Meet Jarrod
Jarrod Barker, founder and CEO of RealSimGear, blends his engineering expertise with his pilot-training experience to lead the company’s mission of making high-fidelity flight simulation accessible to everyone. Based in San Diego, Jarrod obtained his private pilot’s license and instrument rating, and during that training he realized the available hardware didn’t match the realism he needed.
With a background in product development and a keen eye for detail, he launched RealSimGear to fill that gap—starting with a replica of the Garmin GNS530 and growing into full cockpit systems and FAA-approved devices.
Real people. Real aviation. RealSimGear.
RealSimGear is a team of pilots, engineers, and aviation and sim enthusiasts obsessed with building hardware that feels like the real airplane. Our mission is to make the skies a safer place by giving pilots an easier, more convenient, and highly realistic way to stay proficient, whether you’re training for a rating, staying sharp between flights, or running a flight school.
Countries
Training Centers
Deliveries
Born in the Cockpit
How RealSimGear Took Flight
The Problem
Six years ago as I worked towards my private pilot’s license, I hit a wall. While the flight simulation software I used was great, the hardware just wasn’t cutting it. There were too many distractions trying to use a keyboard and mouse, there was no affordable way to replicate avionics that felt like the real thing. As a trainee pilot, I needed that hands-on experience, and I knew others in the flying community felt the same way.
With my background in product development and engineering, I decided to take matters into my own hands. My goal was to leverage the power of home flight simulation to help me with my own training. It turned out many other aspiring pilots had the same problem and almost by accident, we brought realistic flight simulation hardware to pilots everywhere.
The Turning Point
It all started with our first product—a replica of the Garmin GNS530. What began as a small project quickly grew as more pilots discovered the difference high-quality, accessible hardware could make. Since then, we’ve expanded our lineup to include some of our flagship products, like Cirrus cockpits that offer solutions for the G6, G7, and even the Vision Jet. These products have transformed how both aspiring and experienced pilots practice, taking the realism of home flight training to new heights. These products come about by listening to what our customers were telling us they needed, and six years later and we are just getting started.
What We Believe In
We believe every pilot deserves easier access to the tools that keep them sharp. But proficiency isn't just a word to us. It's what that word actually means in the real world.
It's your family landing safely at their destination. It's making it a little more likely you'll be an old pilot instead of a bold one. It's not having to carve out an hour driving to the airport, doing a preflight, and burning fuel just to practice a couple of procedures — when you can walk into the next room and do it instead.
It's flying your route on the sim the night before so when you climb in the actual cockpit, it already feels familiar. It's building the kind of confidence that only comes from repetition, and making that repetition accessible enough that you'll actually do it.
That's what we're building toward — and six years in, we're just getting started.
Our Systems
We wanted to make simulators accessible to any pilot, at any level, in any space.
Desktop
A compact, high-fidelity simulator designed for pilots who want accurate avionics and procedures in a minimal footprint. Ideal for home use, proficiency training, and IFR practice with your existing desk setup.
Home
A full-cockpit, immersive training solution that brings realistic controls, visuals, and workflows into a dedicated home environment. Built for pilots who want deeper realism and repeatable training without the constraints of the aircraft.
Pro
An FAA-approved training platform engineered for structured instruction, standardized procedures, and daily use. Designed for flight schools, training centers, and serious home users who require certification-level accuracy and support.
From Palomar Aviation
Rick Mosteller, owner of Palomar Aviation, shares why RealSimGear simulators play a key role in delivering reliable, standardized training at a Platinum Cirrus Training Center.
