TPC at FSExpo 2025 - Recap

Jul 2

Written By Serge B

Once upon a time - okay, about five years ago - there was a small group of 10 flightsim enthusiasts who started flying together on VATSIM. Their mission? To share their passion for aviation with like-minded flightsim enthusiasts. Fast forward to today, and that humble little group has evolved into The Pilot Club (TPC), a thriving community of over 5,000 passionate and dedicated Members and a registered nonprofit organization. While we are no longer a small group of flightsimmers, our core goal remained unchanged: to foster a welcoming environment where aviation and flight simulation enthusiasts of all skill levels can learn, fly, and connect.

In 2024, we decided it was time to spread our wings and go wheels-up in the real world by exhibiting at the FlightSimExpo (FSExpo) for the first time. We had such a blast at that event, that skipping this year’s event wasn’t even up for debate.

So, on June 27, 2025, we walked through the doors of FSExpo 2025 in Providence, Rhode Island - a New England town full of colonial charm and excellent seafood (and pizza). The three-day event was packed with product reveals, hands-on experiences, workshops, educational seminars, and tours. It was, simply put, the ultimate destination for simmers and aviation geeks from around the globe.

Now, if you’re new to the scene, FlightSimExpo is the flagship event of the Flight Simulation Association (FSA), a community-powered convention connecting simmers, developers, real-world pilots, and dreamers. Since its debut in Las Vegas back in 2018, FSExpo has made stops in Orlando, San Diego, Houston, and (again) Vegas. The FSA’s mission is to help people discover the power of home flight simulation—whether for training, proficiency, or just good old-fashioned fun.

At the expo, we were proud to exhibit alongside the titans in the community. It was an incredible chance to meet fellow simmers, connect with developers, chat with VATSIM controllers (who regularly keep our group flights on track), and cultivate relationships with our valued partners. Plenty of media outlets covered in detail all of the exhibitors, so I won’t bore you with that, but a personal highlight for me was seeing WINWING unveiling their brand-new yoke - seriously impressive gear. As someone who appreciates solid hardware, their yoke setup stopped me in my tracks. These folks continue to raise the bar with every product drop.

This year, I was excited to have a few Staff Members at our booth:

Elliot | TPC24, our VP of Pilot Training
James | TPC36, our VP of Airline Operations
Katya, our Chief Financial Officer

Now, here’s a funny twist: when we arrived at the registration desk, I discovered that I wasn’t on the list. That’s right - I registered every member of the team… except myself. Classic. Thankfully, the kind folks running the expo sorted things out quickly, and I was officially granted boarding privileges.

After linking up with James and Elliot, we got the booth set up and later attended the welcome reception - a relaxed meet-and-greet where we rubbed elbows with other exhibitors over drinks. Over the next two days, we welcomed loads of visitors curious to learn about The Pilot Club, our mission, and how we operate.

We also had time to explore the show floor and check out the latest innovations in flightsim gear, software, and services. But truthfully, the best part of the weekend for me was meeting fellow TPC Members face-to-face. This year, I had the pleasure of meeting Michael | TPC33, Greg | 98GD, Mike | TPC1610, Nunzio | TPC140, Tim | TPC538, and Efe | TPC26 in person. I also reconnected with Gary | TPC182, Giovanni | N54JA, Ethan | TPC558, and Josh | TPC23, who I first met at last year’s expo. And I got to shake hands with Devin, the newest Member on our Training Staff. I also met Mike from the vUSA FC, Rob (VATGOV13) and Dan (ZNY), and reconnected with Brandon (VATUSA2) and CitationMax.

One of the best highlights of the weekend was our TPC Dinner on Saturday, where we put away the flight plans and enjoyed some great conversation and laughs in a casual setting. It was a reminder that, while flight simulation is what brings us together, it’s the people that make this hobby special.

FSExpo was an amazing opportunity to experience the flightsim community together with fellow TPC Members! That’s what it’s really about - not just the gear and the tech (though that’s pretty awesome too), but the people. Teamwork, Passion, Community.

I hope to see you at the next year’s expo in Minneapolis, MN.

With Mike from the Virtual USA Flying Club.

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