Heat shimmer on runways, taxiways, and ramps
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Great suggestion. Suggest this should get picked up with all the other secondary environmental effects that are missing like wing tip vortices, contrails, prop wash etc.
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Grass bowing behind a propcraft…
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I agree! Very cool idea!!!
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That would be neat, but I’d prefer they develop proper convective currents in clouds first.
This is a great idea, but I wouldn’t hold my breath. Asobo is struggling even to provide illuminated airport aprons at night and runway lights that aren’t constantly on.
Wishlist:
Heat shimmer behind aircraft engines already exists, but for MSFS 2024 visual realism it should be expanded and physically consistent across distance, surfaces, and lighting.
Request:
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Extend heat shimmer / thermal distortion to far-distance views, especially over runways, taxiways, and hot terrain.
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Visible from pilot, tower, and spotter POVs, not limited to close-up engine exhaust.
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Driven by surface temperature, sun angle, weather, and time of day.
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Present day and night where physically plausible (strong daytime, subtle night).
Lighting realism:
- Runway, approach, and taxi lights should refract through the shimmer, producing realistic waviness, dancing, stretching, and flicker at distance.
Additional key effect:
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Add inferior mirage over hot runway surfaces:
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The characteristic mirror / wet-look reflection at long distance.
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Lights, markings, and aircraft appearing reflected, stretched, or floating near the surface.
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Correctly tied to heat gradients and viewing angle.
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All effects should be pure optical air refraction — no particles, no artificial blur.
These combined effects would dramatically improve runway depth perception, scale, and real-world aviation authenticity, especially during long-runway and hot-day operations.