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 reviews several flight simulation products designed to help pilots of all skill levels maintain and refine their flying abilities.
High-end, FAA-approved systems like the Redbird TD qualify as Basic Aviation Training Devices (BATDs), allowing pilots to legally log instrument proficiency time at home.
More accessible options include complete portable setups like American Flyer's "School in a Box" for certificate training, and versatile software such as X-Plane for simulating a wide array of aircraft and challenging scenarios.
Budget-friendly simulators, like Sporty's Saitek package, provide valuable practice for scan and muscle memory, though the time spent on them cannot be logged.

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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.