diff --git a/lib_planes/entities.lua b/lib_planes/entities.lua
index cf2cacd..68afd71 100644
--- a/lib_planes/entities.lua
+++ b/lib_planes/entities.lua
@@ -108,6 +108,18 @@ function airutils.on_step(self,dtime,colinfo)
     
 --  physics comes first
     local vel = self.object:get_velocity()
+    local pos = self.object:get_pos()
+    local props = self.object:get_properties()
+
+-- handle visibility on radar
+    if (pos and pos.y < airutils.radarMinHeight and props.show_on_minimap) then
+        props.show_on_minimap = false
+        self.object:set_properties(props)
+    end
+    if (pos and pos.y >= airutils.radarMinHeight and not props.show_on_minimap) then
+        props.show_on_minimap = true
+        self.object:set_properties(props)
+    end
     
     if colinfo then 
 	    self.isonground = colinfo.touching_ground
diff --git a/lib_planes/global_definitions.lua b/lib_planes/global_definitions.lua
index ecf81a9..3f14b81 100755
--- a/lib_planes/global_definitions.lua
+++ b/lib_planes/global_definitions.lua
@@ -3,4 +3,6 @@
 --
 airutils.vector_up = vector.new(0, 1, 0)
 
+--set min y-pos above which airplanes are seen on radar
+airutils.radarMinHeight = 30