Home-Based Flight Simulators and Games

Pia Bergqvist

Monday, September 17, 2012 at 07:42 PM ET

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Redbird's TD Flight Simulator

Key Takeaways:

The article presents several flight simulator products designed to help pilots maintain and refine skills, offering options for various proficiency levels and budgets.
High-end systems like the Redbird TD are FAA-approved as basic aviation training devices (BATDs) for logging instrument proficiency, while American Flyer's "School in a Box" provides a complete portable system tailored for private or instrument certificate training.
More accessible options include the versatile X-Plane software, offering a wide array of aircraft and customizable scenarios, and Sporty's Saitek flight simulator, a budget-friendly equipment bundle for developing scan and muscle memory, though not suitable for logging flight time.

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****There are a number of different products on the market that can help pilots of all skill levels refine and maintain their skills. Here are a few of the best options out there.

Redbird TD
If your goal is to maintain instrument proficiency, you can legally do so at home with Redbird’s TD desktop simulator, which qualifies as a “basic aviation training device” (BATD) per the FAA and allows you to log your flight time. You can choose to fly with analog instruments or the Garmin G1000 PFD and MFD. The cost is $6,995 or $7,995 for the more complex TD2, which includes propeller and gear levers. The purchase price may not look like a bargain, but long term this sophisticated system can save you money.