Gamescom 2026: National Championship Air Races Coming Oct. 13 for MSFS 2024 Today, at Gamescom 2026 in Cologne, Germany, Microsoft has confirmed that the National Championship Air Races will arrive in MSFS 2024 on Oct. 13, after the initial announcement at the Xbox Games Showcase in June. Read Microsoft’s post here. The announcement was made at Gamescom 2026, where attendees also had the opportunity to try out the new racing mode. Microsoft had previously confirmed these National Championship Air Races, which are scheduled to be released sometime this autumn, without a specific date. The new Racing mode combines two locations. You will be able to race on the classic Reno course in Nevada, previously featured in Microsoft Flight Simulator 2020, as well as the new Roswell course in New Mexico. Microsoft says it is also introducing an aircraft wear-and-tear system, meaning penalties are added for how aggressively aircraft are operated over the course of a race. Microsoft says it worked with the Reno Air Racing Association (RARA), along with several different aircraft owners and pilots, to recreate each participating aircraft and its configuration. The article continues below the ad Five types will be available, divided up into what Microsoft calls “classes”. These include the Unlimited Class, featuring the P-51 Mustang, the T-6 Class, using the North American T-6 Texan, the Biplane Class, using the Aviat Pitts Special S1S, and the Jet Class, using the Aero Vodochody Aero L-39 Albatros. A fifth category, STOL, is being introduced to Microsoft Flight Simulator air racing for the first time. STOL stands for short take-off and landing, and this mode will feature a one-versus-one drag racing format, Microsoft says. So, compared with the previous Reno Air Races for MSFS 2020, the new version for MSFS 2024 will include the Roswell venue, STOL racing, and