It adds a massive amount of AI aircraft but some of the models are a little bit dodgy. It's quantity over quality in some areas I think. I went for MyTraffic LITE which is cheaper and, well, a lot lighter - it justs adds a variety of aircraft but the cut down is it only really gives you traffic in Eu and NA.
- This is an AI aircraft only. Tested with FSX SE and P3D-V4 (night and day). Included registration for real traffic and also night texture to have light in the 2 simulators.
- When I flew FS9 all my AI Aircraft were real world airlines. Whenever I flew, I would hear ATC calling real world airlines. I have never done that with FSX so, with the exception of my real world liveries, all I ever hear ATC calling is Orbit, World Travel, etc. I went looking for a package to download that would do that for me and I was totally overwhelmed by the search results at Flightsim.com.
We're already about halfway through 2019 and many new add-ons have been released for Microsoft Flight Simulator X by freeware developers and enthusiasts in the industry. With over 24,000 files in our library, it's becoming increasingly hard to filter them out to find the best of the bunch without scanning through hundreds of pages.
My article here is my own selection of 20 of the best aircraft for FSX currently in 2019. The files may have been released before 2019, however, I'll release an article similar to this each year with further updates for the current year. Please note that all of the files featured here are completely free to download and use - we have a separate page for 'the best of payware' add-ons.
As this is quite a long article, I've included some jumping points below for easy navigation - you can just click on them:
Large Civil/Passenger (Jet) Aircraft
The most popular aircraft people download are almost always civil/passenger jet. These are the type of aircraft most people fly on when going on vacation or plane spotting at airports. As there is much demand for this category, this is the largest group on our downloads section with the most downloadable files. There is also a bigger developer base for these types of aircraft. Below are 5 of my favorites.
Vista Liners/Erick Cantu's Boeing 727-200
This add-on was originally created for Microsoft Flight Simulator 2004 but has recently been ported to FSX. It was well known in the FS2004 days as quite possibly the best free 727 package available and many of the reviews, comments, and ratings reflect that. The port to FSX was made possible by David Grindele who converted certain aspects of the package such as the aircraft.cfg file, the engine smoke and navigation lights to work correctly (and more realistically) in Flight Simulator X.
The 727-200 was a reshaped and reformed version of the 100, with more than 20 feet of length added on for good measure. Also, an extra ten-foot fuselage section was brought in to go in front of the wings, as well as the same again behind them. Although it weighed more than the 100, it was able to hit more powerful speeds. The aircraft itself had a five-year lifespan before the 727-200 Advanced came along in 1972. However, more than 300 of these aircraft were created and have since become hugely popular among flight collectors and simulation fans all over.
This file includes some great features including wing views, engine smoke and full compatibility with Shockwave's 3D landing lights enhancement. The file is a whopper at over 600 MB as it includes 153 full liveries with hundreds of airline paint schemes all in one package.
Bombardier Canadair CRJ 200 V2.0 Package by Brian Celb
Another upgraded model for FSX, this package is one of the best CRJ-200 models there is (without paying). The package includes an original CRJ-200 model created by Project Opensky. Project Opensky have now been dissolved but they always created stunning freeware base models which were very realistic and packed with great features - this is one of them.
The CRJ 200 was released as a part of a large family of regional airliners that were created by Bombardier and were hugely well received at the time of their inception. Widely based on the Canadair Challenger form of the business jet, the CRJ200 offered a more efficient engine room that made the aircraft safer and more effective to actually fly.
However, the CRJ 200 is otherwise completely identical to the original – the way that it looks and feels to the pilot will be pretty much the exact same. It’s only in those moments when you know the engine would have otherwise failed that you can truly appreciate the power of this aircraft.
The livery pack includes designs for Air Canada, America West, Delta Connection and Lufthansa in great detail. All of the textures are DXT3 formatted for better detail. This package does not include a custom panel, however, it has been built to use the default CRJ-700 panel, which is very similar and serves the purpose well.
Another very cool feature of this pack is the sound files. The sound files were created by Turbine Sound Studios (TSS) who create brilliant payware aircraft sound packs from real recordings. You can view their products over at SimShack.net if you are interested in reading more about them. The pack uses realistic CF34 turbofan sound files created originally by TSS.
View/download the file over here.
UPS Boeing 777-200 Freighter (Jim Walters and POSKY)
If you fancy flying something different (other than passengers) and feel like hauling some cargo around the globe, then this aircraft is for you. With the original model created by Project Opensky, you can be sure of a high-quality creation to build a livery upon. Jim Walters has done just that and created this add-on as FSX native - so you can ensure full compatibility.
Initially designed to be the up-class and high market model of the original 777, the 777-2000 was created to give a groundbreaking new look and feel to the empire of Boeing. As of 2014, the aircraft has seen more than 84 of the traditional 777-200 brought into action but its freighter style is slightly newer to the market. Sturdy to fly and extremely easy to get the hang on, a huge part of the industry for Boeing now comes in freight and transport, so this performs at it’s very best level.
At over 50MB for the entire package, you can be sure that the textures of the livery are highly detailed. The livery is the new UPS scheme (featuring the 'Worldwide Services' artwork on the side of the aircraft). Also included are cargo loading features and a push-back tug truck to get you onto the taxiway. A few simple key combinations launch both - it adds to the realism and makes your simulation experience more enjoyable. Being a POSKY (Project OpenSky) model, some great features are included such as dynamic flexible wings that change depending on how much load is on them - i.e. when in flight the wings will flex into a U shape, but when on the ground they will 'droop'. All of the control surfaces are fully animated including trim, rudder, flaps, slats, spoilers and much more.
View/download the file over here.
iFly Boeing 747-400 Package
Quite possibly the most realistic and fully functional free 747-400 packages is this one from the developers at iFly. If you're a more serious simmer with attention to detail then you won't be disappointed by this one. Featuring a fully functional FMC (Flight Management Computer), TCAS System and Audio/visual TA/RA system - it's the best you're going to get without paying a premium. Sometimes it's hard to believe this one isn't payware and with many strong reviews and ratings, the community seems to love this aircraft.
As one of the best-sellers of all time within the Boeing brand, you can probably already guess that this aircraft brings plenty to the table. The 400 edition has moved forward with the times more and includes a far more efficient to fly and equally safe to use aircraft. The wing tip extensions were also included to give this model something a bit more unique aesthetically – however, it also comes with a glass cockpit that can easily fit two crews. Fuel efficiency is a huge part of the service offered here, too, and can be the ideal pick for some.
The picture above does not do this file justice, you have to check out the download page for all the screenshots and details. This package from iFly includes seven paint schemes: iFly livery, Air France, Northwest, Lufthansa, Air China, China Airlines (Boeing) and Cathay Pacific. Also included are 3D cabin models so you can explore the plane while in flight as if you was a passenger on the aircraft. Clocking in at almost 49MB, it's a large file packing a punch. A virtual 3D cockpit is also included and it fully functions with features such as working switches and displays (yes, in virtual cockpit mode!). Before you buy the PMDG 747, check this one from iFly first.
View/download the file over here.
Eric Buchmann's Concorde
We couldn't complete the passenger/jet aircraft section without mentioning one of the most iconic aircraft of all time - the Concorde! We may all remember when Microsoft included a default Concorde in Flight Simulator 2002 and wondered why they removed it from all future versions. Well, it's back here for FSX in stunning detail. There are a few freeware Concorde packs for FSX, but this is probably the most versatile without buying payware (Flight Sim Labs to a brilliant payware Concorde). Created and adapted from the famous FS France model of FS2004, this model by Eric Buchmann has many features packed inside.
As one of the most iconic aircraft of all- time it’s no surprise that this has been remade so many times; being capable of flight almost double the speed of the speed of sound, this behemoth could handle more up to 128 passengers at any one time. It continued massive amounts of service for more than 27 years, before the violent end to the Concorde reign occurred. With more than 20 of the aircraft built in total across the UK and France, it was a genuine piece of innovation within the world of aircraft and changed things for the better.
This is one of the most popular add-ons we have in our file library and there are many reasons why. The package comes with 5 paint schemes including Air France, British Airways, American Airlines, United and the famous Pepsi paint scheme. The aircraft model also features engine smoke and afterburner effects for maximum realism. Inside the aircraft, there are many perks including a full 3D virtual cockpit and animated nose/visor sections. The exterior has been replicated with great attention to detail featuring many 3D animated parts. While the textures are not breathtaking, they surely won't disappoint. At 41MB, you know you're getting a high-quality package.
View/download the file over here.
Business Jets
Some of us prefer to fly something a bit smaller with the same power as the big jumbos of above. Some of us also like to see ourselves as private jet pilots simulating flights carrying famous celebrities or perhaps envisioning yourself jet-setting around the globe in your own private jet. Check out my 5 favorite bizjets below.
Alejandro Lucena's Cessna Citation 500
This Citation 500 created purely for FSX (not backward compatible) by Alejandro Lucena is one of the best free native models available. In fact, it's one of the most popular private jet aircraft we have in our library. With support for DirectX 10, you can really get some eye candy going on with this add-on. The model was created in Gmax - which enables the developer to give much attention to detail - and that shows for sure.
As a truly epic aircraft that received a huge amount of acclaim when it first hit the markets in the late 1960s, the Cessna Citation has long been a really important member of the business jet lineage. By bringing together so many distinct families of the Cessna brand and almost unifying hem under the one banner was a hugely impressive move by the company, and made sure that the future would be a much easier one to manage; the innovations brought in by the Citation really did help to set a tone for the future development and change within Cessna.
The flight dynamics of this model (how it flies in the sky) were created by Brett Henderson who actually pilots a real life Citation 500. He was very particular and you can expect very realistic flight dynamics for ultimate realism when flying. Like many of the other 'best of' aircraft featured above, this one features fully functional and interactive virtual cockpit (for those who prefer that to a 2D panel system). The aircraft also has many dynamic moving parts and special animations including a front cargo and passenger door. There are a few livery styles chucked in with this file, however, none of them are commercial names you may have heard of - in fact they are all default private livery styles - but hey, you're flying a private jet... right?
View/download the file over here.
Alejandro Lucena's Hawker Raytheon
Another from Alejandro Lucena is his Hawker Raytheon package. With slightly less detail than his Citation 500 aircraft, this one is still one to watch (or download!) The Hawker program is one of the longest running private jet production lines and it's most definitely one you've heard of before. This aircraft model was created many years ago when FSX was in its infancy and developers weren't that familiar with the higher resolution textures and better 3D models. Having said that, this is still a stunning aircraft bursting with features and functionality.
Free Add On Aircraft For Fsx
The Hawker 800 is a cool looking little aircraft that certainly comes with a fair bit of history about it; first brought into play in the early 1980s, it was finally put to bed in 2007 after having served as a solid corporate aircraft for many years. It was part of the British aerospace group at first before eventually transferring elsewhere. With a variety of new changes and improvements over the 700, this was a nice change of pace that helped to bring in a more sensible and safe form of a cockpit for corporate aircraft, improving the overall flight safety.
This model features an interesting 3D virtual cockpit with an animated female co-pilot in the cockpit! While the 3D modeling of her isn't that great, it'll add a bit of fun to your flight I'm sure. The external textures of the aircraft are reasonable and there are a few liveries chucked in - again none of which are commercial airlines that you may have heard of. Overall it's a very clean aircraft and a pleasure to fly. The flight dynamics are also quite realistic to its real life counterpart (so the feedback reveals). Give it a go!
View/download the file over here.
CamSim's Embraer Phenom 300
CamSim creates some great freeware aircraft for FSX, FS2004 and I think as far back as FS2002 - but this model of their Embraer Phenom 300 is definitely one to download. While the file size only clocks in at around 8MB, some great features have been packed into this space. The livery design is based around a real-world Phenom 300, 'PP-XVJ'. PP-XVJ is owned by a private individual and while I've looked online, I can't seem to find the owner. The paint scheme is eye-catching and very pleasing.
Like any good light aircraft, the Embraer Phenom was hugely well received in Brazil as it helped to bring small parties of up to 9 across the country. It could fly up to 3,650km in length and capable of being used for many domestic flights across Brazil. In fact, it was the top jet delivered in the whole of 2013 with more than 60 units sold across the world; this keen interest in the ever-growing Embraer engine and style has made sure that this mod is worth trying. It’s a unique flight experience, and well worth giving a shot.
The model and livery have all be developed by Camil Valiquette aka CamSim. The real-life aircraft seats six passengers and the virtual version has been created to replicate this. The model features a fully animated cabin compartment with moving passengers. It's great fun to have a play with this cabin while you're cruising with the autopilot on. As well as an animated cabin, the aircraft has been developers to high standards externally too. All of the decals are sharp and modeled well and you even have ground handling services (such as animated passenger steps) at the click of a few buttons.
View/download the file over here.
Danny Garnier's Gulfstream IV
While the original model of this aircraft wasn't created by Danny Garnier, it was actually ported to FSX by him. The original model was created by Rick Sasala for FS2004. In my opinion, this is one of the best freeware Gulfstream IV's for FSX. It's also a popular one in our download library too. This file comes packed with many features you can expect a payware package to have. The actual model has been upgraded many times over the years by various developers and what you're getting is a mash-up of many upgrades and tweaks - all in one easy to install file.
This slick business jet was created by Gulfstream Aerospace and therefore it carries all of the usual hallmarks that they are known for; quality in design, attention to detail, and capture all of the little things that bring the entire project together. The Gulfstream IV was hugely popular prior to the arrival of the G500 and G550 and therefore found it easy to become an established part of the overall furniture around the place. The aircraft was brought in during the mid-1990s and since then has still managed to serve whoever requires a dated but reliable piece of aircraft tech.
The real life Gulfstream IV has been about since 1985 and stopped production in 2003. It can seat around 14-19 passengers comfortably so it's on the larger end of the private jets. Many private jet hire companies keep this aircraft in stock and it's also used by many military and government agencies worldwide. The model was created entirely in Gmax. While the 3D modeling can be improved slightly with more attention to detail, its overall design is solid. This Gulfstream has animated parts everywhere you look, including a fully working virtual cockpit, VIP cabin, thrust reversers, animated opening doors and all control surfaces. Also included is a custom 2D panel for those who prefer that - I know I do.
View/download the file over here.
Mitsuya Hamaguchi 's HondaJet
I couldn't finish the business jet section without mentioning something more exotic. The HondaJet by Mitsuya Hamaguchi is a Honda HA-420 HondaJet aircraft model just for FSX. The HondaJet is produced in Japan by Honda, which I'm sure you may have heard of because of their cars. They actually manufacture aircraft too (among other things). Its first flight was in 2003 and commercial production began in 2006, making it one of the newest and most modern private jets available. The modeling by Mitsuya has been done to very high detail and you can really notice it when looking at the aircraft externally.
As you might imagine with an aircraft of this sheer caliber and class, the attention to detail is almost second to one; as the first ever released by the Honda Aircraft Company, this device found it easy to break into the market and capture the attention of people due to it’ sleek design. It’s expected to receive full FAA certification in 2015 but until then you’ll be able to make use of the innovative changes and features that have been brought in by Honda since the project was first announced back in the late 1980s when they studied aviation deeply.
While the file size is not that large, you really wouldn't notice it from looking at the aircraft. In fact, when choosing what to download I'm the type that usually goes on file size - expecting larger to be better... this isn't always the case and this aircraft is a demonstration as to why. While not much documentation comes with the file, it has many features including animated steps up to the aircraft, a female copilot in the cockpit and a fully animated virtual cockpit. The paint scheme is Honda's original factory colors which are white and blue with 'Honda' in red painted on the engines. Honda actually manufactures their own engines too for this aircraft, which is very rare as you usually see external manufacturers create the engines for aircraft. You'll enjoy this one...
View/download the file over here.
General Aviation
This is probably one of my favorite sections because I just love general aviation aircraft. I fly in real life too, so I'll select some of my favorites. This category has many developers who enjoy creating these models, however, if you're looking for the best payware general aviation aircraft then I highly recommend Carenado - they create stunning payware prop models. Let's show you my top 5...
Craig Richardson's Edgley Optica
A strange one to begin with, as it's a very unusual aircraft. Originally designed and created to provide a low-cost alternative to buying a helicopter, the Edgley Optica is British built. Its first flight was in 1979. The design of the aircraft is very strange with a cockpit area that almost looks like a helicopter cabin strapped to a pair of wings. It provided great views while in flight with almost 360-degree visibility. You could also look directly down from the cockpit - just as you can in most helicopters.
The Edgley Optica is a fantastically well-received light aircraft designed for observation style work as well as more low-cost helicopter jobs that most might never have taken on otherwise. Although fairly slow in comparison to other aircraft, this nifty little thing was easy to fly and looked truly unique in comparison to anything else out there at the time. The prospect of a hybrid between both had never really been looked into until now, and it posted a very interesting question with regards to the design and quality of the aircraft itself – with just 21 built, this still managed to beat expectations and helped to pave the way for more aircraft.
The virtual model created by Craig Richardson has been recreated to a very high standard. The 3D modeling is superb and there are no jagged or sharp edges to the model or any of the textures for that matter, and if you have high anti-aliasing settings turned on, you can be prepared for a very smooth aircraft. Included are about 5 different paint schemes to choose from, with one being a 'Police' livery for a UK police department, 'G-BOPO' as pictured above. The cockpit is fully animated with 3D gauges and 'baked' textures. Also included are 3D pilots. The seating is three-across. You'll enjoy playing around with this one - it's immensely fun to fly.
View/download the file over here.
Colin Sefton's Scaled Composites Pond Racer
Another strange aircraft is the Scaled Composites Pond Racer modeled virtually by Colin Sefton. I just love these strange aircraft, and this one is no exception. The Scaled Composites Pond Racer is a racing aircraft originally designed by Burt Rutan (yes you can expect something strange from him!) Only one was ever made and they never entered a production stage - nor was this ever planned. Built entirely from carbon fiber and Kevlar, it was extremely light and powerful with two 600 HP prop engines strapped to the wings. The aircraft only lasted two years because in 1993 it was destroyed in a crash during race qualifying and also killed the pilot, Rick Brickert.
Colin Sefton didn't actually create the original model of this add-on, it was originally designed by Blake Melancon for FS2004 - but Colin did the port to FSX as well as upgrading a few features and improving the design. This aircraft is great fun to fly and race around it - but you can't take it seriously for real simulator flight. It's a bit of fun, that's all it is. If you fancy a 10-minute play around in FSX, then play around with the Pond Racer - it's worth a look at least...
View/download the file over here.
Craig Richardson's Corby CJ-1 Starlet
Another one from Craig Richardson (he seems to enjoy creating these exotic home-builds) is the Corby CJ-1 Starlet. Only one original ever built, as a home project for John C. Corby, a famous amateur aircraft designer. Many build this model as a home project though. A very small aircraft she is, with only one seat and measuring 4.5m long and 5.72m wide (wingspan). The aircraft is mainly built from wood, with a fabric covering.
The Starlet, as the name implies, has a little bit about itself. The CJ-1 is used in amateur circumstances and was a hugely impressive home-built aircraft. Created by John Corby, this home-made aircraft is a must try for unique ideas and innovations you simply won’t see any other typical way. Created with a fine blend of wood and fabric, this is a charming aircraft that might not carry the health and safety standards that you are used to in a modern aircraft but it can be incredibly fun to take for a spin thanks to its far less forgiving people.
Craig Richardson did a good job recreating this one as it's hard because there are not that many references to work from - only images. It's also hard to get a feel of what the real aircraft handles and flies like because so few have ever flown it. The file size of this download is around 22MB and included are six very nice paint schemes to choose from. The model also has many animations and 3D effects. It's not a bad little aircraft to whiz about in. If you fancy a quick flight around town, give this one a shot!
View/download the file over here.
Canadair CL-215
While the Canadair CL-215 is a much larger aircraft, I thought I'd add it to this section as I wanted to share it with you. You may already have seen it before on TV or in real life delivering water to forest fires or any other types of fire. It's known as the 'waterbomber'. Its first flight was in the '60s and is still in service to this very day, putting out fires worldwide. Production went all the way up to the '90s and over 125 were built. The Canadair CL-215 is also well known for 'scooping' up oil spills at sea and has been given the nickname, 'super-scooper'.
With the ambitious color scheme that makes the plane stand out so much, the CL-215 is for far more than brightening up the flights around the area! This twin-engine aircraft is used to deal with smaller speeds and also can handle forest fires and more without having to make a massive fuss. This is a solid addition to a hanger in the world as it’s easy to land and take off with, making it a very useful aircraft for years to come and learn from. This will help massively with your long-term goals and aspirations of becoming a rounded pilot.
Flying this aircraft is a great blast (excuse the pun) - you can simulate forest fires or oil spills and respond with your very own model of the Canadair CL-215. In fact, there are complimenting missions to add alongside this aircraft to make it more realistic and meaningful.
The 3D modeling is very high standard and many developers have got together to create this beauty, which is why I haven't assigned it to one individual. The aircraft includes 3D virtual cockpit and standard 2D panel too - so you can have the best of both. The aircraft is amphibious so you can land it on a runway when needed and also make a sea landing too (to pick up water supplies).
View/download the file over here.
Mark Rooks' Cirrus SR22
Mark Rooks has recreated many of the popular general aviation aircraft for FSX use and one of my favorites is his rendition of the Cirrus SR22. The real life aircraft is a single engine, prop driven design with passenger capacity for up to 4/5 including the pilot. It's quite a popular aircraft and released in 2001 has all of the modern cons including a glass panel and newer navigation technologies as standard.
The Cirrus SR22 is massively popular for a variety of reasons, usually mainly because it offers such a uniquely exciting service. The aircraft might run on just one engine but this fantastic little composite aircraft gives you a bit of class and comfort all in the one location. Massively popular amongst its owners in real-life, this is an aircraft that comes with a non-retractable landing gear as well as an airframe parachute system. This means that the entire aircraft can be brought down to the planet safely to make sure that any clashes or problems can be resolved without death.
Only one paint scheme is included with the file, which is the 'Patty Wagstaff Airshows Inc.' livery. It's quite a simple design and if you're any good at creating repaints, I'm sure you could create your own as the bulk of the repaint included is white. The overall design of the 3D model is of reasonable quality and as good as you can expect from a freeware developer.
View/download the file over here.
Military
I wasn't sure what category to choose for the final section. I was tempted to cover helicopters and rotorcraft, however apparently there is more demand for military aircraft - so that's what's below! Military aircraft in Flight Simulator X should only be really used for simulating flight. FSX doesn't have the functionality to blow stuff up or have virtual combat with other players or bots so flying is all you can really do. There are some add-ons that enable the dropping of bombs and missiles, but none are really that realistic or worth using. Having said that, here are my 5 top military aircraft downloads...
Dino Cattaneo's Lockheed Martin F-35 Lightning II
This package by Dino Cattaneo really is a showpiece. It's a huge package at over 205MB with too many features to list. It's quite possible the best aircraft we have in the FSX military section. Attention to detail is clearly demonstrated with this aircraft model and nothing has been missed. This add-on does require either FSX Acceleration or FSX Gold Edition (which you can get here). I also think that this may work on a standard FSX install with SP2 applied. You'll have to give it a go yourself as I've already got Acceleration installed. You can grab SP2 for Flight Simulator X here. It has also been noted that this aircraft also works in Prepar3D.
Although only less than a decade old, the F-35 Lightning II carries the same qualities and styles of the popular Lockheed Marin brand are known for. Capable of being used in various roles in military environments, these single-seat aircraft run using just one engine and can give you all the help that you need in getting the foot down and really seeing how powerful military aircraft can be. The aircraft itself is expected to be delivered worldwide pretty much consistently for the next 22 years, as it’s expected that these schedules will run until sometime in the year 2037!
This package is complete with virtual cockpit, 2D panel and many more features including a superb heads-up-display (HUD) system. Included are various liveries and designs. The real-life F-35 is a stealth type military fighter which has a single seat, single engine configuration. The F-35 Lightning II has a top speed of Mach 1.6 (which is around 1200 MPH). I'm not sure how it handles at this speed in FSX, but I've noticed before that sometimes with aircraft this fast the controls can be a bit strange at times. Give it a go yourself and post in the comments below.
View/download the file over here.
Dino Cattaneo's Boeing/BAe T-45C Goshawk
Another from Dino Cattaneo - he creates such great military aircraft that we have featured two his models! The Goshawk is a modified version of the original BAE Hawk that you may have already heard of. Its first flight was in 1988 so this aircraft is a little gray around the whiskers, although they were retrofitted with some modern cons and features. Dino has created this aircraft to great detail and includes some really nice bump-mapped textures with the package. She flies quite nice, is easy to control but at the same time very realistic. The version I'm linking to here is the second draft (v2.10) and is a complete remake of the original version one.
At one stage owned by McDonnell Douglas, the Boeing T-45 Goshawk received a huge amount of praise when it first came on the market; and the reasons why are fairly obvious once you get to see it in action. A massively modified of the BAE Hawk land-based aircraft; this added a whole new army of features to help improve the firepower and flight capacity of the aircraft. First released in 1988, the aircraft is still in service as of today; it’s used as a trainer that allows people
This new version includes a brand new visual model, fully functional virtual cockpit and new high definition textures for FSX. Also included is a HUD (Heads-up-display) system created by Jivko Rusev and Scott Printz. He didn't mention how many livery designs came with the download, however, I can see there are about three (although there could be more). At over 128MB in size, it's quite a large download but the bulk of that size goes to the higher definition textures. This aircraft is fun to fly with aircraft carriers (which you can download more of here) and is very good at STOL (short take-off/landing). It's one of the better Goshawk packages out there - and certainly the best freeware available.
View/download the file over here.
Brian Frankin's RAF Hawker Siddeley Nimrod Package
Most of the aircraft featured above come with many textures and repaints for various different airlines or military divisions, however, this RAF Nimrod by Brian Franklin only comes with one - Royal Air Force. The reason for this is that the RAF were the only air force to actually fly these beautiful British aircraft and only very recently took them out of service (June 2011). The Nimrod was a stem off of the De Havilland Comet (a popular passenger jetliner of the era) and adapted for military use. They were primarily used for missions over the sea such as anti-submarine ops. Brian has recreated this iconic British aircraft in spectacular detail for all users of FSX, and best of all - it's free.
Take away the comedy name and the Siddeley Nimrod was a well-respected aircraft that was still within the skies as of 2011. It was a hugely powerful maritime patrol aircraft that was made within the UK and has gone on to receive a huge amount of praise throughout a lifespan that ran since 1967. A specific re-design and modification of the de Havilland Comet, the first ever commercial airliner, this was designed to take the throne of the jetliner industry as well as to help the RAF who felt their Avro Shackleton's were beginning to become a bit too aged.
The package includes all or most of the variants of Nimrod such as MR1, MR2, and R1. They all served a different purpose, but the MR1 was the original military Nimrod. The aircraft package only includes a virtual cockpit, so there is no 2D panel option - which is a shame, but the VC is fully functional so if you've never tried to fly with virtual cockpit alone, you can give it a go with this beauty. All of the control surfaces are animated, which you should expect with any FSX aircraft. The textures are of high detail and very accurate for each of the regiments they represent (to their real-life counterparts). Download this piece of British history today.
View/download the file over here.
Kirk Olsson's Lockheed Martin F-16
This is by far the most popular military jet we have on the site (although it has been around the longest). You may have already heard of this package or even downloaded it previously. Kirk has added all the bells and whistles with this aircraft including things such as chute for slowing down when landing, realistic F-16 sound recorded from actual aircraft and virtual cockpit - all features you would expect to find in a payware model. The F-16 has been around since '78 and is still being manufactured to this day. It's a popular aircraft with military enthusiasts and aircraft buffs alike.
If you have been playing flight simulation games since the days of the SEGA Genesis, you will no doubt remember the world of the F-16. This is a real staple for most people, giving everyone the chance to experience something truly incredible. Although originally made up to be a useful air superiority fighter, the design style of the F-16 turned it into a fantastically versatile piece of kit that was used for many different purposes. Still in service today, the F-16 has provided the skies with more than 40 years of high-end flight simulation quality.
The F-16 has been named the 'Fighting Falcon' and many of us know it only by that name. It's a true military fighter that has stood the test of time. Although the new models have had many upgrades and new functionality, the older models have been retrofitted with these upgrades too. Still in service and still being manufactured, we can expect the F-16 to be in the skies for the next 10-15 years. The package Kirk has created includes a repaint for the Royal Danish Airforce, however, there are many third party repaints available to download - this is just the base package. Get your hands on it now...
View/download the file over here.
Ross McLennan's Lockheed SR-71 Blackbird
One of the most famous military aircraft in the world and one you have most definitely heard of is the Lockheed SR-71 Blackbird. Having said that, the SR-71 was flown for many years in secret out of the public eye and only known to the USAF and NASA. It is a high-speed reconnaissance aircraft and most well know for its speed. Flying at speeds greater than Mach 3 (around 2,200 MPH), the SR-71 used to leak fuel before it was at high speed because it would stretch so much whilst traveling at high speed. The fuel seals couldn't compensate for the stretching of the body and the SR-71 had to refuel before heading to its destination - the technology couldn't keep up with the speed of the aircraft; quite literally.
As the progenitor of all scary looking aircraft that look like they could take an entire country with the press of a button, the SR-71 Blackbird is hugely well respected because of its massive prowess out there on the battlefield. In fact, the aircraft has never once been bested in combat with an enemy fighter; out of the 32 that were actually built in the end, other has never been a single loss due to their incredible speed, precision, and strength. Although this aircraft was extremely quick and nimble, it packs an absolutely mind-blowing punch and can be the perfect solution for anyone with aspirations of trying out military equipment.
Ross McLennan has done a great job in keeping this aircraft model true to its real-life counterpart and included some great perks such as a deploying landing chute and brilliant cockpit area. This file has received some great reviews, and it's actually the second version as Ross created it originally for FS2004 (FS9). Known as the fastest plane on the planet, the SR-71 has never been beaten on speed by any other jet driven aircraft. It makes for some interesting flying once loaded up as you'll find yourself very quickly miles away from your departure location in a matter of seconds as soon as you open those engines up. The afterburner effects are also great. Have fun with this beauty...
View/download the file over here.
So there you have it, my top 20 free FSX aircraft downloads for 2019. It's hard to shorten such a vast selection of aircraft, so I'll be posting one of these summarized lists each year to keep all you readers updated on past and present freeware. Thanks to all of the developers out there who had put together these great packages; our community wouldn't be the same without them.
I'd love to hear your comments on any of the files above or any comments you may have with regards to anything flight sim related in the comments below - don't be shy! Also, if you spot any typos or wrong information, shout at me below in the comments too!
Many More Aircraft
We have many more high-quality freeware aircraft over in the file library here (almost 23,000 downloads and counting). Also, don't forget to check out the most popular category of all - the civil aircraft category - this covers everything from a Boeing 747 to an Airbus A320.
Most of the files come with high-quality screenshots and we are also introducing preview videos so users can see what they are getting before downloading. Also included are a comment and review system so other users can share their thoughts with the community about the files they are downloading.
Installing these wonderful aircraft
Most of the files I've mentioned above come with easy installation instructions and if you've installed aircraft before, I'm sure you know what you're doing. However, if this is your first time and you need some guidance, please visit this page to help you get started. If all else fails, post a comment on the download page itself and either myself or a fellow member of the community will get back to you. If all else fails, visit our forum.
When using a flight simulation product, you always want to get the most realistic possible response. After all, the majority of users will be using as either light training for their piloting career, or as a chance to get as close to the real thing as possible. Therefore, it’s vital to make sure that you have the right kind of realism around you at all times – of course, as any flight simulation fan will know, the realism that you experience goes far beyond just the aircraft that you are flying. The type of aircraft is always important, but the world itself has to feel realistic.
This is where the various community mods that add in AI traffic are so important. Whilst there is some traffic in FSX, any “real world” aircraft that you can use or fly aren’t actually included in the flight simulator.
This is something the, presumably due to licensing, means that the atmosphere of the game can be hurt quite significantly as you won’t be able to see your favorite aircraft flying around in the skies with you.
Thankfully, an abundance of mods exists that you can get the most out of if you decide to give them a shot.
This article is quite lengthy so you can jump to individual sections using the links below;
AI In FSX
The AI in FSX is very impressive normally, but some people aren’t too keen on the original AI in FSX. If you are sick of this AI and want to replace it with something better, then this is well worth reading about – the mods available to you will give you a lot more benefits than you might imagine.
However, some people would like to be able to remove the default traffic as well, in preparation for adding in their custom traffic instead. if you want to do this then the process is actually very simple – you only need to follow a rather easy set of instructions which are listed below.
This will make it easier than ever to make the FSX experience that you get as close to the real thing as possible, making sure that you can feel nice and comfortable as you use your own copy of FSX.
To get rid of the default traffic in FSX, all you need to do;
Head to the folder that you originally installed FSX to – if you are using the Steam edition, then it will come under the steamapps/common folder in the directory that you installed Steam to
Next, you need to find a file that is found within the Scenery/World Scenery folder
The file is known as AItraffic.BGL, and all you need to do is rename this file to something else
This will totally remove the traffic from your FSX system – if you suffer from performance, this is useful
Why Do I Need AI Traffic?
The reasons for actually using AI traffic vary quite dramatically depending on your own needs or experiences – here are just some of the reasons why you might want to add in AI traffic to your FSX installation, though;
It provides you with a greater challenge – if you are trying to become the best pilot that you can be then it’s vital to have some kind of obstacle to deal with. Instead of just flying around in a totally blank sky, you want to be able to make sure that you are going to be able to learn from what you’re doing
Because you can crash into AI traffic as well, it adds a nice little extra challenge to the flight – can you make sure that you are dealing with every aspect of the flight in the way that you are supposed to? This will sharpen your concentration and your confidence
Additionally, most AI mods allow you to interact with the other aircraft in the skies just as you would be in the real world. This adds a nice touch of realism to the entire experience and for those who want everything as realistic as possible, this can be absolutely vital
Now, you’ll be able to get the full experience in terms of the overall performance of the simulator; you’ll get to push it to the very limits in exchange for realism, making your overall flight far more enjoyable than it was to begin with, making your experience much more authentic
The Benefits of AI Traffic
There are many benefits to having AI traffic installed, though; many of them might seem rather simplistic to begin with, but you’ll see a massive difference once you get to see all of these benefits forming into the one thing, such as;
The fact that you will now be surrounded by proper aircraft; most mods will bring the real-life aircraft that are sadly disabled to life making sure that when you are flying you will feel like you are involved in the real thing! This is a massive feature for those who want even more authenticity from their flight simulator
More importantly, though, you’ll find that the benefits of AI traffic will come in terms of how you actually perceive the simulation. No longer will it feel like a free ride where you can pretty much take up any part of the skies that you wish – now, you need to be on point at all times
A vital benefit of having AI traffic installed, though, is the actual improvement in their performance. They’ll be far more reactive than they used to be for a start, making sure that you get something that approaches the real-life behavior of most aircraft out there
These small tweaks and changes that come from using a mod that provides you with AI traffic in a new way will make your overall flight capabilities improve. It’s like learning how to drive a car; you need to get used to the fact that other aircraft are there!
Potential Problems with AI Traffic
One of the most important things to get your head around, though, is the fact that installing a new AI traffic mod can bring a few problems as well. You need to make sure that you deal with these issues before taking your ideas any further – here are some of the main things to consider about your new AI traffic mod;
Can your machine handle the uptake in resources? Check with the minimum requirements with any AI traffic mod that you install. Since they will be adding more detail and control to the overall simulator you might find that performance can dip quite dramatically!
Making sure that you have the compatibility with the mod is vital, too. Check out any instructions for installation before you take it any further because you need to make sure that you have the right version of FSX installed otherwise you can have a multitude of compatibility options pop up on you, which can be incredibly frustrating!
Lastly, make sure that you aren’t installing anything that might clash with other mods that you have. Any AI traffic mods running in tandem can cause considerable problems either in performance or in the actual way the aircraft start to act
Taking the time to get this right can be very important for making sure that you can enjoy the overall experience as much as you possibly can – it will take some time to get your head around, but it’s worth doing so you can get optimal results.
The Options Available
Like the vast majority of the essentials out there for those involved in the wonderful world of flight simulation, the mods that can give you improved AI traffic are varied – and for those on a budget, many of them are also free. With so many options out there though, you could spend more time looking for a mod than you will flying with it!
To help you make a decision and to get you back on the runway with your AI controlled friends as soon as possible, we would highly recommend that you check out one of the two following options;
- World of AI (Freeware)
- Just Flight's Traffic 360 (Payware)
World of AI is the free equivalent, and we will give you more details on both below. This will help you see what kind of features both can give you in terms of the accessibility and the overall quality of the AI. Knowing the difference will make it much easier to actually put in place; you just need to know what suits you the best. If you are running on a budget and need a bit help in making FSX more believable then you might decide to go with World of AI for example.
It all comes down to personal choice and what you will feel is the more comfortable of the two options. Whatever you decide to go with, you’ll find that working with the options available from these two choices will make your life much easier in general, giving you extra choice.
World of AI (Freeware)
World of AI is the main choice for many people because it’s completely free to use and gives you all the help that you need to start getting involved in flying aircraft in the right way. Its overall style and ease of use make it a simple choice for many people who need something a bit more laid back and something that pretty much takes care of itself once you install it. The actual packages are created by World of AI, but they use models and aircraft from all across the community to make the most impressive designs possible.
If you are looking to see something genuinely impressive that is also very easy to work with then we would recommend trying out World of AI. At the very least, this will give you a glimpse of what the AI traffic can be like with the right tools and mods installed.
It just takes a bit of patience and understanding to get the job done; you only need to do some basic calibrations and changes to see a significant improvement in the overall composition and style of your flight simulator. Everything that you download from the World of AI website gives you incredible levels of realism and quality, making it easier than ever before to get yourself into the frame of mind needed to fly an aircraft.
So, what can you expect if you decide to go with the freeware option in the form of World of AI?
The Pro’s
Without a doubt, the World of AI package is one of the easiest to install into the flight simulation world – it’s about as plug and play as you are going to get in this industry! This makes it really easy to fire up and start using as soon as the packages are downloaded
Whilst you can create your own AI systems, this will make it much more time effective as these are some of the best AI packages that you can download – the overall attention to detail is very impressive, giving you complete control over the entire flight and how it will work
It uses many models from elsewhere so this creates a nice consistent layer of quality throughout – every aircraft that you are likely to see flying in the skies next to you will have been made by a third-party, giving you a nice average throughout in terms of the realism of each aircraft
One of the most important features, though, is the fact that so many packages exist with World of AI; you can get aircraft from many different kinds of aircraft lines, making it very easy to get aircraft flying alongside you that represent the same airliner as you do
The various little changes and additions throughout the AI will still be impressing you weeks down the line; the overall coherence and realism in the patterns and thinking of each aircraft you see is an incredible improvement over the original FSX AI traffic that was provided to start you off
The Con’s
However, not everything is as good as it might seem with World of AI – it’s one of the best free packages, for sure, but you still have some things to look out for when you first start sing the package including the overall dip in performance that lower end machines can have. This can be a big problem as you will find yourself going around in circles trying to mess with the settings to get yourself back to a strong and steady level of performance; no matter what you do, if your machine cannot handle this, it simply won’t work
Since this is a free model you cannot expect to get everything handed to you – many of the little additions that you need to make when using FSX freeware mods include some messing around to get the overall level of quality that you desire. Usually, this can be quite time consuming and lead to a lot of trial and error on your part. To get the desired feel that you need from World of AI you can find yourself spending a lot of time on flight simulation forums looking for helping with the fine-tuning that some people need with World of AI
If you have the money to spend on the payware options out there then you will get a much easier, and equally as complete, a performance from FSX as you would without having to get involved with any changes once the setup is installed. Whilst using World of AI usually isn’t a hassle in terms of getting it to work and load in the first place, it’s the minor changes you need to make to balance our performance and accuracy that can be the most time consuming aspect of getting this mod to work as you originally intended
Using World of AI
As mentioned above, the actual installation of World of AI is relatively simple. You just need to follow this link to the World of AI website, and make sure that you get the help that you need from the help files and the forum on the official website. It receives a lot of new releases in terms of the actual aircraft, too, so it’s vital to keep this page bookmarked for regular checking back – at the time of writing, the most recent updates and additions were only a few months ago.
The overall installation process, though, is very easy. All you need to do is download the ‘Installer’ file from the page of the same name on the World of AI website. It’s very effective and makes it nice and easy to load in those new downloads that you picked up for using with World of AI.
The installer is pretty much self-explanatory and will just run right through everything that you need to make sure you have the most robust and comfortable installation that you can. If you need to install new additions in terms of the AI packages, each individual file comes with specific instructions to follow.
Just Flight's Traffic 360 (Payware)
Free Ai Aircraft For Fsx Crash
For those who are looking to flash a bit of extra money in the way of their flight simulator to get the best experience possible, you should really consider picking up Traffic 360. It’s the most complete style in terms of AI traffic out there that makes it incredibly easy to download and start seeing the benefit from almost right away. These massive changes that this makes to the freeware addition, and especially the original minimal AI traffic in FSX, will give you a completely new experience.
As we mentioned before, this is for those who feel like FSX is simply not realistic enough and want to see how the performance can get any better. It’s something that you really need to consider as you start working with your flight simulator; do you mind paying a bit extra if it’s going to give you a much more enjoyable experience? Aircraft take on far more dynamic flight types, and you will be provided with a huge selection of aircraft that you can come into contact with, as well.
The huge selection of changes and additions that are added in with Traffic 3D make it much more authentic and will ensure that you can get to grips with the overall flight side of things easier than ever before. This will also help you become a far more educated pilot; with so many different aircraft to try and deal with, you can feel like you’ve taken a massive step forward in overall flight authenticity.
The Pro's
Take yourself into the skies with a whopping 2,400 different kinds of aircraft, giving you more than enough action to try and get your head around as you fly around the skies. With all of those aircraft flying around, it becomes really easy to start learning how busy flying is!
Likewise, you’ll get more than 500,000 unique flight plans being generated so that aircraft are always flying somewhere with a genuine purpose. Now, you won’t just have aircraft trundling along and never really doing anywhere or actually making a journey – this brings the whole world around you into genuine life
Custom airport ground vehicles are added in, as well, making sure that all of the features you need present to really glamorize the entire experience are included
An incredible list of aircraft that also covers helicopters and other aircraft making sure that you get a nice variance in the skies instead of a select few like you can expect with some of the options that are open to you out there
Control tower has been added in to give you all the hl that you need to place a customized airport anywhere on the planet. This lets you create an aircraft tower that will give you extra functionality and even greater power than before thank to the addition of the traffic radar. This gives you even more help than you could possibly need to make sure you get the right vertical speed and altitude in line with the other aircraft flying around you
An AI time period feature known as ChronoTraffic that basically lets you control a specific period in which the aircraft will fly under; this lets you choose the aircraft that are going to be flying alongside you. Is it the modern world or some old classics that you want to be your flight companions for the day?
Spotty is another brilliant feature which is used to help you see other aircraft via the unique Control Tower mentioned above, letting you watch aircraft as they land and even depart – you can even tune into the communications that they are having with air traffic control for that extra bit of quality, realism and control over the entire flight simulation environment
The liveries that are included also make sure that 123 of the aircraft can look totally different depending on where they are flying from etc. this adds that extra tone of realism and quality to the entire performance, giving you the kind of experience that you need to learn how to be a “real” pilot
A huge reworking job has gone down on all of the aircraft used in the simulator. This makes all of them look far better than ever before and also ensures that they keep the kind of quality that you might have come to expect if you have history with using Just flight products – they are some of the most well-respected on the marketplace, and with very good reason!
The Con’s
The download size alone is close to 1GB so if you don’t have the most rapid of internet speeds you could find yourself waiting around for a considerable time. Whilst 1GB is a fraction of what it used to seem when making a download, it’s still a significant download size
On a similar note it can be quite daunting to your PC; if you tried out World of AI first and noticed a tug in the performance, you need to consider if this is worth actually installing as Traffic 360 comes with a huge amount of extra updates and improvements that will slow your machine down to a crawl if it was unable to use World of AI
You need to make, sure, then, that you have a machine that is compatible with everything being used. This requires the most recent version of FSX so if you don’t have that you’ll need to get it downloaded ASAP otherwise you won’t be able to use Traffic 360
The overall level of concentration needed jumps massively with this mod being included – with the most realistic flight schedules and the most responsive AI possible, you’ll have far more going on than ever before. If you are still new to the world of flight simulation you might want to consider using World of AI first to get used to the overall level of change. It really is quite dramatic, so you need to look around and get the right kind of balance for you
Traffic X Trailer Video
Below is the trailer video for Just Flight's Traffic X product. This is the version before Traffic 360 but there is no trailer for 360 as of yet.
Using Traffic 360
Installation for Traffic 360, though, is just as easy as it is to use the other option available to you, World of AI. It installs the file once it’s finished downloading the hefty file size; you just need to run the installer and answer the questions that you will be asked by the installer.
This will then more or less deal with everything and leave you with an easy to use AI traffic mod that is very simple to adjust and use to your own needs whenever you are ready to take things to the next stage with flight simulation.
Using traffic 360 in-game depends on how you want to do it; there are many in-game customization features that you can use to balance out the overall performance. If you find frame rates dipping and the overall quality of the performance coming down you need to make an active change.
The first thing that you need to do, then is to run the installer and get it working. Once it’s installed you only need to open up FSX and you can deal with anything from there – Traffic 360 also requires you to have Traffic X installed.
Whatever you need, though, you’ll find that using Traffic 360 can be the ultimate traffic upgrade that you would possibly need to make sure that you get what’s required.
Ships & Boats
We have just released a fully-featured AI ships and boats add-on for FSX and P3D (including v4) in our file library developed by the wonderful Henrik Nielsen (and others).
The package is released as freeware and can be used without any registration or complications.
The package includes 800+ ships and boats for both FSX, FSX: Steam Edition and Prepar3D (all versions including v4). Included are small boats, cruise ships, frigates, military ships and boats and more.
Included are also real-to-life routes that these ships will take in the real world. The original package was released in two parts (v1 and v2) but we have compiled them into one easy to use download containing both parts.
The file size is around 650 MB and contains everything needed to bring your AI watercraft to life.
View/download over in the file library here.
What To Go For...
Free Ai Aircraft For Fsx
It all really does just come down to a personal choice – do you feel like you have enough precision in terms of the overall flight simulation experience with just the freeware edition? Or do you feel like, even with that, it’s still a little bit below what you would have been hoping for?
Whatever you decide to go with, we recommend trying out World of AI first since it’s free. This will let you see the jump in quality and then you can decide if you need the extra authenticity and volume that the brilliant Traffic 360 brings to the table.
Whatever you decide to do, though, you’ll find that changing to something new can be a massive improvement over the original format that you would have become accustomed to. Whilst the old FSX AI is decent, the lack of real-world aircraft means that the skies can feel a tad hollow; you feel like you are the lone wolf in a sea of normal aircraft.
If you need realism to make sure things are as enjoyable as they could be then you just need to think about making serious changes.
Either of these options can be the right one for you – you just need to decide if you want to make an extra investment or if what the still impressive World of AI can give you is going to be enough to keep you learning, improving and overall satisfied with the performance of your flight simulator.
Free Aircraft Downloads For Fsx
I'd love to hear your comments regarding your experiences with AI traffic and any addons you use to enable it. Please post your comments below, they are very valuable.