NBAA-BACE 2026 preview: SyberJet SJ36 mockup debut, new cabin materials and connectivity offerings

NBAA-BACE will be held in Las Vegas on 20-22 October 2026, and several interiors-related exhibitors have outlined what they will present. A full-scale mockup of the nine-seat SyberJet SJ36 light jet will make its world debut on 19 October at the Aircraft Connection static display at Henderson Executive Airport. The aircraft targets transcontinental range of up to 3,000nm non-stop, a sea-level cabin pressure at up to 41,000ft, and a top speed of up to Mach 0.88, which would be a light jet category record. It will use SyberVision, SyberJet's proprietary avionics and flight management ecosystem, with a full glass cockpit, flight plans uploaded from a mobile device or iPad, and over-the-air software updates.

Capital Aviation will present AeroMatrix, a proprietary molecular cabinetry finish designed to replace conventional polyester and polyurethane finishes. The company says it is engineered to hold veneer and moisture in place in cabin temperatures that can exceed 160°F, is UV resistant, comes in high-gloss or matte with a three-year warranty, and passes FAA burn requirements. Jonathan Group Aerospace will unveil the SLE129T stowage slide, an evolution of its 129 platform that combines a push-push lock-closed feature, a spring-loaded kickout and quiet telescopic motion in one part. It is available in lengths of 10-24in, with an 80 lb per pair slide load rating, a 70 lb latch load rating and a 0.60in spring-out presentation, and keeps the 129T hole pattern as a drop-in upgrade.

Aeristo will emphasise collaboration with designers through its AeristoCraft teams, which work on techniques such as embossing, quilting, printing, stitching and colour development; designs from these collaborations have won International Yacht & Aviation Awards for five consecutive years. Garrett Leather will present two new collections, Asti and Soft Wovens. Asti is a hand-tipped, pebble-grain leather in a neutral palette, while Soft Wovens comprises three designs, Pizzelle, Sprezza and Loza, reinterpreting Italian weaving heritage in leather. Aircraft Lighting International (ALI) will showcase its FAA PMA-certified RGBW cabin lighting system, which allows fully customisable cabin lighting environments.

Duncan Aviation, celebrating 70 years in 2026, will run a community art project in which visitors create art squares that form a collective image, with submitters eligible to win a Garmin D2 Mach 2 Aviator Smartwatch. This year the company opened a US$25m, 32,500ft² dual-bay paint hangar in Lincoln, Nebraska, whose first aircraft, Citation CJ3+ N1RD, received a 46-colour design, the most intricate paint scheme the company has completed.

On connectivity, Viasat says its JetXP inflight connectivity service is now activated on more than 2,100 private jets. Two ViaSat-3 satellites are in service, with a third due to enter service imminently, adding 1Tbps of network capacity. Viasat will showcase its multi-orbit strategy combining GEO, HEO and future LEO capacity via its partnership with Telesat, and preview its AI-powered In-flight Quality of Experience (iQe) application. Gogo will bring JetVision by DirecTV and FlightPath3D together within its Gogo Vision IFE platform starting in 2027. Gogo 5G is operating over the continental US and parts of Canada, and its Galileo LEO satellite-based system is becoming available on more aircraft, including the Pilatus PC-12 and PC-24.

The lineup shows where cabin suppliers are spending their effort: finishes and hardware that survive heat, UV and daily handling, quieter and more compact stowage mechanisms, and lighting and leather positioned as design differentiators. Several launches arrive with a certification or warranty attached, such as FAA burn compliance on AeroMatrix and FAA PMA status on the ALI lighting system, which suggests that buyers of retrofit and refurbishment work expect regulatory standing to be stated up front. The SJ36 mockup is a different kind of entry, a clean-sheet airframe shown as a static display rather than a flying aircraft, so its performance targets remain claims until they are demonstrated.

Connectivity is moving toward bundling. Viasat is selling reach and capacity across orbits, Gogo is folding entertainment content and 3D flight-tracking into one IFE platform, and both are leaning on satellite additions to widen coverage. For operators weighing an installation, the comparison increasingly spans network capacity, content and orbit mix at once, not a single speed figure.

The dated items to follow are Viasat's third ViaSat-3 entering service, which it describes as imminent, and the start of Gogo's combined JetVision and FlightPath3D offering in 2027.