FSExpo in Las Vegas 2024
This was my first flightsim expo and I did not really know what to expect.
I live in Dallas, I decided just to devote one day and I flew in at 8am in the morning and had a flight back at 5:45pm (that was later delayed one hour)
The convention was held at the Rio in Las Vegas that is conveniently located 15 min from KLAS.
Got the registration done and got a swag bag and then I was holding for the doors to open at 9am.
The FSExpo promised vendor booths with exhibitions as well as various talks and interviews.
Find the sponsors and exhibitors ->here <-.
Entering the show floor I was impressed with the number of vendors. In total 72 (!) were represented.
I started to just go through and get my bearings to see were I should focus my time.
The only seminar I attended, as my time was panel discussion with several content creators like Mark from Sim Hanger and SimFanatic who was wearing his pilot sunglasses throughout the seminar. It was moderated by twotonemurphy from Ireland.
My reflections on some of the things I saw on the show floor
Navigraph
I have used Navigraph for a few years. They had their whole team there with 30 people. They announced that they will have VATSIM information on their maps.
After I left MSFS announced that they will have integrated flight plans, supported by Working Title.
SayIntentions AI ATC
This is the product I’m fully committed to and the recent price cut will hopefully getting more people trying this unique experience. To have an ATC that is completely unscripted is really a key to the immersion that you want.
Altimeter Motives
This was an innovative way to have an instrument cluster. It is basically a frame that is attached to a screen that shows the gauges !
The knobs on the bezel will then interact with the gauges.
You can also get a smaller solution that includes a screen.
It’s an innovative way to get a control surface without buying all instruments individually.
Vattastic
A web site that shows a lot of detail on the VatSim network
MK Studios
Producer of airport models. I learned that it takes up to a year to do an airport. The girl I was talking to had been to Faroe Islands herself to photograph Vagar airport.
FS Elite
Did not know about these guys actually, but its a web site that collects all news about flight sim. They post everyday so this might be a good option for the latest in flight simulation.
flitesim
Chinese company that make yokes with force feedback.
I tried it and I was not impressed. It’s very expensive. The representative worked with me to tune the feedback but to me it did not feel smooth no matter what they did. The yoke itself had a weird super shiny finish and the box for the electronics looked huge with not much inside of it but a long shaft and the motor. Hopefully continued development will improve this solution.
This really looked like a Navigraph wannabe, basically providing flight planner and LIDO charts. Its not integrated with anything so you download a file that you then upload into MSFS. Significantly cheaper than Navigraph, but with the MSFS announcements about their own flight plan services for MSFS2024, these guys will have an uphill battle. The product have only been out for 3 months.
Low cost FCU etc for the airline virtual pilots and other gear. I know the price point on this FCU is low, but I still felt that the buttons could have had a better quality. You can basically wiggle them from side to side.
Many loyal users on the somewhat toxic MSFS Facebook group gave me a hard time regarding my observation …
In conclusion:
The greatest thing for me at FS Expo was to meet the people behind the products that I use every day.
With a two day stay, I could have focused on more seminars, and that is something I will consider for the next one that I most likely will attend in Europe.
Various images:
My flightsim equipment
Computer Specifications:
CPU: AMD Ryzen 7 5800X3D 8-Core
GPU: NVIDIA Ge Force RTX 3080
Memory: 32GB
Disks:
Disk 1: 1TB for system
Disk 2: 2TB for storage (this is were I have MSFS community folder etc)
PERIPHERALS:
Turtle Beach Velocity One
Saitek Multi Planel
Saitek Radio Panel
TCA Throttle Quadrant
TCA Throttle Add Ons
Logitech G Pro Flight Rudder Pedals
Piper Comanche 250
This plane is my go to pay-ware GA plane in MSFS. I think it is a very nice model with many realistic options.
It is well worth the price and I have more than 100 hours in it.
The Piper Comanche 250 by A2A Simulations for MSFS is meticulously crafted to provide pilots with an authentic and engaging flying experience. The aircraft boasts precise flight dynamics that mirror real-world performance, ensuring realistic handling in the virtual skies. Its attention to detail is evident in the high-resolution textures, custom animations, and a fully functional cockpit complete with authentic gauges and switches. With custom sounds and interactive systems included, aviation enthusiasts can immerse themselves in captivating flights that stay true to the real thing when using Microsoft Flight Simulator.
Daher TBM 930
This is an airplane I just recently started to fly. The main attraction to this is the avionics suite. It is very easy to program and have big class surfaces that you can customize to your liking.
The TBM 930 in Microsoft Flight Simulator is a single-engine turboprop aircraft known for its sleek design and impressive performance. Some key features of the airplane are:
Powerful Pratt & Whitney PT6A-66D engine providing 850 horsepower
Maximum cruise speed of 330 knots with a range of over 1,700 nautical miles
G3000 NXi avionics suite with synthetic vision technology for enhanced situational awareness
Detailed 3D cockpit with functional switches, knobs, and levers for an immersive flying experience
Customizable panel options allowing pilots to adjust displays and layouts to suit their preferences
Overall, the TBM 930 offers a modern and sophisticated flying experience for virtual pilots in Microsoft Flight Simulator.