The National Championship Air Races, Roswell, N.M., and Microsoft Flight Simulator have announced that the new National Championship Air Races expansion for Microsoft Flight Simulator 2024 will launch on October 13, 2026. The release date was unveiled during Xbox’s Gamescom 2026 coverage in Cologne, Germany, where Reno Air Racing Association President and Chief Operating Officer Tony Logoteta joined Microsoft Flight Simulator head Jorg Neumann to discuss the project and the ongoing partnership between the two organizations. The announcement comes less than a month before the 2026 National Championship Air Races, scheduled for September 16-20 at Roswell Air Center in New Mexico. Attendees at this year’s event will have an opportunity to try the new content before its public release through an interactive Microsoft Flight Simulator exhibit on site.
According to Logoteta, the development team worked closely with experienced race pilots to capture the demands of competitive air racing. He noted during the Gamescom presentation that aircraft competing in the event can exceed 500 mph while flying only a short distance above the desert floor. “We connected Jorg and his team with a bunch of our most experienced pilots,” Logoteta said. “It’s been so cool to watch them work so hard at making this truly authentic and realistic.” The expansion builds on the air racing content previously introduced through the collaboration between Microsoft Flight Simulator and the Reno Air Racing Association. In addition to the historic Reno race course, players will be able to compete on the National Championship Air Races courses used in Roswell. Neumann said the updated racing experience introduces a greater emphasis on aircraft management. Pilots will need to monitor factors such as manifold pressure and engine temperatures while racing, adding another layer of challenge beyond simply flying the course as quickly as possible.
Another new feature is the addition of STOL Drag racing, bringing the short takeoff and landing competition featured at the National Championship Air Races into the simulator. The timing of the release creates a direct connection between the real-world event and its virtual counterpart. Race fans will be able to experience the expansion at both Gamescom and the National Championship Air Races before it becomes available worldwide in October. “The partnership with Microsoft Flight Simulator gives us an extraordinary opportunity to introduce air racing to people around the world,” Logoteta said. “Fans can see these incredible airplanes and pilots racing in Roswell, experience the new simulator firsthand while they’re at the event, and then take that experience home with them when the expansion launches in October.” The 2026 National Championship Air Races will take place September 16-20 at Roswell Air Center, while the Microsoft Flight Simulator 2024 National Championship Air Races expansion is scheduled for release on October 13. For more information and to support the National Championship Air Races, click on this link: airrace.org.
