MOZA Flight Brings Force Feedback Flight Controls to Microsoft Flight Simulator at the 2026 National Championship Air Races

Roswell, New Mexico – September 2026 - MOZA is heading to Roswell for the 2026 National Championship Air Races, collaborating with the Microsoft Flight Simulator team to bring force feedback flight controls to its onsite experience and give attendees an opportunity to get behind the controls of the next generation of virtual air racing.

The collaboration comes just weeks after Microsoft Flight Simulator unveiled its new National Championship Air Races experience for Microsoft Flight Simulator 2024 at Gamescom 2026, developed in collaboration with the Reno Air Racing Association (RARA) and dozens of real-world race pilots and aircraft owners.

Launching on October 13, the new game mode combines the historic Reno Air Races with the new National Championship Air Races courses in Roswell and introduces a technical, competition based air racing mode.

Before its worldwide release, race fans in Roswell will have an opportunity to experience it firsthand.

Watch the Microsoft Flight Simulator National Championship Air Races Trailer

Get a first look at the speed, aircraft and competition coming to Microsoft Flight Simulator 2024 in the official National Championship Air Races trailer.

Throughout the National Championship Air Races, Microsoft Flight Simulator will operate an interactive experience where attendees can take to the virtual course using MOZA force feedback flight simulation hardware, creating a physical connection between the virtual aircraft and the person behind the controls.

The Next Generation of Virtual Air Racing

Microsoft Flight Simulator's new National Championship Air Races experience brings several disciplines of competitive aviation into MSFS 2024.

Five simulated racing classes are represented, including Unlimited with the P-51 Mustang, T-6 with the North American T-6 Texan, Biplane with the Pitts Special S1S, Jet with the Aero Vodochody L-39, and, for the first time, STOL competition through a new head-to-head 1v1 drag-racing experience.

The experience goes beyond simply flying faster.

New wear-and-tear and aircraft-management mechanics add another layer of strategy to racing. Pilots must consider factors including engine temperature and manifold pressure, making aircraft and energy management increasingly important as competitors push for faster times.

It is an environment where the relationship between pilot and aircraft matters, making it a natural showcase for force feedback technology.

Force Feedback: A Crucial Step Forward for Modern Flight Simulation

Flight simulation has made enormous advances in visual fidelity, aircraft systems, avionics, aerodynamics and scenery. MOZA believes the physical connection between the pilot and simulated aircraft represents one of the next crucial steps in that evolution.

Changes in aerodynamic loading, airspeed, trim, and aircraft behavior can translate into physical forces at the pilot's hands.

Instead of simply moving a control and watching the aircraft respond on screen, the pilot gains another channel of information about what the aircraft is doing.

Few environments demonstrate that relationship better than air racing.

High speeds, aggressive maneuvering, rapidly changing aerodynamic loads and the need for constant precision make air racing an exceptional test of both pilot and machine. With aircraft at the National Championship Air Races capable of exceeding 500 mph (800 kmh), control and energy management sit at the heart of the competition.

MOZA's force feedback hardware adds that physical dimension to the Microsoft Flight Simulator experience in Roswell, helping transport attendees from the event floor into the virtual cockpit.

“Flight simulation has reached an incredible level of visual and systems fidelity, but flying is fundamentally a physical experience,” said Zak Priest, Business Development Manager - Flight Simulation at MOZA. “Force feedback is an important part of bringing that missing dimension into the modern simulated cockpit, and air racing is one of the best environments imaginable to demonstrate it. The aircraft is constantly changing energy, attitude and aerodynamic loading, and that physical connection through the controls can completely change how you experience the aircraft.”

From FlightSimExpo to Roswell

Roswell represents the next chapter in MOZA's growing collaboration with the Microsoft Flight Simulator team around competitive virtual aviation.

At FlightSimExpo 2026, MOZA and Microsoft Flight Simulator collaborated on a weekend-long Red Bull Air Racing competition, putting attendees behind MOZA force feedback controls to compete for qualifying positions before advancing into a live bracketed championship.

The activation combined competitive racing, prizes, live coverage and spectators throughout the weekend, demonstrating how flight simulation can evolve beyond the traditional individual simulator experience and into a competitive format.

That collaboration now moves from the flight simulation show floor directly into the world of real air racing.

At Roswell, attendees can experience Microsoft's newest air-racing content using MOZA force feedback hardware, then step outside and watch the aircraft and pilots that inspired the simulation compete around the real course.

For MOZA, it represents the intersection of three rapidly converging worlds: real-world aviation, high-fidelity flight simulation and competitive esports.

Experience It in Roswell Before the Worldwide Release

The 2026 National Championship Air Races take place September 16-20 at Roswell Air Center in Roswell, New Mexico, bringing together seven real-world racing classes across five days of competition, with some aircraft capable of speeds exceeding 500 mph.

Microsoft Flight Simulator will be onsite throughout the event, giving attendees an opportunity to experience its new National Championship Air Races content ahead of the worldwide October 13 launch.

MOZA force feedback flight simulation hardware will support the Microsoft Flight Simulator experience throughout the event.

To celebrate the collaboration, MOZA, Microsoft Flight Simulator and the Reno Air Racing Association will also offer an exclusive MOZA Flight Simulation discount for the National Championship Air Races community, giving attendees an opportunity to bring the force feedback experience home following the event.

Additional promotional details will be available during the National Championship Air Races.

About MOZA Flight

MOZA Flight develops advanced flight simulation hardware for enthusiasts, pilots, training organizations and professional simulation applications. Built around force feedback technology and an expanding ecosystem of flight controls, avionics and accessories, MOZA is working to narrow the gap between virtual and real-world flight by bringing increasingly sophisticated physical feedback into the modern simulated cockpit.