MetaVR’s VRSG to Provide Visuals for HH-60G Pave Hawk Simulator

MetaVR has provided visuals for a new HH-60G Pave Hawk Multi-Mission Crew Trainer (MMCT) delivered to the U.S. Air National Guard (ANG) at Kirtland Air Force Base (AFB) in Albuquerque, NM. The simulator, which will be used to train HH-60G pilots/copilots, and gunner and hoist operator crew, was delivered to the ANG by program prime contractor, J.F. Taylor, Inc.

MetaVR has supplied seven Virtual Reality Scene Generator (VRSG) real-time 3D licenses to provide out-the-window views with near 20/20 visual acuity for the MMCT’s twelve 4K projectors. VRSG also provides visuals for the HH-60G forward-looking infrared camera views and a belly-hatch LED display. Two additional VRSG licenses will support spares and development systems.

The Pave Hawk MMCT includes a purpose-designed simulator dome built by Immersive Display Solutions. The dome wraps around the cockpit, left and right door gunner positions and hoist operator training positions with image-corrected large field-of-view images on a display that combines spherical, oblate, cylindrical and flat geometry into a single, visually coherent image. The projected 3D environment is driven by 12 native 4K Sony GTZ-280 simulation projectors blended on the display using ImmersaView’s SimVisuals warp and blend solution. The simulator also runs Battlespace Simulations’ Modern Air Combat Environment.

For the project, MetaVR built a high-resolution, geospecific terrain of the airfield at Kirtland AFB, in round-earth geocentric Metadesic format with 15cm per pixel area blended into MetaVR's 1mpp CONUS++ imagery, for rendering in VRSG. The 3D terrain environment includes a detailed runway model including taxiway markings, airport signage, windsocks, navigational aids, lighting systems, runway distance remaining signs and real-world flight line buildings, including the Kirtland AFB control tower. The 3D terrain also includes a geospecific model of the Auxiliary Helicopter Training Field for helicopter pilot training. The terrain can be updated according to customer needs.

“The solutions we have provided for the HH-60G Pave HawkMMCT highlight how VRSG is differentiated from ‘game simulation systems’ forthe military training market,” Garth Smith, President of MetaVR, commented.“Our VRSG image generator is designed to meet the needs of military customerswho require geospecific imagery for these training profiles – it allowshelicopter pilots to fly low and navigate using visual cues from real-worldterrain in a round-earth environment. Because of this, the various elementssupplied by MetaVR – including sensor and external visuals and the geospecificterrain in which it is depicted – help bring this HH-60G Pave Hawk MMCT tolife.

“Procedurally-generated terrain used in ‘game’ stylesimulators typically does not match the real world closely, and therefore itcannot be used to train helicopter pilots as effectively to fly nap-of-the-earthor navigate with visual landmarks.”

The MMCT also runs a high-resolution HH-60G model built byMetaVR to depict the interior of the helicopter. The model includes anarticulated M2 .50 caliber machine gun and gun mounts for gunnery training,camera gimbal, plus standard damage states and switch states for cargo doors,refueling port, and power plant.

The HH-60G Pave Hawk MMCT is set to enter operationaltraining with the ANG in the near future.