Attendees of October’s National Business Aviation Association Business Aviation Convention & Exhibition (NBAA-BACE) in Las Vegas will be able to see one of the most advanced flight training devices (FTDs) being developed.
Textron unit TRU Simulation + Training said live demonstrations of its Cessna 172 Skyhawk-configured Veris Virtual Reality FTD are planned for NBAA-BACE, marking the technology’s trade show debut and giving attendees a chance to experience it firsthand. Veris is designed for state-of-the-art simulation of rotorcraft and fixed-wing aircraft like the Skyhawk, one of the world’s most popular trainers.
The simulator is designed to offer immersive virtual reality environments for pilots using an image generation system powered by Unreal Engine, the same platform used to design popular video games such as Fortnite. The device can be loaded with custom airports and visual scenarios and allows users to interact with switches and avionics just as they would in a real aircraft.
TRU announced Veris in 2024, and it secured FAA qualification as a level 7 FTD for helicopters in September 2025. The company said Monday that the Skyhawk-configured Veris is not yet FAA-qualified. The device is also designed to meet EASA Level 3 FTD standards.
Once qualified, the Skyhawk Veris will be delivered to launch customer US Aviation Academy, which ordered five devices and secured options for 10 more at last year’s NBAA-BACE, and mark its introduction to the fixed-wing training market. The training provider offers professional pilot, aircraft maintenance, dispatcher, and remote pilot training using a fleet of more than 200 aircraft, with partners including major airlines and the U.S. Air Force. It will install Veris at its training facility in Denton, Texas.
“The Cessna Skyhawk Veris was designed with intentionality to support a realistic flight training experience, including a dual-seat configuration that allows instructors and students to train together on the device,” said Jerry Messaris, president and CEO of TRU, in a news release. “As demand for pilots continues to grow, solutions like Veris help training organizations expand access to high-quality instruction and prepare students for the next step in their aviation careers.”
Bell Training Academy was the launch customer for the rotorcraft-configured Veris. Its devices are configured for the Bell 505 and used to train military aviators under the U.S. Army’s Flight School Next (FSN) program.
TRU has more than 240 qualified and supported devices for civil and military customers. In 2016, it delivered the world’s first Boeing 737 Max full flight simulator (FFS).
Veris Simulator for the Skyhawk
Veris combines FFS features in a physical cockpit structure with virtual reality technology, though students can complete certain training with or without a virtual reality headset.
The Skyhawk Veris’ fully configured cockpit is designed to precisely replicate the aircraft’s instrumentation and controls, including its Garmin G1000 NXi avionics. TRU said it will offer training credit for all licensing phases from private pilot through flight instructor.
The advantage of Veris, as TRU describes it, is comparable performance to a traditional FTD at a much lower price point, as well as less time between purchase and training readiness. Measuring 7.3 by 6.85 by 7.25 feet, it is compact enough to fit into just about any training facility.
The simulator’s image generator displays aircraft models—including accurate representations of switches, knobs, levers and instrument panels—environments, and landscapes. It can also simulate smoke, fire, and lighting conditions such as shadows and reflections.
Users can load the device with airports from around the world and request new ones. They can also customize a variety of scenes and scenarios including off-airport landings, search, rescue, and emergency operations, military and defense exercises, and night vision goggles.
A full-electric six degrees of freedom motion system provides accurate flight cues and vibrations. The device’s digital electric control loading system (CLS), the same used in TRU’s Level D FFS products, offers high-fidelity and realistic force-feel simulation.
According to Bell, the device enables training for “emergency procedures and complex scenarios supported by the OEM’s flight data package.”
For instructors, an operating station controlled using a pair of touchscreen displays allows them to see what pilots see. Optional features include a wireless tablet enabling instructor control of the station from anywhere around the simulator environment.
Further, an optional debrief system transfers video, audio, avionics data, and other information to a station outside the simulator for playback. A lesson plan system allows instructors to create predetermined sequences of activities and events for various training scenarios.
