Prepar3D® - Professional Flight Simulator By Lockheed Martin RSS Feed

Prepar3D v4.5 Available Now!

Spike2135 — Sat, 10 Aug 2019 04:00:15 +0000

Prepar3D v4.5 Available Now!
Prepar3D v4.5 Hotfix Available Now!

04-09-19

Cities come to life with more detailed night lighting in v4.5

The latest update to Prepar3D is now available! Prepar3D v4.5 continues to build upon the solid foundation and advancements made to the platform by bringing new features, improvements, and fixes across the board.

Terrain night lighting has been overhauled adding greater visual detail and clarity. Highways illuminate through cityscapes like never before and sprawling urban environments come to life extending to the horizon with higher resolution night textures.

Major optimizations have been made to model loading vastly reducing load times for complex scenery add-ons. Additional enhancements were made across the entire platform ranging from smoother multiplayer animations, greater Virtual Reality (VR) performance, to improved Physically Based Rendering (PBR) lighting and color balance.

Immersive cutting-edge training across the globe in v4.5

Expanded developer features including support for PBR autogenerated vegetation, greater effects customization, and various interface updates and new services further expand Prepar3D’s open development architecture enabling richer and more customizable content.

New features added to the Professional Plus product include Distributed Interactive Simulation (DIS) auto-connection, DIS engagement lines, and Common Image Generator Interface (CIGI) collision detection expand Prepar3D’s interoperability between professional simulation platforms. Additionally, multiple improvements to SimOperator including full sound support, a real-time progress log, and object visual ribbons, helps bring interactive scenarios to life while enhancing operator situational awareness.

Take your training to new heights with Prepar3D v4.5!

For those wishing to use the Oculus Rift, please see this forum posting for important information.

For the complete details on the release, please see the What’s New below.

The following list of updates has been categorized based on the installer required. The Client installer is required for Prepar3D v4.5, however the Content, Scenery, and SDK installers are optional. You must first have Prepar3D v4 installed to utilize the Client only installer.

To install the Prepar3D v4.5 Client, you must first uninstall the previous Prepar3D v4.0/v4.1/v4.2/v4.3/v4.4 Client through Programs and Features in Windows Control Panel. Do not deactivate your license when prompted. If you selected to deactivate your license during uninstallation of your current Client, your will be prompted to reactivate Prepar3D. Please view the Prepar3D v4 Download and Installation Instructions for more information.
Prepar3D Client
General Platform Updates

New Features

Added Network Test UI screen.
Application can now be run over remote connections.
Added native eye tracking support with the HTC Vive Pro Eye.
Added native support for the Varjo VR-1 headset.

New Features (Professional Plus Only)

Added Distributed Interactive Simulation (DIS) auto-connect capability.
Engagement lines can now be drawn in DIS.
Added Common Image Generator Interface (CIGI) collision detection.
Sound now supported in SimOperator.
The scenario Progress Log is now available in SimOperator.
Visual ribbons now render in SimOperator.

Fixes and Improvements

Improved terrain night lighting.
Improved rendering performance.
The IP address box is now focused when entering the Direct IP multiplayer screen.
Slightly reduced the light energy on PBR objects to better match non-PBR object lighting.
Fixed bounding box calculations for models.
Fixed Learning Center button in the Virtual Reality (VR) Settings screen.
Fixed mouse picking on Physically Based Rendering (PBR) textures.
Fixed crash seen in aircraft with fewer propellers than engines.
Fixed issue that caused scripted textures to not refresh correctly.
Fixed memory leak that occurred when models contained invalid animations.
PBR is now supported for autogen trees.
Loading a scenario from the Startup Screen will now return to the Startup Screen instead of immediately launching the scenario.
Fixed offset reflections in VR single pass mode.
User objects with 0 hit points will now collide into objects instead of ignoring crashing.
Fix for texture caching to prevent incorrect terrain tile textures from loading in certain cases.
Improve animation smoothness in multiplayer.
Doubled default send update rate frequency in multiplayer.
Fixed issue preventing the C-130 from respecting the unlimited fuel setting.
Fixed issue causing effects to not draw in some cases when multiple views were open.
Fixed issue preventing the multiplayer host from switching vehicles during a scenario if option was enabled.
Fixed loading issue that could sometimes prevent various buildings from loading.
Errors in custom weather settings are now displayed when opening the UI window.
VR now remains enabled after a scenario reset.
Fixed issue where players could join in the wrong vehicle in some cases in multiplayer.
Various performance improvements to single pass VR.
Currently open views are now preserved when entering multiplayer unless specified by the scenario.
Fixed various cases where the main application window was not blacked out when opening certain UI views.
Added default VR window positions for global panels.
Autorudder is now disabled by default.
Fixed minor visual artifacts with focal points in VR.
Fixed incorrect handling of several escape characters in aircraft configuration files.
Fixed issue preventing panels positioned in 3D space from respecting the ignore input setting.
VR gaze controls now support right clicking.
Fixed various UI issues with saving and loading seasons in the southern hemisphere.
Removed Multiplayer HostControlsScenarioEntities setting. This is now always defaulted to true.
Scenario objects are now serialized by the host instead of loaded from the scenario file by each connected client.
Fixed unwanted collisions between host scenario objects.
Fixed issue preventing scenario entities owned by the host from being damaged.
Fixed issue preventing global custom cameras from refreshing correctly after changing vehicles.
Fixed HMD menu toggle button.
Fixed issue where muting sounds would stop and resume sounds instead of playing at zero volume.
Added temperature checks to particle emitter velocity calculations.
Fixed minor visual issues with tree reflections.
Fixed issue in some ground vehicles where vehicle would attempt to steer when not moving.
Objects will now animate even when not being drawn if they have an object such as a weapon attached to an attachpoint.
Various updates to multiplayer interfaces.
Fixed issue where add-ons placed in the Prepar3D v4 Add-ons folder would not write to the app data configuration file.
Fixed an issue where sounds would not always disable when hitting ‘Q’ or pausing the simulation.
Ribbons added in the Navigation Visuals menu can now have their width configured in the UI.
The multiplayer chat window button now works as a toggle.
White space is now prevented from being sent in the multiplayer chat window.
Various layout and icon changes made to the multiplayer chat UI.
Fixed issue where local client’s chat window player icons would not update as they were talking.
Fixed sound issues when switching views.
Scenario panels can now be opened while viewing an AI aircraft.
Fixed crash that could occur when playing back recordings with effects.
Fixed radio frequency display in the multiplayer chat window.
The chat window no longer closes when entering multiplayer.
Fixed performance issues with the chat window when receiving new chat messages.
Info text is now displayed when using multiplayer voice communications.
Fixed effect placement issues when objects were frozen.
Added Direct Voice key mapping to talk to players directly regardless of radio frequency settings.
Optimized model loading times.
Object visual ribbons can now have unique colors per association ID.
Fixed the ClientEnableVoice setting in multiplayer.
Unprocessed voice data is no longer sent over the network.
Added an additional optional timeout value to ribbons to prevent them from remaining after an object is no longer moving.
Fixed an issue that could cause particle effects to incorrectly emit if the attached model wasn’t animating.
Multiplayer chat notifications are no longer sent when players join the lobby.
Added content errors for duplicate autogen IDs.
Fixed issue with docked panels not displaying correctly when loading a view group.
Voice communication is now enabled by default in multiplayer.
Visual ribbons no longer cast shadows.
Added configuration option to group navigation visual icons.
Added documentation covering the missionpanels.cfg file.
Navigation visual icons are now positioned based on the object’s bounding box.
Added key event to refresh shaders.
Added multiplayer “Ready Players” button so host can request each player enters the ready state when joining the session.
Added additional tooltips to multiplayer UI windows.
Reverted render mode for UI windows back to software-only.
Fixed issues with attached objects being out of sync with parent object.
Fixed an issue where shared cockpit voice intercom could not be disabled by owner aircraft.
Fixed batching issues with objects using two UV channels.
Fixed crash when opening a new docked view with window titles on.
Fixed bug preventing the HideTerrain camera configuration entry from functioning.
Fixed UI hang when closing the Save Scenario screen using the X button.
Fixed crash in the Vehicle Select screen when trying to preview a vehicle with no preview data when in the viewer object.
Fixed issue with the “Use System Time” setting not being respected in some cases.

Fixes and Improvements (Professional Plus Only)

Added delete object callbacks for High Level Architecture (HLA).
Client roles are no longer reset when the scenario is restarted in SimOperator.
Fixed issue preventing SimOperator from executing certain scenario actions.
Attachments are now updated after the loadout is loaded instead of waiting for the first simulation update.
Weapons and countermeasures that fail to register in multiplayer are now removed.
Fixed issue where weapon effects would not draw in some cases after they were detached.
Fixed an issue where “Pause On Lost Focus” would not stop the simulation time in SimOperator.
Updated AttackerBehavior to support firing weapons multiple times within a second.
AttackerBehavior no longer fires against enemies with no health.
Countermeasure System now utilizes the system on flag.
Fixed crash that could occur when ending a scenario with ongoing delay actions.
SimOperator now always starts the scenario paused.
SimOperator will now display the correct player name and “Observer” role in lobby.
The Measuring Tool is now available outside of staging mode in SimOperator.
SimOperator now correctly persists Editor ribbon button and window states.
Fixed inconsistent pause states when staring SimOperator.
ControllableCameras now track weapon system targets.
SimOperator can no longer enter roles or change user ownship.
Fixed issue preventing “Center On” from working correctly in SimOperator.
“Snap to Ground” is now available in SimOperator.
Moving aircraft in SimOperator will no longer cause them to fly.
Fixed issue when canceling an exit in SimOperator could cause the UI to freeze.
Fixed issue that could cause the SimOperator confirmation prompt to appear multiple times on exit.
Fixed issue where both multiplayer and SimOperator confirmation prompts would appear on exit in some cases.
Fixed issue where launching a SimOperator session would sometimes return to the login screen.
Fixed issue preventing recording from playing back correctly in multichannel.

SimDirector Updates

New Features

Added StopFlightRecordingAction to stop a currently playing flight recording on an object.
Play and stop recording actions can now be triggered on player objects.
ScaleformObjects can now be added in Virtual Instructor mode.
Added wait cursor to display when SimDirector is saving the scenario.
Added ControlEventTrigger to process actions based on control input.
Added Association ID object with friend/enemy support.

Fixes and Improvements

Improved performance when making modifications to objects in large scenarios.
Added angular data to the measure tool.
Added additional validation to area objects.
Crash detection is now correctly restored when leaving Virtual and Flight Instructor modes.
Fixed bug preventing tail numbers from being set on entity objects.
Fixed incorrect speed tree rotations when using the rotation gizmo.
Scenario menu prompts can no longer be manually closed by the user without selecting an option.
Simplified AI creation by removing unsupported types.
CylinderPathAreas can now be moved with the mouse.
SetTargetActions can now be applied to player objects.
Goals objects can now be configured to pause the scenario when bringing up the goal completion popup window.
Fixed issue with ObjectActivationActions not updating the next point of interest if applicable.
Touch zoom now continuously updates instead of zooming only when touch was released.
Fixed cases where alert messages would show below the Prepar3D window.
Fixed object placement issues when using touch controls.
Fixed issue with action triggers re-firing before child actions completed.

Prepar3D Content

New Content

Leopard APC AI object.
Tiger APC AI object.
Animated Focal.swf file for use in scenario development.
Donkey and cart scenery objects.

Fixes and Improvements

Added dynamic lighting to fire, explosion, and firework effects.
Updated S-97 external AI model with pilot silhouettes, added configurable tail numbers, and improved rudder animations.
Several C-130 fixes to switches and lights.
Added missing afterburner effect to the R-11 Scud missile.
Improved R-11 Scud Transporter vehicle handling.
Fixed missing light effects on beacon lights and extended the dynamic lighting range.
F-16 wing rails are now always visible instead of being added as an attachment.
Tuned several explosion and impact effects.
Fixed F-16C HUD text to only display when looking through the glass.
Fixed illogical stall speed in F-16A.
Corrected pylon positioning to fix gaps.
Added dynamic lighting to muzzle flash effects.
Fixed issue with Pilot and Sensor reticles missing elements when opened on multiple displays.
Updated autogen models to reduce flickering at long distances.
Updated roles in the example multiplayer scenario to include the C-130 and F-16.
Beacon lights now scale based on distance.
Fixed F-16 afterburner effect to no longer bleed through certain areas of the model.
Updated Indago to reference common pilot and sensor reticle files.
Additional minor tuning to various weapon objects.
Updated Jet Fighter Time Trial scenario to prevent speed build up before selecting aircraft.

Prepar3D Scenery
Fixes and Improvements

Added more building scenery objects.
Added several SpeedTree variants.
Fixed visual errors in various tree models.

Prepar3D SDK
New Features

3ds Max 2019 is now supported.
Added functions to get bounding and crash boxes for objects through the Prepar3D Development Kit (PDK).
Added flag to inhibit rudder input with nose wheel steering on tiller-equipped airplanes.
Kill effects are now customizable for all SimObjects and support different effects when on the ground or in the air.
Additional global panel configuration files can now be added through the add-on system.
Added various PBR material templates and updated model template documentation.
Added function to enable and disable the sending and receiving of DIS packets to the DISManager PDK.
Added simulation and program variables to retrieve position freeze states.
Added InitPosition function to IBaseObject.
Added TargetLeadTime property to the WeaponSim guidance system.
Particle effects emitters can now be configured to scale based on distance.
Added VR PDK Service.
Added Gaze Data Capture PDK sample.
Added GUID validation for modeldef.xml files. Errors will be displayed during 3ds Max export.
Added Unicode support to several SimConnect functions and events.
Added ControllableCamera function to track the current target from the fire control system.

Fixes and Improvements

SimConnect weather observation queries will now return global weather station data if the specified station does not have weather defined.
Fixed incorrect reticle alignment in the Targeting Pod Sample.
Fixed issue where changing global weather over SimConnect would not properly clear clouds and precipitation.
A controllable camera is now automatically created when any corresponding variable is requested from an XML gauge or Scaleform.
Fixed null return case in GetCurrentWindow with multiple views.
Added GetGroundAlt to CameraPDK.
Updated the Oil Rig sample .x and .max files.
Updated AIR sample files in documentation.
Use of global terrain view can now be set using the CameraPDK.
Added CameraSystem PDK functions to control single pass rendering.
Corrected return values in the Sound PDK service.
Fixed an issue where 3D sounds created through the PDK would always loop.
Added missing latitude and attitude key events to the gauges header.
Fixed issue preventing some sample projects from building correctly in debug.
Fixed XtoMDL error that could cause certain elements to be incorrectly flagged as animated.
Updated outdated documentation referencing dll.xml files instead of add-on.xml files.
Fixed issues with camera sensor mode not updating when set using SimConnect.
Updated helicopter sample flight model with min/max collective angles.
Fixed crash when trying to create non-aircraft objects with the SimConnect_AICreateNonATCAircraft function.

The Lockheed Martin Prepar3D team loves hearing about your experiences with Prepar3D at our Forums. The forums also give us an opportunity to listen to your feedback as we continue Prepar3D development. We’ve partnered with our forum users and with several featured developers to continue to bring added features, enhancements, and optimizations all while enabling additional backwards compatibility, making bug fixes, and improving stability.

Thank you for your continued support for Prepar3D.

We hope you find that Prepar3D v4.5 continues to be the most immersive learning, simulation, and training platform available.

-Lockheed Martin

https://www.prepar3d.com/latest-news/

Prepar3D v4.4 Now Available!

Spike2135 — Thu, 13 Dec 2018 04:46:19 +0000

11-28-18

Take to the skies like never before with Prepar3D v4.4! Groundbreaking features and improvements make this the largest and most comprehensive Prepar3D point release yet. Prepar3D v4.4 not only adds extensive new features to the platform, but also includes numerous user and developer requests including multiple fixes identified by the community and further expansion of Prepar3D’s open development architecture.

Physically based rendering brings next level realism in v4.4

A focal point of this release is the core rendering engine has been updated to fully support Physically Based Rendering (PBR) laying the groundwork for next-level realism and unparalleled graphical fidelity in a full earth simulator. New content created using new PBR capabilities will allow all different types of materials, including metals, plastics, concrete, and glass, to be rendered and lit based on their unique physical properties.

Photoreal scenery has never looked better in Prepar3D v4 with new high-resolution texture support offering up to 16 times the detail in previous versions.

In addition, scenery objects can now be drawn at further distances, most add-ons will no longer require a restart when enabling or disabling them inside the application, moon lighting and cloud appearances at night has been overhauled, and to showcase the new PBR pipeline, the native F-16 aircraft materials have been updated to PBR. The release also features an AC11 Commander provided by Carenado and an update making the Indago Unmanned Arial Systems (UAS) a user controllable vehicle. Both vehicles are great examples of how Prepar3D can be used for diverse training and simulation goals – from training classic single engine propeller planes to simulating advanced unmanned systems.

F-16 night takeoff with dynamic aircraft lights and afterburner

Prepar3D Engineering Project Manager Adam Breed commented on the v4.4 release saying, “this is the most significant point update we have made in Prepar3D’s nine year history. We have pushed the platform forward in a major way with this release.” Prepar3D Commercial Lead Rob McCarthy added, “we are looking forward to seeing what the ecosystem creates with the new PBR system. The PBR prototypes we have seen have blown us away and we can’t wait until our end users get their hands on the finished product.”

Experience next generation training now with Prepar3D v4.4!

https://www.prepar3d.com/latest-news/

Prepar3D v4.2 Now Available!

Spike2135 — Sat, 16 Jun 2018 01:11:40 +0000

Taken from Prepar3D website.

Prepar3D v4.2 is available now!

Prepar3D v4.2 continues to improve on the groundbreaking Prepar3D v4 simulation platform. The new v4.2 release welcomes three new user controllable helicopters, new rendering techniques for improved virtual reality (VR) performance, countless legacy bug fixes, and even a couple new exciting experimental features to give users a feel of where the platform is heading!

This is the first release to feature new helicopter capabilities, including scenario controllable artificial intelligence (AI) and autopilot functionality. Additionally, many developer requests were addressed, and we look forward to the Prepar3D ecosystem continuing to create high-end content that pushes simulation boundaries to new limits.

For developers, we have introduced the ability to add autogen grass on airport backgrounds, added interfaces to create custom voice commands, and refined our support for complex vehicle models. Multiple Scaleform panel samples are also included better showcasing some of the newer advanced panel features that available.

All of these enhancements are available now in Prepar3D v4.2!

The Prepar3D v4.2 update is available now and can be downloaded from the Downloads page. If you currently own a valid Prepar3D v4 license there is no charge to update to Prepar3D v4.2. To purchase Prepar3D v4, please visit our online Store.

Prepar3D offers separate updates for the Client, Content, and Scenery. This will make updating faster and easier than ever before. Please be sure to read the Prepar3D v4 Download and Installation Instructions for more details on how to quickly update to the v4.2 release. Please refer to the What’s New below to see what each installer contains. Most users will only want to use the Client installer to update.

You can find a full list of What’s New below.
Release Notes

The following list of updates has been categorized based on the installer required. The Client installer is required for Prepar3D v4.2, however the Content, Scenery, and SDK installers are optional. You must first have Prepar3D v4 installed to utilize the Client only installer. To install the Prepar3D v4.2 Client, you must first uninstall the previous Prepar3D v4.0/v4.1 Client through Programs and Features in Windows Control Panel.

The Prepar3D v4.2 Client update will require you to reactivate your product – with an internet connection it will be automatic.

Please view the Prepar3D v4 Download and Installation Instructions for more information.
Prepar3D Client

General Platform Updates
New Features

Added Single-Pass VR support for improved VR performance.
Added headset selection to the VR menu
Added helicopter AI capabilities
Added helicopter autopilot functionality
Added support for ground based waypoint and wingman AI
Added Voice Control (experimental).

New Features (Professional Plus Only)

Added Distributed Interactive Simulation (DIS) Collision PDU support

Fixes and Improvements

Fixed crash that could occur when moving windows across different GPUs
Fixed issue in VR where the red top-down cursor would only show in the left eye view
Fixed issue that could cause AI to jitter when viewing recordings
Fixed flickering issue in VR when changing to a sensor view for the first time
Fixed bug preventing graphics profile names from saving correctly
Fixed issue with the crash view being misaligned in VR
Fixed issue in the flight planner screen where altitude units would not sync with user preferences
Fixed issue with full screen not correctly blacking out monitors with certain resolution settings
Filenames containing a ‘.’ character are now supported
Added additional VR error messages to assist in debugging common issues
Specified content errors will now only be reported once
Added pop-up message that is shown when graphics driver crashes allowing scenario to be saved before shut down
Fixed issue preventing navigation visual ribbons from properly appearing in instant replay and recordings
Fixed issue where invalid ATC options were assigned to ground vehicles
Fixed issue where commands assigned to numeric keys with modifiers (i.e. shift + 1) would not execute when the ATC window was open
Fixed crash that could occur when having the ATC window open for an extended period of time when using a ground vehicle
Fixed Scaleform crash occurring in various third party add-ons
Corrected time zone processing so the date changes correctly when switching to an airport in a different hemisphere
Fixed several time zone issues including updating GMT references to UTC, updating daylight savings time dates, fixing default time zone locations, and fixing international date line behavior
Added “Message Text” option to enable or disable additional information text messages including opening the aircraft canopy
Fixed issue where Air Traffic views would not correctly sync in VR
Fixed issue preventing HTC Vive headsets from being used on machines with Oculus Software installed
Fixed crash with Ultra Water when using third party add-on aircraft
Fixed crash in Scaleform sound playback
Fixed Unicode error with CustomAction payload strings
Fixed crash that would occur when deleting the last assignment in the Controls user interface
Fixed several issues with the recording system including objects spawned from a SpawnList not appearing, avatar animations not playing, and bookmarks not saving all data
VR settings can be now set to persist
Fixed issue where base AI could overwrite AI behavior states
Fixed issue where heading would be lost when AI tug was turned on
Fixed issue that could cause incorrect or corrupt textures to load when having several scenery add-ons installed through the Add-on Package setup
Updating vehicle airspeed in the map UI no longer causes the pitch and bank to reset back to 0
Autopilot airspeed increment and decrement can now be mapped to keyboard commands
Fixed bug where desktop resolution would not revert to its original value when exiting in some cases
Fixed issue with sky color being incorrect when volumetric fog was disabled
Fixed issue with focal points being incorrectly colored in IR Black Hot camera mode
Minor improvements to terrain paging performance
Camera definitions now use content pathing when loading Scaleform movies
Gauge events and scripts are now processed by the user object when the avatar is detached
Scaleform overlays can now be set to source data from a camera’s target object
Corrected frustum offsets for cameras. Fix corrects Roll being incorrectly handled across the platform for cameras.
Fixed issue with loading third party dlls on Windows 10
Undocked windows now correctly persist their maximized state when application is restored after being minimized
Fixed left-eye lag seen in Oculus Rift VR headsets
Fixed performance and stability issues with Ultra Water on Nvidia 10 series cards
Improved AI waypoint following
Fixed issue where cameras would save incorrect field of view values in some cases
Fixed issue where batched objects would have incorrect positions at high altitudes
Fixed tab order in Fuel and Payload UI and Failures UI
Fixed small freezes that would occur when using the SimConnect text menu
Fixed issue where Scaleform panels would flicker in SLI when undocking views
Fixed issue where F-22 ground radar would flicker in SLI
Improved performance for render-to-texture (RTT) views and plugins in SLI
Improved Dynamic Lighting performance by filtering lights based on distance and size
Adjusted the size of stars in reflections
Fixed crash that could occur when certain jetways would animate
Fixed issue where opening the context menu in undocked views would cause a slight delay
Fixed incorrect tooltips in the Information options page
Fixed issue that would cause text added through SimConnect to draw twice each frame
Fixed cloud lighting inconsistencies between multiple views
Fixed issue that could prevent certain model parts from becoming visible after switching between views

Fixes and Improvements (Professional Plus Only)

IP address of machine is now automatically detected in the DIS menu configuration
Fixed issue that could cause weapons to draw in the incorrect location depending on viewing angles inside the Virtual Cockpit
Fixed issue that prevented the avatar from reloading weapon systems on a scenario load

SimDirector Updates
New Features

Added support for configuring new helicopter AI capabilities
Entities and Mobile Scenery now support AGL altitudes

Fixes and Improvements

Fixed issue which caused scenario cameras to disappear when renamed
Fixed issue where resize cursor would incorrectly appear in certain locations in the Selected Properties view
Fixed crash that could occur when importing object groups
Fixed crash that could occur when playing a flight recording
Fixed incorrect terrain origin with scenario cameras
Fixed issue that would cause objects to disappear after deactivating their corresponding waypoint list
Added validation for missing object references in AI behaviors
Fixed crash that would occur when setting the current waypoint of an object to a value out of range
Fixed issue that prevented focal points from drawing after switching to an external view
Fixed issue where translate and scale gizmos would incorrectly activate when dragging the mouse over them
Fixed issue with drag selection not deselecting appropriate objects
The waypoint window is now opened when creating a waypoint list
Clicking a selected object now deselects all other selected objects
Fixed selection issues seen when dragging icon clusters
SetGaugeActions now persist their values when changing variants of the same vehicle
Fixed issue where scale gizmo could be selected for the user ownship
Fixed crash when running Comprehensive Scenario Validation
Fixed driver crash caused by dragging multiple SpeedTree objects
Fixed issue where moving objects would snap to their original location when moving while the translate gizmo was active
Fixed issue where the rotate gizmo would jitter when selecting certain axes
UI elements no longer lose focus when mouse moves over the 3D map view in Windows 10
Reduced SimDirector loading time
Fixed issue where SimDirector would hang on shutdown with third party add-ons installed
Fixed serialization issue with the ScaleformPanelWindow
Moved mode change buttons to a separate ribbon tab and refactored base ribbon tab layout
Snap to Ground is now set to off by default

Prepar3D Content
New Features

Added CH-53E Super Stallion Marine and Navy variants as default selectable vehicles
Added MH-60R and MH-60S Seahawk variants as default selectable vehicles
F-16A and F-16AM HMD reticles now display in VR
New placeable scenario objects added:
Orion Multi-Purpose Crew Vehicle (MPCV)
Space Launch System (SLS) Block 1
Generic Jet Fighters
Special Forces Boats
Container Ship
Ro-Ro Cargo Ship
Transporter Erector
6×4 Truck
M901 Patriots
M777
Tanker Truck Yellow
Lowboy Semi-Tractor Trailer
Desert Hawk 3.1
Indago UAS

Fixes and Improvements

Updated default avatar cameras to use the avatar as the data source for Scaleform overlays. This corrects errors with the compass when using multiple views.
Improved F-16 HUD readability
Moved UH-60 default eyepoint to center of the seat

Prepar3D Scenery
Fixes and Improvements

Fixed large trench running through Syria
Fixed coastline dips in Guam
Fixed runway Z-order issues at KNRB

Prepar3D SDK
New Features

Added Voice Control PDK plugin and service to add custom voice commands to the system (experimental)
Added Voice Control SimConnect sample
Windows and panels can now be placed in 3D space using the PDK
Added AttachPointService providing location and orientation of attached objects
Grass can be added as autogen on airport backgrounds
Added SimConnect camera type to create external AI cameras
Added ability to listen to SimConnect_Text messages with SimConnect_SubscribeToSystemEvent
Scaleform panel samples for:
Airspeed Indicator
Altimeter Instrument
Artificial Horizon Indicator
Autopilot
Control Display Unit
Cyclic and Collective
Heading Gauge
Magnetic Compass
Multi-Function Display
Vertical Speed Indicator

Fixes and Improvements

Fixed bug preventing VK_NUMPAD keys from being handled correctly through SimConnect
Add-on dlls now automatically search current directory for dependent dlls
Fixed issue where SimConnect_RequestFacilitiesList would not return the complete list of relevant facilities in some cases
Fixed incorrect pointer type in GetParameter function in gauges.h header
Unified SimConnect and simulation variable functionality by providing the same capabilities in each system
SimConnect_RequestAttachPointData now correctly returns the requested object id and also supports SIMCONNECT_OBJECT_ID_USER
Fixed Unicode bug when exporting models with duplicate parts
Fixed bug preventing the ExternalSim sample project from building in debug.

The Lockheed Martin Prepar3D team loves hearing about your experiences with Prepar3D at our Forums. The forums also give us an opportunity to listen to your feedback as we continue Prepar3D development. We’ve partnered with our forum users and with several featured developers to continue to bring added features, enhancements, and optimizations all while enabling additional backwards compatibility, making bug fixes, and improving stability.

Thank you for your continued support for Prepar3D.

We hope you find that Prepar3D v4.2 continues to be the most immersive learning, simulation, and training platform available.

Prepar3D v4.1 is available now!

Spike2135 — Wed, 22 Nov 2017 00:42:20 +0000

Prepar3D v4.1 is available now!

The Prepar3D team is excited to release the first update to v4! We have been hard at work building upon the major changes made in version 4 to continue making Prepar3D the most feature-rich, stable, and performant training platform available. This release includes numerous enhancements, new features, and bug fixes based on user and developer feedback.

Virtual Reality (VR) is now available in any view and includes an interactive mouse pointer enabling cockpit interaction. Aircraft interiors are brought to life with support for 4k textures and cockpit rain effects. Many updates were made to further improve stability, add-on compatibility, and performance in this release.

Trailing the F-16 in Prepar3D v4.1 – Download v4.1 today!

The development pipeline and toolset has been updated to further optimize complex models. New features to the Prepar3D Development Kit (PDK) include built-in support for cockpit rain and snow visual effects, support for 3D window positioning, advanced samples for Helmet Mounted Displays (HMDs) and targeting pods, and stability improvements and bug fixes throughout the content creation process. Prepar3D is focused on giving developers the tools they need to be more efficient and create the highest quality products available.

The Prepar3D v4.1 update is available now and can be downloaded from the Downloads page. If you currently own a valid Prepar3D v4 license there is no charge to update to Prepar3D v4.1. To purchase Prepar3D v4, please visit our online Store.

Prepar3D offers separate updates for the Client, Content, and Scenery. This will make updating faster and easier than ever before. Please be sure to read the Prepar3D v4 Download and Installation Instructions for more details on how to quickly update to the v4.1 release. It is strongly recommended to only download and install the Client as there are only minor updates to content and scenery for this release. Please refer to the What’s New below to see if these fixes are required for your training needs.

Spike's Piper Warrior Competition!

Spike2135 — Tue, 29 Aug 2017 16:35:47 +0000

To celebrate the release of Spike's Mega Livery Pack this is Spike's Piper Warrior Competition!

How to enter?
You automatically enter the competition if you buy or have bought Spike's Piper Warrior, before October 1st 2017 12:00am AU-EST from Flight Sim Store or Sim Market. Easy.

If you have already bought this Mega Livery Pack, and you are one of the winners, you will be refunded.

What you win?
5 random winners will be selected from Flight Sim Store and 5 random winners will be selected from SimMarket. These winners will receive an email directing them to their free copy of Spike's Mega Livery Pack!

Spike's Mega Livery Pack has 21 new and different liveries to add to the original while still maintaining high frame rates.

As per simmer's suggestions these liveries are based on real, military and fictional paint schemes both with and without wheel fairings giving you a total of 44 Piper Warrior variants!

Buy Spike's Piper Warrior from:
http://www.flightsimstore.com/product_info.php?products_id=3647
or
http://secure.simmarket.com/spike-productions-piper-warrior-pa-28-fsx-p3d-(en_11118).phtml

Sim Market buyers note:
Due to Sim Market's unfortunate 'no collaboration' policy, the 5 winners from Sim Market will need to register (free) with Flight Sim Store to collect their prize.

Spike's Mega Livery Pack!

Spike2135 — Sat, 26 Aug 2017 21:31:21 +0000

Due to many requests it's coming soon: Spike's Mega Livery Pack for Spike's Piper Warrior!

This mega livery pack has 21 new and different liveries to add to the original while still maintaining high frame rates.

As per simmer's suggestions these liveries are based on real, military and fictional paint schemes both with and without wheel fairings giving you a total of 44 Piper Warrior variants!

Countries include:

South Africa (ZS-JNN)
Brazil (PP-BOK)
Canada (C-GQXT)
CCCP (RA-01559)
USSR (412825R) Svetlana Kapanina edition SU-26 livery
Colombia (HK-3544-G)
Denmark (OY-BTU) Stefan G. Rasmussen tribute edition
France (F-GUAR)
Germany (D-IDFD)
India (VT-NDA)
Italy (I-BJOE)
Japan (JA3886)
Netherlands (PH-SRN)
Singapore (9V-BOJ) Singapore Youth Flying Club livery
Spain (EC-JVQ)
Sweden (SE-GBY)
Switzerland (HB-PLL)
United Kingdom (G-BFLG)/(G-BTBC)
United States of America (N43BD) R.A. "Bob" Hoover signature edition
United States of America (N2932X) Legacy Aviation Flight Training livery

Buy from:
Flight Sim Store[www.flightsimstore.com]

https://youtu.be/AwwIe-R-PPY

Prepar3D v4 – Available Now!

Spike2135 — Sat, 08 Jul 2017 22:27:00 +0000

THE LINKS IN THE ARTICLE HAVE BEEN DISABLED. PLEASE CLICK HERE[www.prepar3d.com] TO GO TO THE P3D V4.0 PAGE WITH WORKING LINKS.

CLICK HERE for PREPAR3D V4 environment lighting preview video - My first look

"05-30-17

Prepar3D v4 - Available Now for Purchase & Download

Prepar3D v4 – Available Now for Purchase and Download!

Prepar3D v4 is now available for purchase and digital download directly at the Prepar3D Store!

The Prepar3D v4 release brings many exciting changes and enhancements to the platform. This new release completely changes the simulation landscape with a comprehensive baseline update to a 64-bit architecture. Higher resolution visuals, more objects, increased data precision, larger scenarios, and improved performance are now all possible at levels never seen before in the product’s history. The sky’s not the limit!

Additionally, the Prepar3D v4 release brings dynamic lighting, rain/snow particles, global 3D trees, increased autogen draw distances, a fully reworked software development kit (SDK), new default vehicles, and an extensive list of other features and improvements.

Prepar3D v4 continues the tradition of being the most affordable high-fidelity visual simulation platform on the market. The detailed list of exciting new features and capabilities can be found below!
What do you need to know before considering purchasing Prepar3D v4?

The minimum and recommended Prepar3D v4 system requirements can be found here.
What are the license options and pricing for Prepar3D v4?

To see which version of Prepar3D is right for you, please reference the License Options page.

Acceptable uses of Prepar3D include simulation, learning, and training.

As provided in our End User License Agreement, the Prepar3D application is not to be used, offered, sold or distributed through markets or channels for use as a personal/consumer entertainment product.

You can see pricing directly on our Prepar3D Store.
Is Prepar3D v4 still backwards compatible with legacy content?

Yes in many cases. Most aircraft and scenery add-ons will be compatible with Prepar3D v4, but in some cases developers will need to update their products due to the conversion from 32-bit to 64-bit. For any questions on third party compatibility, please check with the developer of that add-on content.
Are any new vehicles included in Prepar3D v4?

Yes! Please see the Vehicle Library for complete details.
Will previous version of Prepar3D still be available for purchase?

Yes. While development will no longer continue on legacy versions, we will still offer those version for purchase. Many platforms have been developed using legacy versions and we want to ensure that there is no concern or interruption to those companies or efforts.
I have a previous version of Prepar3D, do I get an upgrade or a discount for Prepar3D v4?

Prepar3D v4 is considered a new product release.

If you have purchased a previous version of Prepar3D within 60 days, you can request a refund and then purchase the desired license of Prepar3D v4. Please see the refund policy for more information.

There are no exchanges, upgrades, or discounts available.
I have a developer’s license for a previous version of Prepar3D. How do I update to Prepar3D v4?

If you are a monthly subscriber, you can cancel your current subscription and purchase a new Prepar3D v4 developer subscription. If you wish to keep your previous monthly subscription you can keep renewing it and purchase a new Prepar3D v4 developer subscription. All major versions can be concurrently installed on the same machine. If you have purchased a pre-paid developer subscription and wish to change it out to a v4 developer subscription, please email licensing@prepar3d.com with your request.
Prepar3D v4 New Features
General Platform Updates

64-bit simulation architecture
Unicode compatible
Modernized User Interface (UI) design for quick navigation and customization
Updated native virtual reality (VR) support for Oculus Rift and HTC Vive
Updated vector data (coastlines, lakes, rivers, roads, rails, parks, streams and utility lines) for:

Africa
Middle East (Israel, Turkey, Syria, Lebanon, Iran, Iraq, Afghanistan, Pakistan, Saudi Arabia, and more)
Southeast Europe (Greece, Albania, Macedonia, Bulgaria, Romania, Black Sea, and more)
Southeast Asia (Indonesia, Philippines, Vietnam, Cambodia, Laos, Thailand, Myanmar, Papua New Guinea, Solomon Islands, and more)
Updated custom 3D model placement in Athens, Egypt, Israel, Dubai and Hong Kong
Hundreds of new updated generic 3D model buildings in Tel Aviv and Hong Kong
Updated Shuttle Radar Topography Mission (SRTM) 90m digital elevation for Southeast Asia and Middle East regions
Updated native mission gauges to Scaleform
Views and panels can now be docked into any undocked view
Updated multiplayer voice chat codec – higher quality chat audio
Expanded ribbon drawing capabilities in the Navigation Visuals screen including drawing based on vehicle type and the ability to change color per category
Added video recording capability. Can be assigned to a key event in the UI.
Control Tower can now be selected in the Select Airport screen
Custom cameras can now be saved on a scenario or global level
Material temperatures – IR sensor views now react accordingly
3D trees (SpeedTree) integrated into autogen system. This feature can be toggled on and off in the UI under Options – World (Dynamic 3D Autogen Vegetation).
New 3D rain/snow system. This feature can be toggled on and off in the UI under Options – Weather (Detailed Precipitation).
Dynamic lighting support
Support for local SpeedTree wind effects
Support for higher resolution ground textures
Autogen visibility range can now be configured
Updated various textures including runways, taxiways, hangars, and terminals
Added SceneryLodOrigin and TerrainLodOrigin fields to camera definitions preventing terrain paging issues when switching between certain views.
New and updated default vehicles:

F-22 Raptor (Updated)
F-35A Lightning II (Updated)
F-16A
F-16AM
F-16C
Lockheed Electra 10A
Milviz P-38L
Sikorsky MH-60K (Updated)
Sikorsky S-70A (Updated)
Sikorsky UH-60A (Updated)
Sikorsky UH-60L (Updated)
Sikorsky UH-60M (Updated)
Sikorsky UH-60Q (Updated)
New default avatars:

Army Infantry
Navy Male Blue Camouflage
Rebel Male (1/2)
Soldier Desert
Soldier Jungle
Soldier Spec Ops
Soldier Swat
Soldier Winter
Arab Male Casual (1/2/3)
Steering Set controls can now be set in the UI
Added new white smoke marker particle effect

Professional Plus Only

F-16 aircraft has weapons and countermeasures
Specific avatars have weapons
New defensive flare countermeasure
Additional advanced graphics features for low latency training devices

SDK and SimConnect

Compiler and SDK updated to Visual Studio 2015
Scripting capabilities (Scenery/Model/Material)
Added PDK functions to draw primitive objects
Reorganized and updated SDK Documentation and samples
Support for loading managed dll add-ons
Avatar object collision can now be configured
Added temperature value and scripting to materials
Specific cameras can be configured to not output sound when active
Custom materials now supported for runways, taxiways, and aprons
Added PDK service for reporting plugin errors
Added IsSelectableVehicle override to Aircraft and Sim configs allowing vehicle to bypass the category based selection filter
Precipitation rate now exposed through ISimObject, Simulation, and Object variables
Added rope visual effect support to SDK
Added detail texture material scripting support including offset, rotation, blend weight, blend mode, and alpha channel support
The PDK is now accessible through the Panels SDK
Panel API now available through the PDK
Added Environment Force Service to PDK
Added IgnorePostProcess entry to camera definition to disable HDR or FXAA on a per camera basis
Added interfaces to play sounds in xml gauges using Lua
Added second UV channel in model exports and files
Exposed Final Alpha Blend material property to material scripts
Weather information now available through RPN and Lua scripts
Added UV offset property to material scripts and shaders
Update materials to support additional Detail Alpha Flags
Updated Material Scripting to support second UV Channel and new Detail Properties
Friendly names can now be added to control events" - Lockheed Martin

Piper Warrior For P3D

Spike2135 — Fri, 29 Jan 2016 03:26:54 +0000

The first Piper Warrior ever for the P3D platform is now v1.2.
Bigger and better than ever!

P3D V4 installer now available in flight sim stores online and coming soon to FSPilotShop.

Flight Sim Store[www.flightsimstore.com]

SimMarket[secure.simmarket.com]

Spike's Piper Warrior v1.2 slide show preview
https://youtu.be/3bI0KqTBqCY

3D V4 installation guide (if you don't have the P3D v4 installer
https://youtu.be/f6AMl26aByU

Made by a pilot for aviation enthusiasts.

The original Piper Warrior for P3D: A fantastic add-on, at an incredible price!

Spike is proud to bring you the first Piper Warrior add-on ever for Prepar3D after many months of long hours, hard work and development.
The flight performance and characteristics of this add-on are exceptional with outstanding reviews from both users and websites alike. Many flight simmer's have also used this add-on in conjunction with their flight training.

This version is based on the real Piper Warrior I (VH-MSG) owned by Yarra Valley Flight Training in Coldstream (YCEM) Melbourne, Australia, which has a custom livery and an upgraded engine that delivers 160 HP.

FEATURES:

Version V1.2
Install-and-go (no internet required)
Installer with options for Prepar3D V2/V3/V4 and FSX.
Official flying school livery textures (from photos of actual aircraft) and digitally enhanced with pixel-by-pixel details including tone mapping, dirt, oil stains, oil streaks, stone chips and rust.
Instrument layout modeled on flight school aircraft.
Prepa3D V2.x, V3.x, V4.x and FSX compatible.
Real warrior sounds.
Working circuit breakers.
Warrior gauges.
Real flight dynamics and flight model.
Cabin lighting and OAT gauge windows.
Printable start procedures, takeoff performance, landing performance, and C.G. loading charts.

********************************************************************
UPDATES:
Any future updates are free and will be automatically emailed to you upon purchase of this aircraft or when new updates are released.

If you have not received it, email Spike using the email address on your order receipt.

Please check your 'Junk Box' and make sure your email filter allows this through.

********************************************************************
UPDATE V1.2:

Beta testers:
Pat Cox
TigerTigerM

*Updated skin friction drag so it is even more true to life. Climbing, cruising and descending IAS is now even more accurate to the real Piper Warrior I model.

*Flaps drag has also been improved and made more accurate.

*Strobe and recognition lights are now on their correct switches.

*Sound files have been updated to solve "stuttering" sound effects at cruising RPM of 2,400.

*gyro sound volume has been reduced to a more acceptable level.

*Panel and aircraft files have been cleaned up to help improve frame rates.

*Altimeter discrepancy amended.

*Because P3D does not allow images in the knee-board, the checklists have been added to a separate folder, and are printable.

*Updated landing light to suit when P3D dynamic lighting setting is "on".

*Navigation, strobe and recognition lights placed in the correct position on the wing tips.

*Rudder trim sensitivity adjusted for easier and more accurate use.

*Pixel by pixel updated external texture details with:
correct alignments
sticker under door handle
tone and noise mapping
oil streams from engine areas and vent
oil stains on front spat
dirt on spats
stone chips on spats
rust coming from door hinges and VHF antenna

********************************************************************
UPDATE V1.1:
"Some people have asked me to reduce the amount of propeller effect (P-factor & slipstream) on the rudder (yaw). Understandable!
There is a balance needed between realism and enjoyment, and while the aircraft dynamics are quite realistic for our flight controls, I understand that everyone uses different equipment, with different sensitivities.

So here is the new update! The P-factor is still present, but only very slightly. This can make for a more enjoyable Piper Warrior experience as you do not need to adjust the rudder trim as much, or as frequently."

Prepar3D V3.1

Spike2135 — Fri, 22 Jan 2016 12:47:47 +0000

Prepar3D V3.1 is out, get it wheile it's hot.

Click here for LM website[www.prepar3d.com]

Prepar3D V3.0

Spike2135 — Sun, 25 Oct 2015 23:40:01 +0000

Good news, Prepar3D version 3.0 is out.

Bad news, get your wallets ready to buy it all over again.

The change log from 2.5 to 3.0 can be found here if you want to see why LM are justifying charging $200.... again.
Click here to see what's changed in P3D from V2.5 to V3.0[prepar3d.com]

Comment below and share what you think about it.

Froogle Sim P3D review
https://youtu.be/xfz6eTqDPxc

Jordan King P3D V2.5 Vs 3.0 side-by-side
https://youtu.be/O8WBLBleUr0