Redbird Flight Simulations has entered an exciting partnership with avionics heavyweight Avidyne. This collaboration promises to transform the flight simulation landscape, showcasing the integration of real Avidyne hardware and software into Redbird’s acclaimed flight simulators.
Charlie Gregoire, CEO of Redbird, took to the stage to share the exciting news. “We’re now going to be integrating actual Avidyne hardware and software into our sims while maintaining full interchangeability,” he said.
This integration will allow flight schools to utilize Avidyne units seamlessly across their training fleets.
“I think it’s going to be a game changer for our customers to be able to put Avidyne units in their fleet and to be able to use them one for one with their training fleet,” Gregoire said.
The partnership aims to deliver realistic simulations of Avidyne products. The anticipated high fidelity of the simulations will meet the demands of flight schools, a significant upgrade to current training methods.
The inspiration behind this collaboration stemmed from a desire to make Avidyne’s touchscreen products feel like native avionics within the Redbird simulation environment.
Dan Schwinn, founder of Avidyne, says that the integration came with significant technical challenges. “We looked at the way the Redbird sims were implemented and realized it would be quite hard to do with the current typical implementation with a touchscreen,” Schwinn said.
To overcome these hurdles, the teams decided to integrate real panel bezel hardware into the simulators, ensuring a truly authentic user experience. This level of integration was no small feat, Gregoire says.
One of the standout features of this partnership is the commitment to maintaining Redbird’s hallmark interchangeability across their simulation devices, from the TD series to the high-end MCX line.
“The key to this integration to us was to maintain the interchangeability and make it available to all of the existing Redbird devices that are out there,” Gregoire said.
This approach means that flight schools can update their fleets overnight, easily transitioning to the enhanced capabilities offered by this new configuration.
While the initial costs for flight schools to add the new configuration exist, Gregoire says that it will be a fraction of what it would cost to integrate actual avionics in a more conventional way.
The reception to this announcement has been overwhelmingly positive. EAA AirVenture Oshkosh 2025 attendees were quick to test the Avidyne-equipped Redbird simulators. Feedback has been enthusiastic, according to Schwinn and Gregoire.
As the partnership evolves, both companies are optimistic about the potential. The integration offers a rich opportunity for future advancements in flight simulation, particularly for pilots who have long awaited a high-fidelity training environment.
“The thing that people will appreciate over time is that it’s perfectly authentic,” said Schwinn. “A lot of the simulation that’s out there is kind of approximate, but I’m an avionics guy. Most simulations are not fully realistic avionics.”
This collaboration is set to open new avenues for flight schools worldwide and provide them with cost-effective, cutting-edge tools. Redbird and Avidyne have set a new standard in flight simulation technology. By focusing on seamless user experiences and innovative hardware integration, this partnership not only promises substantial training benefits but also reinforces each company’s commitment to safety and ease of flying.
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