Microsoft and Asobo Studio have announced the launch date for the National Championship Air Races expansion for Microsoft Flight Simulator 2024. First teased by Head of Microsoft Flight Simulator, Jörg Neumann, during the FlightSimExpo 2026 Developer Keynote, fans of the National Championship Air Races have been eagerly awaiting the next chapter of air racing in MSFS.
For six decades, the high desert of Nevada’s Reno-Stead Airport was home to “the world’s fastest motorsport,” the National Championship Air Races, or, colloquially, the “Reno Air Races“. The races became famous for low-altitude pylon racing where everything from biplanes to highly modified World War II warbirds and jets screamed around the desert course at speeds over 500 mph (800 kmh). In 2023, facing encroaching development, rising insurance costs, and safety concerns, the Reno Air Racing Association (RARA) concluded the final National Championship Air Races in Reno and began a search for a new venue. That search ultimately led to the wide-open skies of Roswell, New Mexico, where the competition resumes this September at the Roswell Air Center (KROW).
Microsoft’s involvement with the legendary air races began in 2021 with the Reno Air Races Expansion that brought low-altitude racing around the iconic Reno-Stead Airport circuit to MSFS 2020. The payware product, created in collaboration with the RARA, real-world race pilots, and aircraft owners, featured online multiplayer racing for up to eight players per race, as well as offline single-player time trials. It was available in two paid tiers: a $19.99 basic expansion pack with four starter aircraft, and a $59.99 “Full Collection” that included 40 officially licensed aircraft across four classes.
During the FlightSimExpo 2026 keynote, Jörg admitted that locking the MSFS 2020 air race content behind a steep paywall wasn’t the right path for the community. Based on that feedback, the upcoming National Championship Air Races Expansion will be offered for FREE, as part of the base experience of MSFS 2024, along with several race-specific enhancements.
When it comes to the race circuits, the upcoming expansion bridges both eras of the National Championship Air Races. Simmers will be able to race through both the historic Reno and newly added Roswell circuits within a single package. The expansion also features five different race classes: the Unlimited Class (featuring the P-51 Mustang), the T-6 Class (featuring the North American T-6 Texan), the Biplane Class (featuring the Aviat Pitts Special S1S), the Jet Class (featuring the Aero Vodochody L-39), and, for the very first time, the STOL Class featuring a new 1 v 1 STOL drag race. Aircraft dynamics have also been improved with a focus on realism, including wear and tear, engine stress, and wake turbulence simulation.
The National Championship Air Races expansion releases on October 13, 2026, for PC, Xbox Series X|S, PlayStation 5, PS VR2, and cloud platforms as a FREE expansion for owners of MSFS 2024.
