Aircraft Reviews

This aircraft review section is a list of aircraft types available for FS2004 and FSX, both freeware and payware. Click on the links on the left to browse through the categories. Click on the developer name to view the full info page. The full info page will show you all the relevant information about the aircraft, 8 screenshots and download or product location. Click on the screenshot thumbnails to see a larger version directly above the thumbnails. All screenshots are captured in a 1680x1050 resolution and resized to 806x504. Screenshots of 2d panels may appear distorted due to the widescreen resolution. So don't be alarmed, there is nothing wrong with the panel nor with your display.

This part of the website is permanently under construction, meaning that we will add new entries and edit existing entries on regular basis. All opinions stated in the reviews are independent from any party or organisation. We are not affiliated with any developer or publisher nor do we get paid for positive commentary. For comments, please use the comments form on the review page. If you want to report dead links, errors or mistakes, please use the link "report problem" located on the full details page.

Will these aircraft work in FSX?

All aircraft listed here are tested in both FS2004 and FSX. We consider an aircraft compatible with FSX when all animations are working and the panel and/or virtual cockpit works. If necessary, special instructions are available on the full details page (notes) to help you install FS2004 aircraft in FSX or how to import FS2004 aircraft into FSX.

For aircraft originally developed for FS2004, compatible with FSX with no special instructions given, you're supposed to copy the aircraft (the folder that contains the aircraft.cfg file) to the Airplanes folder of FSX. The directory structure has been changed in FSX, there is not an Aircraft folder anymore in the main folder. Instead, aircraft are placed in the SimObjects\Airplanes folder (e.g. C:\Program Files\Microsoft Games\Microsoft Flight Simulator X\SimObjects\Airplanes\ ).

Effect files (the ones that end with .fx) associated with the aircraft should be copied to the main effects folder of FSX (e.g. C:\Program Files\Microsoft Games\Microsoft Flight Simulator X\Effects\ ).

Gauge files (the ones that end with .gau or .cab) associated with the aircraft should be copied to the main gauges folder of FSX (e.g. C:\Program Files\Microsoft Games\Microsoft Flight Simulator X\Gauges\ ).

Module files (the ones that end with .dll) are not compatible with FSX. If certain aircraft originally developed for FS2004 need those files to work correctly, then the aircraft is not compatible with FSX.

NOTE: Don't forget to edit the panel.cfg and/or sound.cfg files when you move or copy an aircraft to FSX. If the aircraft is originally developed for FS2004 and does not have a panel or sound, the panel.cfg and sound.cfg files are usually pointing to one of the default aircraft. Since some of the default FS2004 aircraft are not part of FSX anymore, you have to make sure it is pointing to an aircraft that actually exist in FSX.

Example:

Most freeware jets originally developed for FS2004 don't have a panel and/or sound. Usually, the developer has choosen to point the both the panel and sound to the default Boeing 737-400. That aircraft is not part of FSX anymore, instead, they included a Boeing 737-800. Open the panel.cfg (which is on the panel folder of the aircraft) and change:

[fltsim]
alias=B737_400\panel

to:

[fltsim]
alias=B737_800\panel

Do the same for the sound.cfg file in the sound folder.

Warning messages

In FSX, 3rd party and even old Microsoft gauges are not silently accepted anymore. Every new gauge will bring up a warning message, asking you if you want to load the gauge (this can be either a .gau file or a .cab file) and if you do, another window will ask you if you want to load this gauge for only one time or every time.

So don't be alarmed, and choose to load the gauges (if you trust the developer of course). If you don't accept and you click 'No', some parts of the panel may not work, or the aircraft doesn't work at all (and will most likely cause FSX to crash). Old gauges might be incompatible with FSX. If that's the case, FSX will block the gauge and tell you when you try to load them.

Sometimes, FSX cannot determine if the gauge is compatible and the gauge may cause a crash to desktop. In that case you know that the gauge is not compatible after all.

Compatibility problems

An aircraft originally developed for FS2002 is less likely to be compatible with FSX. Especially gauges that are developed in those days may not be supported anymore. Aircraft originally developed for FS2004 should work fine in FSX, at least for the most part. A recently developed FS2004 aircraft is more likely compatible with FSX. Aircraft developed using GMax, 3D-Max and FSDS2/3 should be compatible with FSX.

However, you might see strange lines and colors on the wings in the wingview mode. It is also possible that the landings lights are not visible on the ground when you are in one of the external view modes. The timing of the strobe lights might be off if those lights are controlled by effects (.fx) files. If there is no light visible at all, check if all the effect (.fx) files associated with the aircraft are placed in the effects folder of FSX. The default vapour trail effect may show displaced. Also, the classic FS2002/2004 engine smoke effect will show displaced.

Suggestion and/or questions regarding compatibility of FS2002/2004 aircraft in FSX? Please use our forum or send us a message.