VRChat: DERUTA Air Force 5th Air Festival

One of the most intricate airshows on the VRChat platform This article will receive an update after this event has concluded and more media becomes available. Virtual aircraft and the humans behind them have now been active in VRChat for over six years. Considering that VRChat itself is over 12 years old, that really puts things in perspective. VRChat aviation has reached a point where there have been official platform sponsored events and some of its flight worlds appear in the official trailer for the game. In a virtual reality platform where almost any experience can be found, the DERUTA Air Force (DAF) brings realistic airshows to this virtual space. Their next event is the 5th Air Festival on May 17th, 2026 at 21:30 JST at their newly unveiled air base. About the DAF Across the international flight community, there are aviation focused organizations for just about anything you can think of. Organizations like Dogfight Central teaching the art of Basic Fighter Maneuvers weekly and hold air combat events across international timezones. The Chinese based VRC Aerospace University designs and tests aircraft out of their Liatang Aerodrome. People have been thrilled by airshows from The Black Aces which demonstrate aircraft in their unrestricted state, like at the VRC Summer Festival Jam airshow. Founded on December 1st, 2024, the Japanese based Deruta Air Force specializes in realistic flight operations including airshows. They describe themselves as an Air Force role playing group. In short, a traditional role playing group emulates the roles of various fictional or non-fictional professions and/or reenacts events. When it comes to flight simulation, you could argue that the core idea of RP as an emulation does overlap with the concept of flight simulation to a degree, but let's not stray off topic too much. In their private instances, the members of the DAF run aircraft training sessions with air traffic controller support and perform simulated multi-platform combat missions with ground forces. For the general public, the pinnacle of DAF operations is their airshows. Promotional video for the 4th Air Festival (December 14th, 2025). On social media platforms, videos of their aircrews flying in tight formations with many airframe types floods VRChat aviation related hashtags whenever one of their performances at Dazzle Air Base happens. With multiple demonstration teams in the air, static displays on the ground and the event happening over the course of three hours, it does feel like a real airshow. This video from the 4th Air Festival at Dazzle Air Base on December 14th, 2025, provides a good summary of the experience: 4th Air Festival highlight video (December 14th, 2025). New Location Promotional material for the upcoming 5th Air Festival is being rolled out on the DAF X.com account as a lead up to the show. This airshow will be at a new location for the DAF instead of the tried-and-true Dazzle Air Base that has been seen frequently. Known as Rakoa Air Force Base, even this new fictional facility is designed with purpose and accuracy. Inspired by a U.S. Air Force base, it is designed to be a forward base for homeland defense supporting long-range bombers, fighter squadrons and aerial refueling tankers. Runway 5L/23R is 3,500 meters long, designed for large aircraft operations with a dedicated apron for those aircraft. Similarly, fighter operations use runway 05R/23L with their own separate facilities. The DERUTA Air Force describes the runway as: "The runway markings were designed with reference to FAA and Japan MLIT standards, pursuing both accuracy and a natural appearance. By separating the markings and pavement into different meshes while sharing UVs and unifying normals, we recreated seamless bumps and surface texture.” Pictures and diagram by the DERUTA Air Force. Promotion of Performances In their past air festivals we have seen performances by solo displays, two-ship flights and six ship formations using fixed wing fighters, strategic lift aircraft, airborne warning and control aircraft and rotary wing assets. Of the early performers announced for this year, the newest addition to their roster is "Seattle"; an Akagu Heavy Industries 'Spring 707' (Boeing 707 equivalent). In a previous show a C-130 Hercules was put on aerobatic display, so it will be interesting to see what they will do with an airliner. DAF B707 promotional video (May 3rd, 2026). Videos of personnel training in F/A-18 Super Hornets and MT-4 Dolphins (Kawasaki T-4 equivalent) have also been shared. The presence of the MT-4 raises hopes that one of the staples of DAF air festivals will appear. The DAF 1st Air Wing, 3rd Squadron "Black Comet" is a six-ship flight that flies the MT-4 as a part of their faithful recreation of the Japan Air Self Defense Force's Blue Impulse demonstration team routine. Anyone familiar with the real-world demo team will recognize maneuvers from Black Comet for sure. Formation picture by なつみかん0p0_JPN. How to Attend For public events the DAF prefers that users join their publicly accessible group (Group ID: DAFPUB.9595). Doing so will give all users notifications of when group instances open and direct invites to them. Other scheduling information is also provided. As with any flight event in VRChat, the instances often fill up with users fast. It is frequently first come first served. Though if users cannot gain access, they can instead attend the DAF Bar where the airshow will be livestreamed. Example of DAF Bar promotional picture. The Airshow (to be updated) This article has been published a week before the airshow started as a way to talk about VRChat aviation groups like DERUTA Air Force and promote the upcoming May 17th, 2026 at 21:30 JST airshow, as it is one of the largest VRChat aviation events to happen in some time. When the airshow is over this section of the article will be updated at a later date. Connect with DERUTA Air Force DAF Event Group X.com #DERUTA_Air_Force YouTube About the Writer Aaron "Ribbon-Blue" Mendoza 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]