20 Km a Mk VII would have an apparent height of 0.24m and a length of only 3.05m.