Flight Simulation for Training, Familiarization, Professional Use Slated for July Release

Lockheed Martin unveiled its next iteration of Prepar3D, the brand's professional-grade flight simulation software.

The improved program "allows users to create training scenarios across aviation, maritime and ground domains. It has been used for a wide range of learning scenarios including vehicle procedures training, cockpit familiarization, flight planning, air traffic controller training and emergency response preparation in the commercial, academic, professional and military instruction environments."

Changes in version 6 will focus on providing more realistic light and shading effects, hopefully making it easier to trick the eye and provide an immersive, 3D environment. Overhauled atmospheric modeling "brings unprecedented levels of realism and fidelity", and a similarly increased focus on ground detail provides much more accurately cluttered airports. More details, surfaces, and objects will help the terminal environment feel more like the real thing, helpful for training in the most accident-prone area of operation. Select cities appear to be given a similar treatment, always a helpful boon to advertising when users can have a 100'-AGL skyscraper tour.

From the portions shown so far, Lockheed seems to be more or less on par with the rest of the crowd with Version 6, providing some beautiful vistas but still offering a fairly garden-variety flight experience in most flight regimens. Lockheed has generally looked to provide physical fidelity over graphical fidelity, finding the former more important for accurate training behavior. That makes sense for Version 6 of a fairly long-lived program, Lockheed can't quite offer the same leaps in iterative improvements that it could with an all-new simulator.

“The transformation of our Prepar3D software highlights continued development and evolution,” said Jonathon Wells, vice president of Lockheed Martin Air and Commercial Solutions. “Prepar3D furthers Lockheed Martin’s commitment to bring upgraded capabilities and features for next-generation training solutions.”

FMI: www.lockheedmartin.com