Aviation & Aerospace · head to head
AviaSIM Pro vs Lockheed Martin Prepar3D
AviaSIM Pro
Aviation & Aerospace
Professional flight simulation and pilot training platform
- From
- $179/session
- Rated
- -
Lockheed Martin Prepar3D
Aviation & Aerospace
Professional-grade flight simulation and training platform
- From
- $9.99/month
- Rated
- -
The short version
- Each has a real cost: AviaSIM Pro limited to civilian flight simulation experience, not professional pilot certification training; Lockheed Martin Prepar3D high system resource requirements with 85 GB base installation and 32 GB RAM recommended
- They diverge on capability: AviaSIM Pro covers High-fidelity flight models, Lockheed Martin Prepar3D covers Flight simulation.
Where they differ
Only the attributes on which AviaSIM Pro and Lockheed Martin Prepar3D actually diverge.
| Attribute | AviaSIM Pro | Lockheed Martin Prepar3D |
|---|---|---|
| Starting price | $179/session | $9.99/month |
| Pricing model | Unknown | subscription |
| Platforms | In-person facility | Windows, Vr |
| Founded | 2012 | 2010 |
Identical on both: free tier (No), user rating (Not yet rated), category (Aviation & Aerospace).
What each one covers
Drawn from each product's published feature list. An absence here means we hold no record of it - not that the product lacks it.
Only in AviaSIM Pro
- High-fidelity flight models
- Real-time weather simulation
- Emergency procedure training
- Multi-crew coordination
- Performance analytics
- Flight deck hardware
- LMS systems
- Airline training databases
Only in Lockheed Martin Prepar3D
- Flight simulation
- Aircraft systems
- Realistic physics
- Training scenarios
- Performance analysis
- Hardware controllers
- VR systems
- Custom aircraft
Both cover
- Motion platforms
- Data encryption
- Windows support
What people use each for
The jobs each tool is most often brought in to do.
AviaSIM Pro
- Initial type ratingnot Lockheed Martin Prepar3D
- Recurrent trainingnot Lockheed Martin Prepar3D
- Emergency proceduresnot Lockheed Martin Prepar3D
- CRM trainingnot Lockheed Martin Prepar3D
- Proficiency checksnot Lockheed Martin Prepar3D
Lockheed Martin Prepar3D
- Pilot trainingnot AviaSIM Pro
- Type rating trainingnot AviaSIM Pro
- Proficiency maintenancenot AviaSIM Pro
- Scenario trainingnot AviaSIM Pro
- Aircraft developmentnot AviaSIM Pro
Where each one falls short
Documented limitations, not opinions. Every one is a constraint you would hit in normal use.
AviaSIM Pro
- Limited to civilian flight simulation experience, not professional pilot certification training
- Locations concentrated in specific cities, limiting accessibility for most potential users
- High session costs may be prohibitive for recreational learners ($179 minimum for 60 minutes)
Lockheed Martin Prepar3D
- High system resource requirements with 85 GB base installation and 32 GB RAM recommended
- Expensive Professional and Professional Plus licenses for commercial and business use
- Limited backward compatibility with older 32-bit aircraft modules
- SimDirector scenario creation tool requires programming knowledge for advanced customization
Pricing, plan by plan
AviaSIM Pro
$179/session- Discovery Package$179/60 min session
- Full-size commercial cockpit
- Professional instructor
- 180-degree HD displays
- Pilot Introductory Program$549/240 min session
- Half-day immersion
- Theory and hands-on practice
- Experienced instructor pilots
Lockheed Martin Prepar3D
$9.99/month- Standard$9.99/month
- Flight simulation
- Basic aircraft
- Training tools
- Professional$99.99/month
- Advanced simulation
- Full aircraft systems
- Advanced training
Which should you pick?
Choose AviaSIM Pro if
- You need high-fidelity flight models.
- You work on In-person facility.
- You also want real-time weather simulation.
Choose Lockheed Martin Prepar3D if
- You need flight simulation.
- You work on Windows, Vr.
- You also want aircraft systems.
Questions people ask
- Is AviaSIM Pro or Lockheed Martin Prepar3D better?
- Neither clearly leads. AviaSIM Pro starts at $179/session and Lockheed Martin Prepar3D at $9.99/month, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
- Which is cheaper, AviaSIM Pro or Lockheed Martin Prepar3D?
- AviaSIM Pro starts at $179/session and Lockheed Martin Prepar3D at $9.99/month.
- Does AviaSIM Pro or Lockheed Martin Prepar3D run on more platforms?
- AviaSIM Pro runs on In-person facility. Lockheed Martin Prepar3D runs on Windows, Vr.
- What is AviaSIM Pro best used for?
- AviaSIM Pro is most often used for initial type rating, recurrent training, emergency procedures, crm training. Of those, initial type rating and recurrent training are not what Lockheed Martin Prepar3D is typically brought in for.
- What can AviaSIM Pro do that Lockheed Martin Prepar3D cannot?
- AviaSIM Pro covers High-fidelity flight models, Real-time weather simulation, Emergency procedure training, Multi-crew coordination. Lockheed Martin Prepar3D covers Flight simulation, Aircraft systems, Realistic physics, Training scenarios. Both handle Motion platforms, Data encryption, Windows support.
Answered from the vendors’ own pages
AviaSIM Pro: What does an AviaSIM flight experience include?
An AviaSIM session puts you in a full-size commercial aircraft cockpit with 180-degree high-definition displays. You learn how airliners work, handle the controls, and experience takeoff, cruising, and landing under instructor guidance.
SourceLockheed Martin Prepar3D: What are the license options for Prepar3D?
Prepar3D offers three license tiers: Personal ($59.95) for personal training and K-12 education, Professional ($350) for professional pilot training and commercial uses, and Professional Plus ($2,750) for businesses with advanced features. Developer monthly licenses are available at $9.99 and $50 for Professional and Professional Plus respectively.
SourceAviaSIM Pro: How long are AviaSIM sessions and what are the pricing options?
AviaSIM offers sessions ranging from 60 minutes (Discovery Package at $179) to 240 minutes (Pilot Introductory Program at $549). A Fear of Flying Therapy program with 97% success rate costs $389.
SourceLockheed Martin Prepar3D: What are the system requirements?
Prepar3D v6 requires approximately 85 GB storage, 32 GB RAM or more for optimal performance, 8 GB or more VRAM, and a DX12-capable GPU with 64-bit architecture. Detailed scenery and aircraft add-ons can significantly increase storage and performance requirements.
SourceAviaSIM Pro: Where are AviaSIM locations available?
As of 2026, AviaSIM operates in 30+ cities worldwide including Phoenix, Fort Lauderdale, Denver, Houston, Dallas, Washington D.C., Chicago, and Orlando, with new openings planned in Raleigh, Minneapolis, and San Antonio.
SourceLockheed Martin Prepar3D: Can I create custom training scenarios?
Yes. Prepar3D includes SimDirector, a scenario generation tool that allows users to create training scenarios across aviation, maritime, and ground domains. Users can place world objects, define scenario logic, create missions, and provide instruction sessions, making it suitable for cockpit training, flight planning, and emergency response preparation.
SourceAviaSIM Pro: Can multiple people participate in a single AviaSIM session?
Yes. The Duo Package ($219 for 60 minutes) allows two people to share the cockpit experience together, and up to three free observers can watch from the cockpit.
SourceLockheed Martin Prepar3D: Is Prepar3D compatible with third-party add-ons?
Prepar3D v5 and v6 maintain compatibility with many Microsoft Flight Simulator X add-ons. However, 32-bit aircraft modules are not compatible with 64-bit Prepar3D versions, and third-party add-ons must be updated for the specific Prepar3D version being used.
Source