Well I suppose you could always argue that the following would be fairly realistic
At the present 6000 yd starting range for icons, display aircraft major type and range
e.g. Spit 5900
At say 2000 yds to 1000 yds, display range and aircraft subtype
e.g. Spit V 1800
At 1000 yds on in to 0, display aircraft subtype and pilot name
e.g. Spit V Mitsu
After all, the closer you got to an enemy, the more you would be able to distinguish about their aircraft.. initially just the type of aircraft they were flying, then the different sub-types, and finally the plane lettering and maybe kill markings on the tail or under the cockpit.
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When I was a child, I spake as a child, I understood as a child, I thought as a child: but when I became a man, I put away childish things.
Chapter 13, verse 11
