Having a look at the msfs traffic online over the UK just now (Europe West Server) and the ratio of airliners to other types was something like 25:1 with the majority of them being ryanair 737s or Easyjet A320/321 types. Not really a surprise but it got me thinking, I wonder if that actually comes close to real world ratio of types in the air over the UK at any given time?.

I suspect that actually the ratio is more like 50:1 irl but who knows?, I guess looking on FR24 would give some idea but you'd have to make a guess at the number of GA types not Squawking.

Sorry I know its just Idle curiosity but never thought about the comparison before.

Edit: time of day/night would of course make a big difference too

Edited January 9, 20242 yr by Lonesome Cowboy Burt

As far as I know FR24 only shows targets with ADSB.  There's still numerous small craft which don't have ADSB.  Also because military fighters are typically not equipped, they won't show either.

Whilst we’re plucking figures out of thin air, I suppose we also need to consider how many GA flying days there actually are in the UK? A beautiful week at the moment but the last month has felt never ending on the questionable weather front.

Of course, the one thing in GAs favour is the majority of flights remain in British airspace (or at most, Le Touquet). 

2 hours ago, ryanbatc said:

As far as I know FR24 only shows targets with ADSB.  There's still numerous small craft which don't have ADSB.  Also because military fighters are typically not equipped, they won't show either.

Isn't everyone, even a little C152, required to have ADS-B-out these days?  Or am I thinking of something else?

4 minutes ago, Mace said:

Isn't everyone, even a little C152, required to have ADS-B-out these days?  Or am I thinking of something else?

Only if you fly in certain airspace (generally near larger cities) class A B C

Plenty of aircraft that aren't required to have it.

5 minutes ago, Mace said:

Isn't everyone, even a little C152, required to have ADS-B-out these days?  Or am I thinking of something else?

It really depends where you fly. But generally speaking having ADSB in and out gives pilot only advantages so why not to have it everywhere 

https://www.faa.gov/air_traffic/technology/equipadsb/research/airspace

20 hours ago, ryanbatc said:

As far as I know FR24 only shows targets with ADSB.  There's still numerous small craft which don't have ADSB.  Also because military fighters are typically not equipped, they won't show either.

No it also  picks up Mode S and Mode C but only then shows a position via multilateration and is not ten as accurate as a GPS position via ADSB.

Also many fighters do squawk and show up (There was quite a few Hawks and Phoons and the odd L139 about today showing themselves) but who knows what proportion.

 

Anyways it was just a thought

17 hours ago, Mace said:

Isn't everyone, even a little C152, required to have ADS-B-out these days?  Or am I thinking of something else?

If you just wanna pootle around in Class G you don't even legally require a radio (least here in the UK )

https://globe.adsbexchange.com/