Ground targets are way too hard to see in Sim mode.

[Bael]

Thank you for the tips, these are actually techniques I'm already using. But even using both of these methods I do not feel the current system works well enough.

The root of the problem is simply that ground target models do not appear soon enough. If you're close enough to see the muzzle flash, the model should be visible as well - and thats currently not the case. You see a muzzle flash, line up on it (they're not pinpoint accurate), and the model doesn't appear until you're already too close to make any necessary corrections to your path - even if you zoom your view in!

And don't forget targets like rail cars which don't have visual aids like muzzle flashes. Just fly low over the railroad tracks and watch as the train cars suddenly just pop into view well below your sights. It's a bit odd that you can see trees farther off in the distance than you can see train cars. The same with Tiger tanks parked in the middle of snowy fields, you can see the flash from 2 miles away but can't actually see the tank until you're practically close enough to spit on it.