RNZAF Prepares New Simulator for Aircrew Training

The Royal New Zealand Air Force (RNZAF) is advancing the development of its new C-130J Hercules simulator, installed at RNZAF Base Auckland. Named Perseus, the simulator arrived in August 2025 in 58 crates weighing 49 tonnes aboard a C-5M Super Galaxy.

Now fully constructed, the simulator is undergoing full-motion and systems testing. It is designed to replicate the C-130J cockpit and flight environment, allowing crews to rehearse scenarios from emergency procedures to adverse weather conditions in a controlled setting.

“There’s still a bit of work and testing ahead of us but we’re tracking towards a mid-year handover from Lockheed Martin to the New Zealand Defence Force. Every week we tick off another important piece of the set-up,” said Flight Sergeant Tony Strugnell, C‑130J Synthetic Training Centre manager.

Once certified, No. 40 Squadron crews will be able to train locally rather than flying to Australia or the United States, saving time and resources. “The efficiencies will be significant once we’re up and running,” Strugnell added.

The simulator’s visual database is based on systems used in other RNZAF aircraft simulators, upgraded for Hercules operations, including Antarctic airfields, tactical training airstrips, and drop zones in New Zealand. “We’ve been upgrading the database so we can conduct a range of training scenarios such as short field, grass strip and high-density altitude work,” said Squadron Leader Mel Fieldes from the Future Air Mobility Capability project team.

The simulator also benefits air loadmasters, allowing weight-and-balance calculations and Virtual Cargo Compartment operations, and enables maintainers to train on engine-running procedures and fault replication.

The project, ongoing since 2019, has involved multinational construction and testing before shipment and reassembly in New Zealand.