exfirepro wrote:Having had a recent eye test, I know for certain that my distance vision is still near perfect.
Me too. And with this thread very much in mind I took very careful note whilst flying with Nick of this very forum over a few days.
It started on leaving Glenforsa for Tiree and Coll, I departed first, Nick let an arrival land and then followed. I was somewhat in disbelief that Nick couldn't see me despite catching me and knowing where I was. Coll and Tiree being under an undercast we turned north putting me behind Nick. My aeroplane spotting was no better. After an hour and a half flying 'together' I only became visual with Nick when I was overhead and Nick was turning crosswind.
We very carefully verified that the EC position was accurately reporting where the aircraft were/was. For example; Nick, your aircraft is showing as 100' below me at xxxx' overhead the Ardnamurchan Lighthouse. This was verified. Yet I could not see him. We repeated similar over a few days, trying it whilst over the sea, over land, over cloud and had the same outcome. Now, I am not suggesting that an aircraft cannot be seen at distance. In fact I watched an aircraft return to Glenforsa which EC showed as opposite direction to Nick and passing directly underneath him. But I could not see Nick. The following day whilst visual with Nick I saw a twin pass directly under Nick 2200' feet below, which he saw on EC, but did not get visual. Neither of us were visual with the flexwing to the SE of the image, which was about 700' below. Nick had it on EC, I did not.
It was certainly not scientific, however it was real life and the 'experiment' served to demonstrate, to me at least, just how fallible the MK1 is. There's no doubt it is an excellent piece of kit, yet fallible it is and consequently cannot be relied upon to see aircraft of interest within a couple of miles.
IMO the distances in themselves are not critical. The overall difficulty in spotting aircraft is the main factor. My conclusion is that the MK1 eyeball is being credited with the much more powerful influence of the big blue sky factor, resulting in many/most having a false sense of security in their ability to see other aircraft. It's the big sky that's keeping us safe and not the MK1.
With a blue fuse and bright yellow wings, It's not as if one could argue Nick's aeroplane is camouflaged.
Misc.