"One odd (maybe out of the box) idea, could be replacement of icon at gunner range with a thin highlight around the silhouette of a locked on target." -Chili
Actually proposed this in lieu of icons "way back when" (different Sim though).... it went something like this:
If I look out a view and an aircraft is within 1000 then it gets a halo (highlight) indicating bandit in 1 sec. If it is 1001 to 2000 it takes 2 secs, 2001 to 3000 3 seconds, etc........ If you keep looking long enough the icon appears so you know its a 190, P-51 etc... how long is long enough? Well you can double the time it takes to get a halo...so a con inside 1000 gets an icon in 2 seconds, etc... Once you close within 600 then you get the icon to disappear and only the halo stays.
Gives a little more "realism" to obtaining Tally, getting an ID, and having to "search" for those longer range cons....
The highlight would solve the "aircraft paint pixel matches the terrain paint pixel" issue and "highlight" the aircraft slightly...
Like the way you think Chili....