April 16, 2020 - News Update

[Lefteris Kalamaras]

Hello everyone,

I wanted to take the opportunity to first of all extend our hopes and wishes that everyone is feeling well and safe from the COVID-19 pandemic that has befallen the world. Please be careful to follow your government's instructions and advice so that this can become part of stories and folklore we all one day tell our grandchildren.

Lockheed Martin's release of Prepar3D v5 is now behind us and I would also want to take a moment to discuss our roadmap regarding updates for the already released product line and a bit of detail on what the future holds regarding our upcoming releases.

 

Prepar3D v4.5 - New HotFix 3 was released (did anybody notice?)

First of all - while the spotlight has been on the P3Dv5 release - LM also sent out an update to P3Dv4, the new version being v4.5HF3. This will require that our existing products be updated to support it, so expect a quick compatibility-only update to roll out within the next few days, once our beta testers have taken some time to ensure everything still works as before. This update will strictly be for v4.5 HF3 compatibility reasons and will not add new functionality or features. NOTE: If you update to the latest P3D v4.5 HF3 before this compatibility update is released, we cannot and will not provide support for any problems that might surface, other than to say "please roll back until our compatibility update is out".

Prepar3D v5 - What is new? What can work?

We are deep in the process of testing our product line with the new platform. As a lot of you are also discovering now, there are a lot of underlying engine code changes in that base platform that are causing us to take time to ensure that we can safely release the products to you. Most of that effort revolves around the change from DX11 to DX12, but also there are some PBR modeling updates that we are looking to take advantage of as well, going into the P3Dv5 world.

We are also investigating what the effect of DX12 will be on our testers with older / less powerful graphics cards, as reports are already coming in where users are running out of VRAM causing their sim to either crash unexpectedly or show the DXGI error that means their graphics card couldn't handle something and crashed the sim. We are aware that LM are also actively looking into this matter, so we'll make sure to keep you updated with our findings as well.

Product updates and roadmap

As I've explained in previous announcements, our development team focus has been on the new exciting Sharklets add-on, however we have also been adding new features and updating our existing product line in parallel with the Sharklets effort. We are looking forward to releasing these to you in the coming weeks - I would like to take the opportunity here to list the most significant of these additions and updates.

Note that the order I am presenting the product line below is most likely going to be the order that our products will be rolling out, but this as always is tentative and subject to change at any time.

FSLabs A320-X

Those of you who have been with us since the FSX days know that we continuously update and improve on already released products for years after they first come out. The A320-X is a true testament to this philosophy, so we are going to be releasing several exciting features and new logic. Among the most notable of the updates and new features that the A320-X platform has received are:

• Added S8 software updates to the FMGS
  • MDA/DH replaced with BARO/RADIO
  • UPDATE AT deprecated
  • IRS INIT page updated
  • FIX INFO pages updated
  • DMC updates for Profile/VDEV and approach identifiers
  • Flight Guidance NPA logic revised

• Added CPDLC systems
• Added DCDU displays
• Several external model and virtual cockpit improvements
• All new PBR textures on the external IAE and CFM models

That last part (PBR textures) requires that we release an updated paint-kit to go along with the updated model, to support the necessary PBR changes. We expect to also roll out new versions of our FSLabs-supported liveries for the models very shortly after the main product release that will feature those individual liveries in PBR textures.

 

FSLabs A321-X

We expect the A321-X product to be released relatively shortly after the A320-X update. It will also receive the updated S8 version of the FMGS logic and benefit from those code changes that the base A320-X platform receives. We're also looking into some PBR enhancements that can be added to the model, mainly for when it loads into the newer P3Dv5 platform.

 

FSLabs A319-X

While our testers are busy testing the A321-X update, we will also be updating the A319-X to receive the same amount of love and attention shown to its bigger brethren. This means we'll also be updating the external model to receive PBR textures and add the same FMGS, CPDLC and DCDU updates as in the other two aircraft variants. Expect this to drop sometime after the A321-X, followed closely with an updated paint-kit and PBR textured liveries, in a staggered roll-out release.

 

FSLabs A320-X SL / A321-X SL "Sharklets"

We have been paying special attention to our upcoming NEW expansion product, the "Sharklets", as it contains not one, but two aircraft variants, the A320-X SL and the A321-X SL, each having two individual engine variants - CFM and IAE, released together as a single product package, at an attractive price.

I've been noticing several posts on social media asking why this is taking as long as it does as it's "just a few model changes on the end of the wings and some painting". Oh how I wish it were so... but it's not. Here's a by-far-not-all-inclusive list of the major differences / updates and new items that are in this product package:

• Electronic Flight Control System
  • Load Alleviation Function (LAF)
  • Aileron Anti-droop system
• Flight Model:
  • Each of the four variants operates within a narrow margin of operational data, making this a true simulation of the specific aircraft, giving customers the unique opportunity to discover the intricate details and flying characteristics that until now, only pilots could comment on.
• FMGS S8 version update (as above)

• Fuel System:
  • New fuel system supporting center tank jet pumps
  • Updated FQIC and FLSCU logic
• Updated FWC to latest software standards
• Updated SDAC to latest software standards
• New ISIS model
• New DU LCD colorset for better contrast
• DDRMI now optional
• SATCOM Radome now optional
• iPad-style Electronic Flight Bag now optional
• Lighting:
  • All lights are now LED
  • Each LED light has accurate warm up / cool down times (exclusive FSL feature through FSLSpotlights technology)
  • Anti-strobe blocker option to prevent cockpit glare
• Oh, and did I mention the sharklets added to the wings? Fun aside, the external model features many differences - some subtle, some not so much, like the upper wing to body belly fairing which is new... (see if you can spot them in the images below)

 

Will there be a cost involved for the updates to roll into P3Dv5?

No. The updates to all our existing products will be free of charge for existing customers, so you can continue to purchase P3Dv4 versions today and not worry that upgrading into P3Dv5 will cost extra. However, please keep in mind that this transition is not easy or simple for our development team, so there might be a period of time required while the details are worked out.

 

Can I take my existing A320-X/A319-X/A321-X and copy the files over into P3Dv5?

No. This will not work. If you manually attempt this and break your product by doing so, our support staff will not be able to assist you in recovering it, sorry, you're on your own!

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One last thing, and as I do with most of my announcements: as a way of saying thank you very much for your continued support, I've added some screenshots the team collected for your viewing pleasure!

Stay safe please!