Story ID: 
Sixth FlightSimExpo To Step Up Simulation Reality
By: Matt Thurber
Caption: Lower-cost but more sophisticated hardware is a theme for this year’s show
Word Count: 223
The upcoming sixth annual FlightSimExpo aims to highlight the growing sophistication of hobbyist flight simulators and the low cost of increasingly complex equipment. It will be held at the Rhode Island Convention Center in Providence from June 27 to 29.
According to show organizer and airline pilot Evan Reiter, visitors will see more virtual reality tools and reasonably priced peripherals for their simulator setups. For example, first-time exhibitor DOF Reality is showing motion platforms targeting home simulator builders. “Force feedback [was] a popular topic years ago that fell out of favor but has now come back in a bigger way,” Reiter told AIN. Also popular are G1000 panels, FMS control-display units, and autopilot panels.
“Previously, these were thousands of dollars per unit,” he said. “Now, developers like WinWing have got airliner-style setups available for hundreds, not thousands [of dollars].”
Also for the first time, aircraft manufacturer Patriot Aircraft will exhibit its Super Patriot Mark II, which is replicated in Microsoft Flight Simulator 2024 by Parallel 42. “We’re thrilled to welcome our first real-world aircraft manufacturer to FlightSimExpo,” said Reiter. “Since the creation of the show, we’ve been working to close the gap between simulation and real-world flying. Having both the real and MSFS versions of the Super Patriot at the event represents a milestone achievement.”