[caldrail]

You can recenter the plane in the map very simply and quickly by just pushing the 'm' button twice in succession. (or whatever your key is)

I do it very often and it has become second nature. Besides, sometimes you find out something interesting or useful if you don't immediately recenter, say that a bunch of enemy are sneaking up from behind or wherever.

Strictly speaking, that is a radar simulation. Most WW2 pilots had to look out the cockpit to find the enemy which is what I prefer to do. In any case, GPS didn't exist in the 40's.

In fact, I once attended a talk by an american representative of a kit aeroplane manufacturer. The man had that dry US homour that clicked with the audience, we all had a great time and I learned something about building metal aeroplanes too. Thing is, he stressed the need for high performance kit aeroplanes like the lancair because in the US they have wide desert areas and mountains to cross. He was asked if he'd flown in Britain. "Yeah" He said, with a bemused frown, "Not like the States. Ah was in a plane flyin' from the Isle of Wight to Fairoaks. Heck, I was lost after ten minutes".

A New Zealand instructor once raised his eyebrows when I mentioned that his aerial maps were somewhat simple. "Yes I've seen British maps. What a mess".

For realistic navigation, you shouldn't see moving icons on the maps at all, never mind enemy locations. 'X' marks the spot when you made an attempt to look at your map, and you should only be able to update it every time you access the map. There should be an error factor, and you should be able to adjust the position from your own view of the world outside the plane.

Its called Pilotage. Just like real life.