Redbird Flight Sim In Australia?

[Avgas172]

G'day, The aero club here is looking at buying the 6 dos Redbird flight sim like the one displayed at Avalon this year, anyone had any experience with this sim?, has it been approved yet in Aust., we cant seem to find an Australian distributor using the usual methods, Google etc. Any help would be appreciated.
cheers
A172

[ebby1028]

Hi 172, Just throwing in my 2 cents. Before you jump into setting your sights on the Redbird sim, I think you and the aero club should seriously look into the JNP Corporation Sim. It was also at Avalon this year. It is a far superior product in all aspects. We have one and it is truely the best asset our company has to keeping our pilots IFR current, preficent and great for renewals(cheaper than doing it all in the plane). They have a website with all the info you need. An Australian product with Australian tech support(Important)... and they come to you!! Nice guys also. And the big one CASA approved, the redbird is not and I have heard a few who have purchased one over here are struggling to get it approved to anything higher than a desk top sim you can buy off line. Hope this helps, Cheers

[blue_manx]

I have also had a chance to fly both the JNP Corporation Sim as well as the Red Bird and find the JNP to be a far better product than the Red Bird.
Based on the Beechcraft Baron, I found it handled exactly like a Baron would. Also the assymetric training it was able to offer allowing the pilots to confirm identify and feather the inoperative engine and actually have the control forces to support their actions was unbelievable.

I can also verify that what Ebby1028 is saying, it is CASA approved and there are a few companies who have purchased one in Australia and are currently using them for IFR renewals.

Best thing to do would be to ask the guys who are operating them yourself and see what they think of it... I am sure they would be happy to talk about it.

[training wheels]

Originally Posted by blue_manx

it is CASA approved and there are a few companies who have purchased one in Australia and are currently using them for IFR renewals.

Can you PM me which companies in Australia are using them? Thank you in advance.

[Avgas172]

Hi 172, Just throwing in my 2 cents. Before you jump into setting your sights on the Redbird sim, I think you and the aero club should seriously look into the JNP Corporation Sim. It was also at Avalon this year.

Thanks for the replies chaps, I did get a chance to review the JNP at Avalon as well, however the extra 100K was out of our league at this time. We also would require the redbird to be CASA approved prior to purchase otherwise it's no good to us & we would be back to the fixed sim's available now, I have had a look at Redcliffe Aero Club's sim and must say it's a nice piece of work as well, our budget would be south of 100K at the moment (unless we win the lotto tonight)
cheers
A172

[ReverseFlight]

The Redbird reminds me of the old Link trainer with 3 (not 6) dimensions of movement. Sure it will roll, pitch and yaw with you at the CoG but it can't replicate the acceleration or "heave" (g forces) associated with real flight.

Nevertheless, on a limited budget, it's an attractive proposition.

[Centaurus]

Sure it will roll, pitch and yaw with you at the CoG but it can't replicate the acceleration or "heave" (g forces) associated with real flight.

It is not a full flight simulator by the sound of things but a synthetic trainer. Forget acceleration G forces. That doesn't help you fly on instruments. Most synthetic trainers will give you the scan practice you need for proper flight instrument interpretation. It just depends on how much sophistication you can afford.

[ROO-C26B]

There is one called CKAS in Bankstown airport in Sydney operate by Global Wings Aviation. I've fly tested it, it's awesome just like any other full motion simulators I've flown. It based on a Baron but also have performance data to replicate a Kingair350 and A320. Like all sims it gives you the motion sensation of pitch, roll & yaw but no g loading. Spoke to the owners there the sim is going through the process of getting a Cat C rating from CASA & their next project is to place a full motion A320 sim for type rating and recurrent training. The device is great for IFR, emergency & CRM training. One down side in my personal opinion I think it should have 4 screens for better visual.

Cheers,

[grl22]

Can the Aero club afford the $250K of the JNP sim? I doubt it. If it's an aero club then they'll need something that's quick to change.
The aero club in in has just purchased a RedBird FMX and is in the process of getting it certified by CASA.