At its booth this week at EAA AirVenture, Redbird is showing a model of a new six-degrees-of-freedom (6DoF) simulator motion platform that could greatly simplify the operation of simulator motion bases. The system, developed by Redbird Alpha, the company’s new advanced development division, consists of a flat platform attached to spider-like arms connected to fittings that move up and down jackscrews.
Balance weights cancel out the weight of the simulator and platform, effectively making the simulator weigh nothing and thus making it easy to move, start, and stop quickly. The jackscrews move up and down rapidly and can start and stop almost instantaneously, according to Redbird founder Jerry Gregoire.
The 6DoF system is entirely electromechanical, with no hydraulic or electric actuators. Total cost of a simulator with the new motion platform should be lower than the price of Redbird’s VTO helicopter simulator, which retails for about $150,000. According to Redbird, the 6DoF system will be suitable for aviation training devices, flight training devices, and full-flight simulators.
Redbird also unveiled the Tracon app, which gives instructors centralized control of flights on multiple simulators. Instructors can use Tracon to start and track flights, change weather conditions, trigger failures, and reposition the simulated aircraft.
Owners of desktop Redbird trainers—including the Jay, Jay Velocity, TD, and TD2—can now run Redbird’s Guided Independent Flight Training (Gift) system on their devices. This will allow students to practice training maneuvers at their flight schools on a Redbird simulator then continue the practice at home with their Redbird devices. Instructors can view Gift data shared by the student no matter where the training is done.