FSExpo 2026: New Combat Arena Details
- Aaron "Ribbon-Blue" Mendoza
- 15 minutes ago
- 6 min read
New details about the largest display of military aviation in Flight Sim Expo's history
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I feel like people are sleeping on what is about to happen at FlightSimExpo (FSExpo) this year. It seems like it is going completely unnoticed. As someone that has covered the expo for six years and has kept up with similar industry events, I feel driven to put more spotlight on the upcoming Combat Arena at FlightSimExpo 2026. Even more so after getting some exclusive information about the layout of this new event following a voice and video call with the CEO of Grinnelli Designs just a few days ago.
General Aviation Focus
In North America, FSExpo is the flight simulation event for the industry. With its first event in the year 2018, the expo has continued onward while growing exponentially every year. In less than a decade, this event has become one of the largest flight simulation focused events in the industry. I have been fortunate enough to cover the expo since 2021 as a Media Partner with Skyward Flight Media for both online only coverage and in person coverage. Seeing the event change and grow from though computer screens and from the convention floor has been an experience.
Something that is obvious even for first time viewers is that FlightSimExpo is an event that is centered on General Aviation. A majority of the companies there specialize in hardware, software and information related to General Aviation. This is understandable as it is the most widely used form of aviation everyone is familiar with. Civilian or government controlled, non-combat aircraft that connect people around the world, take on thrilling sightseeing adventures, provide lifesaving services, support the global economy, maintain national infrastructure, mitigate natural disasters and so forth.
FSExpo is a great place to try full size 1:1 flight deck simulators for widebody airliners, go hands on with highly specialized hardware like Tiller systems and try out highly detailed simulators built around virtual reality headsets.
Military Aviation Representation
Military aviation has primarily been represented by hardware manufactures producing hands on throttle and stick control systems, up front controllers, multifunction displays and similar hardware needed to enhance the experience of flying simulated combat aircraft. Developers of virtual combat aircraft team up with these manufactures to provide their simulators combined with simpits mainly using that manufacture's hardware to give expo attendees a chance to try out high level simulation of a high-fidelity military aircraft.
In recent memory, at FSExpo 2025 manufacturer WINCTRL (formerly in WinWing) and Eagle Dynamics partnered together to preview the Eagle Dynamics MiG-29A Fulcrum for Digital Combat Simulator using a simulator in the WINCTRL booth. Similarly, the Aerovector Jet Team was present at the Thrustmaster booth even letting a few convention goers fly their exclusive Boeing–Saab T-7 Red Hawk advanced jet trainer.
There are also cases of vendors being standalone companies that are presenting their own combat simulators to the public, like Combat Pilot by Entropy.Aero and Scramble: Battle of Britain by Slitherine Games did last year.
Combat Pilot booth with two simpits (FSExpo 2025).
The Grinnelli Designs booth at FSExpo 2025 was extremely notable as it was a booth steeped in a military aviation theme with real world artifacts with a virtual reality capable flight sim rig showing a preview version of their upcoming F-100D Super Sabre. Attendees could hop into the simulator and fly a few short scenarios. This was one of the first large scale booths focused on combat aircraft not under a partnership with a hardware manufacturer.
The Combat Arena
The impact of the Grinnelli Designs booth must have been more impactful than many expected as a new effort to create a unique space for military aviation at FlightSimExpo 2026 has been well under way. The Combat Arena was first announced in a FSExpo press release on February 26th, 2026. Joe Grinnelli, CEO of Grinnelli Designs (GD), gave a statement in that press release:
“In partnership with industry leaders who share our passion for aviation and immersive simulation, we’re planning a dynamic lineup of events designed to engage and excite attendees throughout the weekend." [...] “Highlights include a head-to-head air combat competition, team operations, airshow-style performances, and more—with great prizes available to be won.”
This immediately piqued my interest. As I waited for more information about this event to be made public, an opportunity to ask questions about it directly was presented while Skyward Flight Media gained access to a preview build of the F-100D Super Sabre for Digital Combat Simulator by Grinnelli Designs.
While in a voice call with the GD development team on May 29th, 2026, Joe Grinnelli was kind enough to show the initial build of what the combat arena will look like. Both in some simple 3D images and by showing us live video from the GD Workshop.
While I cannot show any screenshots or video from that preview, I can describe what I saw, what was discussed and my thoughts on it all.
Using the floorplan for FSExpo 2026, it is not an exaggeration to say that the Combat Arena is central to the expo. It is quite literally in the middle of the expo floor.
If I had to describe the overall look of the Combat Arena, I would say it is the GD 2025 booth scaled up quite a bit. Camouflage netting, military themed furnishings, half scale models of AIM-9 Sidewinders hanging from the camouflage canopy, museum style artifacts related to the Super Sabre, new merchandise and similar items. Of the newer additions mentioned a physical barrage balloon filled with helium is also going to be tethered to the booth for an extra bit of flavor.
Grinnelli Designs FlightSimExpo 2025 booth. Not completely representative of the Combat Arena at FSExpo 2026.
The core of the Combat Arena is four simpits split into pairs by a central dividing wall. There are two simpits on each side of the wall. The dividing wall itself holds computers designed by DarkFusion Systems for the simpits, has mounted screens and smoke machines. As players eject or are shot down while flying in the simulators, the smoke machines will activate firing bursts of smoke to coincide with the action. The GD team put together some custom code to make all of that happen.
I was unable to take stock of what exactly was going to be seen in the museum style pieces that are being brought to the expo this year, but it did look like there were new artifacts to fill out the booth and increase the atmosphere of the location.
Alongside sessions for people to fly single ship to just try out aircraft, there are scenarios planned for player vs. player matches and cooperative gameplay scenarios.
When I hear "team operations" my mind immediately thinks of player vs environment style missions. Like up to four players working together to survive in a dogfight against many NPC aircraft or a Wild Weasel style mission where multiple F-100Ds work together to find, fix and suppress a surface-to-air missile site. I do not have any information on which aircraft may or may not be available or what the combat scenarios are, but it is only natural to assume the Super Sabre will be there during such an important weekend.
The Grinnelli Designs team has prepared trophies to be used for different achievements. While not stated specifically during our call, most likely a scenario like someone who won a dogfighting tournament receives a trophy to take home. The size of the trophies varied with the larger one being about the same height as the average cordless drill.
When I asked about the airshow-style performances I immediately assumed that the Aero Vector Jet Team would be involved due to the proximity of the Thrustmaster booth and some other minor details I know of. I was surprised to hear that the GD team themselves has a plan to fly air demonstrations. Even in the online virtual airshow circuit that has existed for quite some time, it is unusual to have the developers themselves fly airshow routines. That is definitely something to look forward to.
Who exactly the mentioned "industry leaders" partnering together the make the Combat Arena possible has not been confirmed in publicly accessible information yet, but with big names like Moza, Thrustmaster and WINCTRL there you can bet the hardware quality is going to be good.
Joe Grinnelli will personally be driving a box truck full of all equipment needed for the Combat Arena from the company's workshop to FlightSimExpo. It doesn't get more personal than that!
The Combat Arena at FlightSimExpo 2026 is going to be quite the sight to see. There is a great chance that this arena could inspire some sort of reoccurring section of FSExpo going forward which would provide an even higher level of military aviation being a permanent fixture at the event.
About the Writer
Co-founder of Skyward Flight Media. After founding Electrosphere.info, the first English Ace Combat database, he has been involved in creating flight game-related websites, communities, and events since 2005. He explores past and present flight games and simulators with his extensive collection of game consoles and computers. [Read Staff Profile]
