The World’s Fastest Motorsport is a free expansion of MSFS 2024 – and a massive paid Aircraft Pack adds 40 Famous Racing Planes!
A Thrilling Expansion
MSFS 2024 Sim Update 7 brings the National Championship Air Races, the world’s fastest motorsport, to Microsoft Flight Simulator 2024. Experience the exhilaration of high-speed, low-level air racing with this exciting free expansion. This massive update includes both Reno and Roswell venues and features four pylon racing categories plus the STOL (short take-off and landing) drag event.
An Exceptional Marketplace Offering
National Championship Air Races – Racer Pack 1 introduces an additional 40 famous, high-performance racing aircraft, 10 each in four categories: Unlimited, Jet, T-6, and Biplane. Racer Pack 1 is available in the Microsoft Flight Simulator in-sim Marketplace, through the Microsoft / Xbox store and on Steam for $39.99 USD.
The Pinnacle of the World’s Fastest Motorsport
The National Championship Air Races is the crown jewel of closed-course pylon racing, the fastest motorsport in history. The world’s preeminent air racers compete against one another along pylon-marked circuits at the Air Races, blazing through the sky at speeds often exceeding 500 miles per hour. Flying at altitudes ranging from 50 feet to 250 feet above ground, they maneuver just feet from one another as they jockey for victory. Aviators fly aircraft optimized for speed and their performance is measured down to the thousandth of a second as they roar through the sky toward the finish line.
Five Racing Classes
The National Championship Air Races feature several pylon racing classes, notably: Unlimited, Jet, T-6, and Biplane.
- Unlimited Class: This category has no restrictions other than an aircraft must have a piston engine and a propeller. Unlimited Class aircraft at the National Championship Air Races are heavily modified variants of some of the great legends of the aviation world, notably the North American P-51 Mustang.
- Jet Class: This class contains non-afterburning, non-swept wing jet-powered aircraft, typically military trainers like the Aero L-39 Albatros.
- T-6 Class: This class is limited to the iconic North American T-6 Texan trainer and its direct production variants.
- Biplane Class: This category includes small biplanes like the Aviat Pitts Special S-1S and S-2S.
- STOL (Short Take-Off and Landing) Drag Competition. In STOL Drag, racers compete on a 2,000-foot course, flying high-performance STOL aircraft that can leap into the air and then come to a stop on a dime. During STOL Drag events, two pilots fly against each other and must take-off, then land, then turn around and take-off again and then land, all within strict location and time parameters.
Heart-Pounding Realism
The Microsoft Flight Simulator team has recreated the National Championship Air Races in incredible fidelity and authenticity. Thousands of reference photos and measurements ensure that the racetracks are near-perfect replicas of the Reno and Roswell courses, and the cockpits and other elements of each racing aircraft were 3D scanned to re-create the famous racers as authentically and close to real-life as possible.
Racing Modes and Levels of Realism
The National Championship Air Races expansion allows pilots to fly solo using Time Trials Mode, organize their own multi-player races, and join established multi-player races. The expansion adds a whole new level of authenticity to the racing experience in Microsoft Flight Simulator 2024. Pilots can choose realism levels, including simulated wear-and-tear, where engines can degrade based on pilot input. This requires pilots to fly tactically, carefully adjusting the throttle for maximum speed without damaging engine components—racing contenders can’t just fly wide-open throughout the race due to the damage that will occur, just like physical aircraft.
Racer Pack 1 – An Exciting Marketplace Pack with 40 Renowned Racing Aircraft
Complementing the National Championship Air Races expansion, Microsoft Flight Simulator is also releasing Racer Pack 1 which offers 40 of the most famous air racing contenders in history:
- Unlimited Class: P-51D Mustang “Strega,” an 11-time National Championship Air Races winner; P-51D Mustang “Voodoo,” which holds the title of world’s fastest piston-powered aircraft with a record speed of 554.69 miles per hour; P-51D Mustang “Bunny,” which has markings and nose art identical to that of the P-51 flown by Tuskegee Airman Lieutenant Colonel Robert “Bob” Friend; and seven other distinctive named P-51s!
- Jet Class: L-39C Albatros “American Spirit,” the first dedicated jet aircraft racer acquired by the Smithsonian’s National Air and Space Museum; L-39C Albatros “Drop Bear,” a top performer in several National Championship Air Races including a first-place win in 2018; L-39C Albatros “Pipsqueak,” a pioneer in the Jet Class at the National Championship Air Races and multiple first-place winners; and seven other distinctive named L-39s!
- T-6 Class: SNJ-4 “Big Red,” once flown by famed American aviation pioneer General Jimmy Doolittle; AT-6B “Baron’s Revenge,” a multi-time T-6 Gold champion; T-6G “Six-Cat,” a multi-time T-6 Gold champion; and seven other distinctive named T-6s!
- Biplane Class: Pitts S-1S “Miss Diane,” a prominent Gold and Silver heat racer; Pitts S-1S “Yellow Bomber,” a vibrantly painted racer that has competed in multiple heats through the years; Pitts S-1S “Blackhawk,” one of the most recognizable aircraft in the history of the National Championship Air Races; and seven other distinctive named Pitts biplanes!
National Championship Air Races – Racer Pack 1 is available through the in-sim Marketplace, the Microsoft / Xbox store and on Steam for $39.99 USD. With a total of 40 aircraft, 10 renowned racing airplanes in each pylon racing category, Unlimited, Jet, T-6, and Biplane. Pilots can also purchase all 40 aircraft individually or as class packs of 10.
As Real as It Gets!
This is one of the most exciting Microsoft Flight Simulator offerings yet, one that allows digital aviators to jump into the cockpits of Air Racing’s most renowned aircraft and roar around these legendary tracks at blistering speeds. The sky is calling!
In creating this spectacular addition, the Microsoft Flight Simulator team hopes that users will also be inspired to visit the Air Races themselves. Members of the development team will be present at the 2027 races, and look forward to meeting fellow Microsoft Flight Simulator pilots, Air Race fans, and aviation enthusiasts. Learn more about the National Championship Air Races at the event’s official website: https://airrace.org/
Microsoft Flight Simulator 2024 is available for Xbox Series X|S, Game Pass, PC, PlayStation 5, PS VR2, Steam, and supported mobile phones, tablets, and lower-spec PCs via Xbox Cloud Gaming. For the latest information on Microsoft Flight Simulator, stay tuned to @MSFSOfficial on X (formerly Twitter) or visit flightsimulator.com.