NBAA-BACE To Feature ‘Reimagined’ Static Display–Aircraft Connection

NBAA-BACE 2025 returns to Las Vegas Oct. 14 with a reimagined static display called Aircraft Connection at the Henderson Executive Airport and a first-ever Tribute to Flight Pavilion.

Aircraft Connection, featuring more than 40 business aviation aircraft, will operate for 1 ½ days of the event, although NBAA-BACE will continue as usual on Thursday, Oct. 16 at the Las Vegas Convention Center. Aircraft display hours at the Henderson airport have been shortened in a move to benefit exhibitors showcasing aircraft.

“It’s something the manufacturers would like because they can have the aircraft in, show the aircraft, but not have to spend an entire week because you’ve got to come in early. It closes, you go out and to be there for three days was taking six days,” Ed Bolen, National Business Aviation Association president and CEO, tells Aviation Week. “This will reduce that but still provide those times when the aircraft display has always been the most crowded.”

For the first time, NBAA is not allowing chalets at the aircraft display. “That was another thing that took up so much time,” Bolen said. “You had to get the aircraft in, build these massive displays, tear them down, move the aircraft. We’ve always believed aircraft are the focus of the aircraft display. So, let’s just focus on the aircraft themselves. We’re really excited.”

As a result, Gulfstream Aerospace is returning to NBAA-BACE after an absence in 2023 and 2024, saying it had changed its marketing strategy to a focus on hosting separate customer events. As in 2024, Dassault is not listed as an exhibitor but will have aircraft on display through an operator. 

Aircraft from Airbus, Aviat, Boeing Business Jets, Bombardier Aerospace, Cirrus, Daher, Embraer, Epic, Honda Aircraft, Piaggio, Pilatus, Piper, Tecnam, Textron Aviation and others will also be showcased.
Aircraft Connection will be open 1:00-5:30 p.m. Oct. 14 and from 9:00 a.m. until 5:00 p.m. on Oct. 15.

Gulfstream will feature a mock-up of its just-announced Gulfstream G300 super mid-size jet, which will replace its G280. Certification is expected in early 2027. It also will display its G400, G600, G700 and G800.

Textron Aviation will debut the new Cessna Citation Ascend at the show, with certification expected in 2025. It also will display the Citation CJ4 Gen 2, Citation Latitude and Citation Longitude along with a mock-up of the Citation CJ3 Gen3.

For the first time, the static display will feature a Tribute to Flight Pavilion to honor aviation’s past, present and future, Bolen said.

Along with a de Havilland P-38, Lockheed DH 98 Mosquito, a 1965 Learjet 23, Douglas C-47, A-26 and DC-3, will be Game Aerospace’s newly certified GB1 GameBird, a two-seat, all-composite aerobatic aircraft.

NBAA will host a Golden Hour Toast to Aviation at 5:00 p.m. on Oct. 14 with a toast to aviation as the sun begins to set. At that time, a former Air Force Thunderbird pilot will fly over in the GameBird painted to resemble the Thunderbirds F-16 livery, Bolen said.

“It will be fun,” he said.