Start Here

Main Product Page
Redbird Jay Velocity

Redbird STEAM Education Page
STEM Education Powered by Redbird

Jay/Jay Velocity Help Center
Jay / Jay Velocity Support

User Guide
Jay and Jay Velocity User Guide

PDF Instruction Manual
Jay/Jay Velocity Instruction Manual

Redbird Resources
Redbird Resources and User Guides

AOPA High School Simulation Supplement
Redbird AOPA High School Simulation Supplement

Redbird YouTube Channel
Redbird Flight YouTube Channel

What is the Jay Velocity?

The Redbird Jay Velocity is a desktop flight experience simulator designed for high-use environments such as middle schools, high schools, museums, and public access spaces. It gives students a realistic introduction to aviation, aircraft controls, navigation, decision-making, STEM, and career pathways.

The goal is not to turn teachers into flight instructors. The goal is to give students a safe, structured aviation experience that connects to science, math, geography, weather, engineering, technology, communication, and careers.

What Does the Jay Velocity Do?

The Jay Velocity allows students and teachers to:

• Pactice basic aircraft control

• Learn pitch, roll, yaw, throttle, trim, heading, altitude, and airspeed

• Explore takeoff, straight-and-level flight, turns, climbs, descents, and landings

• Connect aviation to STEM concepts

• Discuss weather, maps, navigation, decision-making, and human factors

• Explore aviation and aerospace career pathways

• Practice communication, teamwork, and procedural thinking

• Use flight simulation as a launch point for math, science, geography, CTE, and engineering lessons

Helpful link: Redbird Jay Velocity Product Page

Big Teacher Mindset Shift

Do not think: “I need to know how to fly a plane.”

DO Think: “I am giving students a structured simulation experience where they observe, try, make mistakes, adjust, and explain what happened.”

Your job is to manage the routine, keep the session focused, ask good questions, and connect the simulator experience to learning.

The Easiest Way to Start

First 5 minutes: Set expectations

Before students touch the simulator, explain:

• This is a learning tool, not a video game.

• The goal is control, not speed.

• Small movements work better than big movements.

• Crashing is not the point, but mistakes give us data.

• Only the assigned pilot touches the controls.

• Observers have a job, too.

Next 5–10 minutes: Let students observe

Start with a teacher or confident student demonstration.

Have students watch for:

• What happens when the yoke moves forward or backward?

• What happens when the yoke turns left or right?

• What happens when throttle increases or decreases?

• What numbers or instruments seem important?

• What does the pilot have to pay attention to?

Helpful link: Jay / Jay Velocity User Guide

Final 10–15 minutes: Try a simple flight task

Start with one basic goal:

“Keep the aircraft flying straight and level for one minute.”

Students do not need to take off or land on day one. Straight-and-level flight is a great first challenge.

Ask:

• What was harder than expected?

• What control made the biggest difference?

• What happened when you overcorrected?

• What information helped you stay in control?

• How is this connected to science, math, or decision-making?

Suggested First Lesson: “Straight and Level”

Time: 30–45 minutes
Grades: Best for upper elementary, middle school, high school, CTE, STEM, gifted, aviation, or career exploration
Materials: Jay Velocity simulator, student observation sheet, timer, optional vocabulary sheet

Challenge: Keep the aircraft flying as smoothly as possible for one minute.

Simple lesson flow:

Preview: Introduce yoke, throttle, altitude, airspeed, and heading.

Observe: Watch a short demo.

Predict: What will happen if the pilot pulls back, pushes forward, turns, or changes throttle?

Fly: One student flies while others observe.

Record: Observers track altitude, heading, and smoothness.

Reflect: Students explain what helped the aircraft stay controlled.

Connect: Discuss force, motion, measurement, systems, or careers.

Helpful support: Redbird STEM Education

Classroom Management Tips

• Use short turns. Start with 2–4 minute pilot rotations.

• Assign roles. Suggested roles:

Pilot

Co-pilot/checklist reader

Instrument observer

Timekeeper

Flight coach

Reflection recorder

• Do not let everyone crowd the simulator. Use a clear pilot area and an observer area.

• Give observers a job. Otherwise, only the pilot is learning.

• Start with one skill. Do not begin with full flights, weather, navigation, and landing all at once.

• Use a checklist routine. Even a simple classroom checklist builds aviation habits.

• Celebrate control, not speed. Smooth flying is better than dramatic flying.

• Debrief every flight. Students should explain what happened, not just say, “That was fun.”

Easy Teacher Questions to Ask During Simulator Use

Use these instead of giving every answer:

What are you trying to control right now?

What changed when you moved the yoke?

What changed when you adjusted the throttle?

Are you climbing, descending, or staying level?

What instrument helped you know that?

Are you correcting too much or too little?

What would a smoother adjustment look like?

What information does a real pilot need before making a decision?

What surprised you about flying?

What career might use this kind of thinking?

Quick Differentiation

For students who need support

• Let them observe before piloting.

• Use a partner pilot/co-pilot model.

• Give one control goal at a time.

• Use sentence frames for reflection.

• Let them focus only on altitude or heading first.

• Reduce the task time to 30 seconds.

• Allow the teacher or peer to handle throttle while the student practices steering.

For students who need challenge

• Add a target altitude.

• Add a target heading.

• Require a smooth turn.

• Add a flight path or simple route.

• Have students compare aircraft types.

• Require data collection before and after adjustments.

• Add weather, wind, or navigation once basic control is solid.

• Ask students to create a training card for future students.

Best Jay Velocity Uses by Comfort Level

Level 1: Brand new teacher

Use: One demo and short student turns
Try: Straight-and-level flight
Focus: Basic controls, observation, safety, excitement
Helpful link: Jay / Jay Velocity Support

Level 2: Comfortable with basic controls

Use: Short skill stations
Try: Climb, descend, turn, maintain heading, maintain altitude
Focus: Cause and effect, measurement, smooth control
Helpful link: Jay and Jay Velocity User Guide

Level 3: Ready for STEM connections

Use: Flight task plus reflection
Try: Graph altitude changes, compare speed and control, connect forces to aircraft movement
Focus: Math, physics, systems, data
Helpful link: Redbird STEM Education

Level 4: Ready for aviation pathways

Use: Structured aviation lessons
Try: Careers, navigation, weather, communication, airport operations, aircraft systems
Focus: CTE, career exploration, aviation literacy
Helpful link: AOPA High School Simulation Supplement

Level 5: Ready for advanced implementation

Use: Multi-session aviation or STEM unit
Try: Flight planning, airport-to-airport route, weather decision-making, emergency scenarios, student-created flight briefings
Focus: Real-world decision-making, teamwork, communication, data, careers
Helpful link: Redbird Resources

Ready-to-Use Online Jay Velocity Resources

1. Redbird Jay Velocity Product Page

Open resource

Useful for understanding what the Jay Velocity is designed for. Redbird describes it as a robust simulator for demanding environments such as middle and high schools, museums, and public access kiosks.

2. Redbird STEM Education Page

Open resource

Best starting point for educators who want to connect aviation simulation to STEM learning. This page frames aviation as a classroom STEM tool and highlights school-based implementation.

3. Jay / Jay Velocity Help Center

Open resource

Useful for setup, controls calibration, operations, user guides, and keyboard command support.

4. Jay and Jay Velocity User Guide

Open resource

Important for teachers or tech staff who need setup, operation, and troubleshooting guidance.

5. Jay / Jay Velocity Instruction Manual

Open PDF

Official PDF manual with setup, installation, parts, optional equipment, use information, and support reminders.

6. Redbird Resources and User Guides

Open resource

A useful hub for user guides, product support articles, simulator resources, and Redbird support information.

7. AOPA High School Simulation Supplement

Open resource

Useful for high school aviation or STEM courses. Redbird describes this supplement as integrating with the AOPA High School STEM Curriculum and adding simulator-based aviation lessons.

8. Redbird YouTube Channel

Open videos

Helpful for teachers who prefer to see simulator examples, aviation training concepts, or Redbird resources in video form.

Easy Starter Activity Menu

Choose one based on grade level, comfort level, and available time.

10–15 minutes

Controls Demo and Notice
Teacher or student demonstrates yoke and throttle while observers record what changes.
Helpful link: Jay / Jay Velocity User Guide

15–20 minutes

Pilot Vocabulary Match
Students match basic terms: yoke, throttle, altitude, airspeed, heading, pitch, roll, yaw.
Helpful link: Redbird STEM Education

20–30 minutes

Straight and Level Challenge
Students try to keep the aircraft stable for 30–60 seconds.
Helpful link: Jay/Jay Velocity Support

30 minutes

Smooth Turn Challenge
Students complete a gentle left or right turn and return to straight flight.
Helpful link: Redbird Resources

30–45 minutes

Altitude Detective
Observers track whether the aircraft is climbing, descending, or level and identify what the pilot did.
Helpful link: Redbird STEM Education

45–60 minutes

Flight Coach Rotation
One student flies, one reads a simple checklist, one observes instruments, and one gives feedback.
Helpful link: Jay/Jay Velocity User Guide

60+ minutes

Plan, Fly, Reflect
Students plan a short flight goal, fly it, collect data, and explain what they would improve.
Helpful link: AOPA High School Simulation Supplement

Subject-Area Ideas

Science

Connect aircraft movement to forces and motion.

Discuss lift, thrust, drag, and weight.

Observe cause and effect when controls change.

Study weather and how it affects flight decisions.

Math

Track altitude, heading, airspeed, and time.

Calculate rate of climb or descent.

Estimate distance and time.

Graph changes in altitude or speed.

Use angles, direction, and measurement.

Social Studies/Geography

Use maps, regions, landmarks, airports, and routes.

Discuss how aviation connects communities.

Explore transportation systems and global movement.

ELA/Communication

Write a flight reflection.

Create a pilot log entry.

Explain a procedure clearly.

Practice technical vocabulary.

Give a post-flight briefing.

STEM/Engineering

Study aircraft design and systems.

Explore how control inputs affect movement.

Discuss reliability, simulation, testing, and design iteration.

CTE/Career Exploration

Connect to pilot, air traffic controller, aircraft mechanic, aerospace engineer, airport manager, aviation meteorologist, drone operator, military aviation, and emergency services careers.

Gifted/HAL Extension

Add complex constraints such as limited fuel, weather, emergency response, navigation, or mission planning.

Have students design a flight challenge for younger students.

Ask students to compare simulation data and revise a procedure.

What to Say to Students before They Start

“Today we are using the flight simulator as a STEM and career learning tool. Your goal is not to fly fast or make it dramatic. Your goal is to learn how small control changes affect the aircraft, how pilots use information, and how careful decisions keep a flight safe.”

Simple Student Reflection

Have students finish one or more of these:

When I moved the yoke, I noticed…

When the throttle changed, the aircraft…

The hardest part of controlling the aircraft was…

One instrument I used was…

One correction I made was…

I overcorrected when…

A pilot needs to pay attention to…

This connects to STEM because…

One aviation career I learned about was…

Next time, I would improve by…

Common Problems and Quick Fixes

Problem: Students yank the controls.
Fix: Teach “small movements first.”

Problem: Students treat it like a game.
Fix: Give a specific flight task and observer checklist.

Problem: Only the pilot is engaged.
Fix: Assign observer, checklist, data, and coach roles.

Problem: Students crash quickly.
Fix: Start in stable flight and practice one control at a time.

Problem: Students focus only on the screen.
Fix: Ask them to name which instrument helped them decide what to do.

Problem: Turns become too steep.
Fix: Practice gentle turns and returning to level flight.

Problem: Students get frustrated.
Fix: Shorten the task and celebrate one improvement.

Problem: Lesson feels disconnected from academics.
Fix: Always pair simulation with vocabulary, data, reflection, or a career connection.

Best First-Day Teacher Script

“Today we are going to learn how pilots use small control movements and information from instruments to keep an aircraft stable. You will each have a short turn, but everyone has a job. Some of you will observe altitude, heading, and smoothness. We are not trying to fly perfectly. We are trying to notice what happens, make adjustments, and explain what we learned.”

Safety and Setup Reminders

• Keep students seated or standing safely near the simulator according to your setup.

• Only one student should operate the controls at a time.

• Keep food and drinks away from the simulator.

• Use short turns to prevent crowding and frustration.

• Make sure cables and cords are not tripping hazards.

• Do not install unauthorized software.

• Follow the official setup and support guidance.

• Keep the original packaging and shipping materials if possible.

• Review the official manual before setup, moving, troubleshooting, or storage: Jay/Jay Velocity Instruction Manual

Important Note for Teachers

The Jay Velocity is an educational and flight experience simulator. It is not approved or certified by the FAA or other government entity for use in flight training to satisfy required proficiency time, instrument experience, or training requirements for certificates or ratings.

For school use, treat it as a powerful STEAM, aviation awareness, career exploration, and simulation-based learning tool.

The Simplest Success Criteria

A good Jay Velocity lesson has students:

• Try one focused flight task.

• Observe what changed.

• Use at least one aviation vocabulary word.

• Explain one control decision.

• Connect the experience to STEAM, careers, or real-world decision-making.

That is enough for a strong first lesson.