The Redbird VTO was specifically designed to teach the most difficult, time-consuming, and costly maneuvers every aspiring helicopter pilot needs to learn: hovering and autorotation. Effectively training these tasks required a clean-sheet redesign of our innovative motion platform and industry leading visuals, as well as the creation of a completely new control system that allows one device to simulate multiple helicopters. The VTO is a one-of-a-kind helicopter simulator that’ll provide your customers with unmatched training value, at a price that even small flight schools can afford.
The VTO is the combination of the lessons we’ve learned building over 400 full-motion, Advanced Aviation Training Devices and the most cost-effective technology currently available. It’s not just a major step forward for us, it’s a huge advancement for the growing helicopter training industry. The VTO is easily the most capable and affordable training device of its kind.
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- Starting at:
Training the Mystic Art of the Hover
Ask any helicopter pilot and they’ll tell you that hovering is more about “feel” and less about procedures. Simulators have historically been good at teaching procedures, but they fall flat when ask to teach “feel”. This kind of training requires a carefully balanced combination of immersive visuals, accurate motion, and a precise control system. Something that hasn’t been available for less than a million dollars … until now. .
A Motion System Built For Feel
The VTO comes equipped with a truly innovative motion system that provides cues so small, precise, and quick that the pilot feels even the slightest deviations before seeing it in the visual system, just as she would in the real world. Unlike the motion system found on the FMX, the VTO moves along arc-shaped tracks to provide the feeling of being suspended from the rotor head. The system is clean and quiet enough to operate in a small classroom, but robust enough to stand-up to years of hard use in a large professional pilot academy.
Immersive Visuals
Advanced visuals aren’t an optional feature when you’re teaching primary helicopter students. The Redbird VTO’s visual system provides an expansive field-of-view, including over 200° of wrap-around visuals and an impressive vertical view of 70°. This huge vertical field-of-view allows your students see everything from the skids to the sky. Unlike other devices, the VTO doesn’t use expensive or maintenance intensive projection. It’s visual system is built with 15 high-definition LCD screens that are cheap to run and rarely break. With a world-wide terrain database to support our most immersive visuals ever, the VTO lets your customers experience the view from the cockpit before they ever leave the ground.
Uniquely Flexible
Just like our airplane focused AATD’s, the VTO can be adapted to emulate multiple makes and models to fit your fleet. An innovative, interchangeable cyclic allows you to switch between a standard, dual stick configuration and a Robinson-like, single control column. Plus, you have the option to choose an avionics configuration for the center pedestal.
Undeniable Training Value
Helicopter training is a high cost activity for both the school and the student. It takes most student pilots 15 hours or more to learn what the hover feels like and at $300 per hour or more, learning to hover might be the single most expensive skill in general aviation. Still, the demand for safe, well-trained, helicopter pilots is continuing grow. The VTOs impressive features, low acquisition cost, and pain free operation opens the door to this lucrative market to a wide range of flight training organizations. With a Redbird VTO you’ll be able to deliver better training at a low cost to both you and your customer.
Support, Education, Community
We’ve built a range of services to help you get the most out of your simulator and make your business more successful while delivering high-quality training to your customers. Not only do you get access to the latest Redbird advancements, you’ll become a member an active group of like-minded flight training professionals. No other aviation manufacturer can match the level of support and community provided by Redbird.
World-Class Support
Redbird has a team of dedicated customer support technicians to keep your machine performing at it’s best.
Migration
A yearly conference where the latest advancements in the flight training industry are presented with a focus on simulator-centric training.
ImagineFlight
A member-led network of Redbird affiliated flight schools devoted to the development and promotion of quality flight training experiences.
Optional Equipment
Insight
External Monitoring and Debriefing Station
$4,995
Redbird Insight - $4,995
Whether you’re a student pilot or instructor, Insight provides valuable information to enhance the flight instruction process. With Redbird Insight, an instructor can monitor a training session from outside the simulator. They can view the flight from a variety of angles, both inside and outside the aircraft and record the flight for playback during a debriefing session.
Insight integrates with the Redbird line of flight simulators to render the outside view of the aircraft, a live video feed from the inside view of the cockpit and cockpit instrumentation onto an external display. Key aspects of the flight can be immediately reviewed on the Insight screen after a flight is completed by using DVR-like controls on the Insight viewing station.
Redbird Insight Includes:
- Stand-alone computer with software pre-installed
- Live video cockpit camera
- Automatic flight recording and playback
- Optional viewing screen and cabling can be added for $600
Custom Paint & Decals
Customize Your Simulator to Match Your Branding
$2,500
Custom Paint & Decals - $2,500
Want to show off your school spirit? We’ll customize your simulator to match your school colors and branding. Our creative team will work with you to choose colors and design decals to personalize your simulator for your training operation.
Specifications
| Component | Description |
|---|---|
| Exterior Shell | Aluminum cockpit enclosure. |
| Motion Platform | Electrically driven, motion base capable of simulating roll, pitch and yaw motions. |
| Motion Control System | Hardware and software to safely command Motion Platform movements to enhance simulation with physical cues. |
| Flight Controls | Full dual, interlinked control system, including cyclic, collective, anti-torque pedals, and throttle. Interchangeable depending on aircraft configuration. |
| Avionics Panel | Controls for flight instruments, GPS(s), radio(s), and autopilot as appropriate to aircraft being simulated. Interchangeable depending on aircraft configuration. |
| Dimensions |
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Requirements
| Item | Description |
|---|---|
| Room Size | At least 20' x 18' with a ceiling that is at least 9' 6" high. |
| Electrical | US standard 110 volt, 15 amp wall outlet. |
| Internet | A high-speed connection is highly recommended to allow remote support and added functionality. |
Products
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Connect with Us
- Redbird Flight Simulations
- 301 Vista Ridge Drive
- Suite 300
- Kyle, TX 78640
- p: (512) 301-0718
- f: (512) 301-0770
- e: info@redbirdflight.com
- simulators.redbirdflight.com