Two Redbird Simulators, Very Different Capabilities
Flight schools adding simulation to their training program often narrow the decision to two products from the same manufacturer: the Redbird TD and the Redbird LD. Both are built by Redbird Flight Simulations, both run on X-Plane, and both carry FAA approval. But they sit at different points on the ATD spectrum, and the differences in approval level, physical format, and price have real implications for how a school can use them.
Choosing between the two requires understanding what each device allows in terms of loggable hours, what the physical and space requirements are, and how the investment aligns with the school's enrollment and training model.
FAA Approval: BATD vs AATD
The most consequential difference between the Redbird TD and the Redbird LD is their FAA approval level.
The Redbird TD is approved as a Basic Aviation Training Device (BATD). Under Part 61, a BATD allows students to log up to 2.5 hours toward the private pilot certificate and up to 10 hours toward the instrument rating. IFR currency requirements, including approaches, holding, and intercepting and tracking courses, can also be completed in a BATD.
The Redbird LD is approved as an Advanced Aviation Training Device (AATD). Under Part 61, an AATD allows up to 20 hours toward the instrument rating and can fulfill additional training requirements that a BATD cannot. Under Part 141 approved training course outlines, an AATD can substitute for an even larger portion of the flight training requirement, depending on the specific course.
For schools focused on instrument training, the AATD approval of the Redbird LD means significantly more of each student's required training hours can be completed in the simulator, at simulator rates rather than aircraft rates.
Physical Format and Cockpit Environment
The Redbird TD is a desktop device. It consists of a yoke, throttle quadrant, rudder pedals, switch panel, and a set of monitors, all arranged on a desk or purpose-built stand. The footprint is compact enough for a corner of a briefing room or a home office. There is no enclosure, and the pilot sits in a standard chair.
The Redbird LD is a full-enclosure simulator. The pilot sits inside a cockpit shell with a wraparound visual display system. The enclosed environment blocks outside visual distractions and creates a more immersive training experience. The visual system provides a wider field of view than the TD's monitor arrangement.
The LD also includes more sophisticated control loading, meaning the yoke and flight controls provide resistance and feedback that more closely approximate the feel of an actual aircraft. This matters for training transfer, particularly for students early in their flight training who are developing control touch and coordination.
The trade-off is space. The Redbird LD requires a dedicated room or a significant portion of a training area. Schools with limited floor space may find the TD's compact format easier to accommodate.
Avionics and Configuration Options
Both the TD and LD offer configurable avionics options. The Redbird Navigator platform, which underlies both devices, supports analog six-pack instrument panels, Garmin G1000 glass cockpit configurations, and various GPS navigator setups.
The LD's larger cockpit environment accommodates a more realistic instrument panel layout with greater physical separation between avionics components. The TD, working within the constraints of a desktop format, presents the same avionics on monitors but without the spatial fidelity of a full panel.
Both devices support Redbird's instructor station software, which allows an instructor or the pilot to set up weather, introduce failures, position the aircraft, and review flight performance.
Pricing and Return on Investment
The Redbird TD is priced significantly lower than the Redbird LD. The TD typically starts around $9,000, while the LD is a substantially larger investment, often in the range of several tens of thousands of dollars depending on configuration.
For flight schools, the ROI calculation hinges on utilization. A school that will schedule the simulator for multiple hours per day, charging students simulator rates for approved training time, can recover the cost of an LD more quickly than a school that uses the device only occasionally. The LD's AATD approval means each student can log more hours in the device, which directly increases the revenue opportunity per student.
The TD makes financial sense for schools that want to offer simulator time as a supplement to flight training without the commitment of a large capital investment. It is also the clear choice for individual pilots building a home training setup.
Which One Fits Your School
Schools with steady enrollment in instrument training programs, dedicated space for a simulator, and the budget for a larger investment should seriously evaluate the Redbird LD. The AATD approval translates to more billable simulator hours per student, and the enclosed cockpit environment provides a better training experience for procedural and instrument work.
Schools that are adding their first simulator, have limited space, or serve a primarily VFR student population will find the Redbird TD to be a practical and cost-effective entry point. The BATD approval still allows meaningful loggable time, and the lower price reduces the financial risk of adding simulation to the training program.
Both devices are well-supported by Redbird and benefit from the company's established position in the training market. The right choice depends on the school's specific training model, student volume, and facility constraints rather than on one device being categorically better than the other.