Thoughts About FlightSimExpo 2026
- Aaron "Ribbon-Blue" Mendoza
- 44 minutes ago
- 5 min read
Things are about to be busier than ever here at Skyward Flight Media. It is to the point that we need a whole new spreadsheet and calendar to keep track of the various ideas, events, initiatives and procedures we have in motion. There are updates to our website and social media coming as well. Of the many things we have going on, it is interesting how many of them seem to involve the upcoming FlightSimExpo (FSExpo) or are running adjacent to it. Now with the reveal of the first wave of exhibitors and partners on April 25th, I can feel a serious sense of anticipation for the expo running between June 12th through 14th, 2026.
The Business Side
This year Skyward Flight Media is once again a media partner for the expo. 2026 is now our fifth year supporting the event both online and in-person. From the point of view of a media entity, this event is an ideal sanctum of simulation.
FlightSimExpo is one of the world's largest flight simulation conventions. Since 2018 over 10,000 attendees from all around the world have gone to the event. Within less than a decade FSExpo has gained the support of significant sponsorships and exhibitors. They include flight focused software companies, hardware manufacturers, developers of virtual aircraft, virtual air traffic control networks, game developers, media outlets, content creators, real world aviation training programs, new companies breaking into flight simulation and everything in-between.
Just check out the drop menus below to see first wave of exhibitors and sponsors announced for this year's expo that were announced a few days ago:
Hardware Exhibitors
ALTIMETER MOTIVES, CockpitCrafters, DarkFusion Systems, Desktop Pilot, DOF Reality Motion Simulators, FlightsimWebshop, Honeycomb Aeronautical, OCTAVI, Pimax, PXN, ROWSFIRE, Sim Workshop, SIMiONIC, SKALARKI electronics Ltd, Thrustmaster, VA Hardware, Virtual Fly, WINCTRL, and Wingflex Simulator.
Software Exhibitiors
Aerosoft, BERNOULLI, Combat Pilot, efbX, Flight Code-X, FlightLinq, FlyByWire Simulations, FSS, GeoFS, Grinnelli Designs, HomeSim, MK Studios, Navigraph, PlaneEnglish, SayIntentions.AI, SimFly, SoFly, Tailstrike, VA Systems, WirelessBilly, and Miltech Simulations.
Real-World Aviation & Training Exhibitors
AviaSim, DGPilot, FliteSim.com, Gleim Aviation, Hobbs Flyer, LLC, Professional Pilots of Tomorrow, and Virtual Aviation of Minnesota.
Community Exhibitors
Fly Delta Virtual, FSElite, MidCon Airlines, The Pilot Club, VATSIM, and Virtual USA Flying Club.
Attending Sponsors
FSReborn, iniBuilds, TFDi Design, Closed Traffic Podcast, Contrail Shop, Tobii Gaming, Sporty’s Pilot Shop, and X-Plane.
Media Partner Lounge
Closed Traffic Podcast, Factual Gull, Fly With Alyson, Mr Squirrel Lee, and The BFM Crew.
Combining all the years together, the FSExpo has had hundreds of companies involved in one way or another. I was surprised to see it become so influential even Asobo Studios brought the Microsoft Flight Simulator team to attend FlightSimExpo 2023.
The expo is also one of very few places that flight simulation hardware can freely be hands on tested. At times even in their optimal settings on a full sim rig with their manufacturers available for as many questions you can give to them. From gingerly feeling my way through a full-sized flight deck airliner simulator I'll probably never own to grabbing, twisting and pulling every flight controller in the building. Specialized electronics stores rarely match even 1/4 of this type of hardware interface.
My most recent fondest memory related to this was an interaction I had with Alex Li, founder of WINCTRL (formerly WinWing). One of the driving factors for me acquiring a force feedback hands on throttle and stick from his company last year was him personally taking apart some of the flight sticks to demonstrate the quality of their internal build and the ability to repair them. And he did not just do that for me, but even for everyday attendees that simply wanted to know how this type of equipment worked.
Every city the event has gone to has also welcomed it with official support from city governments as well. The expo arriving is a major part of what is happening during the weekend in the city it is hosted in. It's a significant positive economic impact.
From a professional point of view FSExpo is one of the most ideal places to make lasting connections with well-known industry leaders, burgeoning newcomer entities and many solo creators and small teams that are just as passionate about flight simulation. It is well worth the financial and time investment for the three-day weekend the event encompasses.
The Personal Experience
On an individual, more personal level, the expo is a lot more than just the show floor. It is both a bit of an adventure and a rather illuminating experience from the perspective of a flight simmer. Whether you travel a lot or not, going to something like a flight simulation industry event is just such a difference from the standard family visit or dry "business trip".
While I know that when I go to FlightSimExpo it is mainly a Skyward Flight Media business trip, I cannot help but feel personal joy as I roll out of bed for the earliest flight out (I'm the type of person that prefers Red Eye Flights for most trips, it is not a requirement!). From jumping out of the ride share to getting into the security line when it is at its shortest, my mind is flooded with nothing but real world and simulated aviation. My camera roll fills with pictures of aircraft at gates, historical aviation displays in terminals and videos of the wing of the aircraft in flight as we travel along. There isn't a lot of time to run around between connecting flights, but there is enough time to crawl the airport looking for local aviation facts and aircraft displays.
For people around the world not in attendance #FSExpoFriday is where most of their interest manifests. That is when companies announce their newest products and long-term plans. For anyone not attending in person that is where the expo begins and ends for them. But being in person sitting in the room where the announcements are made and receiving the energy of dozens of simmers cheering and clapping is an experience that is hard to replicate. That energy and dare I say camaraderie continues through the entire weekend.
From Friday to Sunday the sense of community I feel extends through every exhibitor booth, every presentation and even out into the city itself. For an entire weekend it feels as though I can walk up to anyone I see wearing something vaguely aviation related and engage in one of the better conversations I've had about this subject all year. From life-long simmers that probably have an FAA approved BATD in their spare rooms to people that have no idea what the expo is, but they were interested enough to stop in and take a look around. Even the professionals presenting their products are still enthusiasts at heart. They will often engage in conversations about all things flight related.
I have made a few friends and acquaintances at FlightSimExpo. Made some interesting industry contacts as well. Even meeting some people I have only known through internet interactions in person for the first time. For me the expo has become this sort of ultimate flight simulation experience that I sincerely hope I am able to attend in person every single year. I feel like after every time I attend my perspective of flight simulation shifts and my horizons broaden just a bit more.
That being said, if you are attending in person or online, feel free to use our official link to acquire tickets:
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]
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