Technology

Cockpit

Visual realism of the cockpit is achieved by the following factors:

• detailed 3D design;
• realistic photo-texture;
• 3D cockpit modeling;
• instrument details.

Here is what a wire, 3D model of a Su-27 cockpit looks like.

Comparing a game screenshot to a photo of a real Su-27 cockpit, you can see how amazingly close the LockOn cockpit is to the real one. Here is a photo of a real Su-27 cockpit.

This is a screenshot of the Su-27 cockpit in LockOn. Quite similar, yes?

Landscape representation

For rural areas, the terrain must be rendered at great distances. LockOn does this without repeating textures. Texture density is about 10 m.

Here we see a close view of the terrain. Texture density is about 1 m, with highly detailed ground objects.

This is a view from ground level. Texture density is about 20 cm, with highly detailed ground objects, moving civilian transport, etc.

A mountain view: steep mountains, snow, ice, and rocky outcrops.

The Caucasus foothills: pine forests, alpine meadows, stony tundra, and permanent snow.

Here is a view that shows the many details of the LockOn landscape: Urban areas, industrial buildings, parks, woods, highways and railways with natural and smooth curves.

Naval ports are full of unique buildings, moving cranes, and facilities.

Airports are equipped with a great variety of specialized buildings: control towers, air traffic control stations, hangars, etc.

Graphical effects

The sky is fully calculated with the use of elevation shaders by Perez analytical model.

Overcast with the use of pre-ray traced elevation maps.

Cumulus clouds using volume noise textures and anisotropic scattering.

Shadows on the ground from cumulus clouds are calculated.

Volumetric sun beams.

Light sources are calculated from lightning and illumination devices.

Fresnel environment reflection

Self-shading of objects with the use of depth textures

Scratches on the canopy with the use of bump mapping with mirror flare spots.

Perlin noise for smoke effect modeling

Fire using procedural volume textures

Optional number of point and directional light sources

Per pixel color modulation for weathered surface effect

Heat blur with the use of noise textures

Per pixel calculation of environment bump mapping

Volume noise textures for explosions of various types: land surface, water surface, and air

A great variety of weather conditions: rain, snow, mist, haze.

Aerodynamics

Realistic flight dynamics are a characteristic of the Flanker line of simulators. LockOn naturally continues this tradition.

• In the dynamic model, non-simplified motion equations are used. Such equations do not overlook inertial characteristics of the plane.
• In the model of the engine, real thrust - fuel consumption dependence on flight speed and altitude is considered. This provides real flight characteristics (acceleration, rate of climb, ceiling, maximum and minimum speed, flight range and time).
• Non-linear corrections at high angles of attack are taken into account. This enables the ability to model flight at supercritical angles of attack and also stall modes and spins.
• For more complicated modes, animation elements are used, for example, for the so called aerobatic "cobra" for Su-27, Su-33 and Mig-29.