What aircraft are included in Microsoft Flight Simulator 2024?
Microsoft Flight Simulator 2024 does not have one universal aircraft list for every player. The aircraft included depend on your edition of the sim, with the base package offering roughly 70 aircraft at launch and higher editions adding more. The line-up spans airliners, GA aircraft, helicopters, gliders, bush types and specialist mission aircraft.
Does the aircraft list change by edition?
Yes. This is the first thing to check, because two people can both own Microsoft Flight Simulator 2024 and still have different default hangars.
| Edition | What it includes | What that means for your aircraft list |
|---|---|---|
| Standard | The core simulator package | You get the base aircraft roster, covering a broad mix of civilian aircraft types and mission-capable aircraft. |
| Deluxe | Standard plus extra bundled content | You get the Standard aircraft plus additional aircraft. |
| Premium Deluxe | Deluxe plus more bundled content | You get the widest core first-party aircraft set short of the top edition. |
| Aviator | The most complete first-party bundle | You get the broadest official aircraft package, including extra Microsoft-published aircraft content on top of the core editions. |
So if you are asking, “What aircraft are included in Microsoft Flight Simulator 2024?”, the honest answer is: it depends which edition you bought.
What kinds of aircraft are in Microsoft Flight Simulator 2024?
Even though the exact line-up varies by edition, the overall mix is easy to describe. Microsoft Flight Simulator 2024 is built around a much wider spread of aircraft roles than the 2020 release.
- Airliners for airline-style operations, IFR flying and longer routes.
- General aviation piston aircraft for training, VFR touring and basic procedures.
- Turboprops for regional, utility and bush-style flying.
- Business jets for faster IFR flying with modern avionics.
- Helicopters for low-level work, landing practice and career missions.
- Gliders for soaring and energy management.
- Bush and back-country aircraft for short strips and rough-field operations.
- Specialist mission aircraft for jobs such as agriculture, firefighting, cargo, rescue and aerial work.
That last category is one of the biggest differences in 2024. The aircraft list is not just a collection of private and airline aircraft; it is also shaped around the sim’s career and mission systems.
Are all aircraft included in every version of MSFS 2024?
No. Some aircraft are part of the base sim, while others are tied to Deluxe, Premium Deluxe or Aviator entitlements. If you are comparing your hangar to a video, screenshot or forum post, make sure the other person is using the same edition.
There is another wrinkle: some aircraft may be present in your account entitlement but not currently installed. In practice, that means you might own an aircraft without seeing it immediately in the aircraft selection screen until its package is installed or enabled.
What aircraft are you really getting in the Standard Edition?
The Standard Edition is not a stripped-down demo. It is the full simulator with the base aircraft set, and that set already covers the main flying styles most simmers want:
- Basic training and casual VFR
- IFR in light aircraft and larger types
- Airliner operations
- Rotorcraft flying
- Soaring
- Back-country and utility flying
- Career-mode work
If you mainly want variety rather than one specific premium aircraft, the base edition already gives you a broad hangar. Higher editions matter most when you want the extra bundled aircraft, not because the Standard Edition is missing whole categories of flying.
Which aircraft are new or different compared with Microsoft Flight Simulator 2020?
Microsoft Flight Simulator 2024 leans much harder into operational variety. Compared with 2020, the big shift is not just “more aircraft”, but more purpose-built aircraft roles.
In plain terms, 2024 is more likely to give you aircraft suited to:
- Aerial application
- Firefighting
- Rescue and utility work
- Heavy-lift or commercial mission flying
- Career progression across different flying jobs
That makes the included aircraft list feel less like a showroom and more like an actual working fleet.
Do your Microsoft Flight Simulator 2020 aircraft carry over?
Often, yes, but not in every case and not always instantly. Many aircraft you own for Microsoft Flight Simulator 2020 can be made available in 2024 through compatibility support, especially first-party and updated add-on content. That said, compatibility depends on the aircraft package and whether it has been updated for the newer sim.
If you owned extra aircraft in 2020, do not assume they are automatically part of the included 2024 aircraft list. They may appear because of separate ownership and account entitlement, not because they are bundled with your 2024 edition.
How do I see exactly which aircraft I own in Microsoft Flight Simulator 2024?
If you want the exact answer for your installation rather than the marketing summary, check inside the sim.
- Open the simulator and go to your aircraft selection or hangar area.
- Check installed content in the library or content management section.
- Look for filters that separate installed, owned and not installed packages.
- Confirm your edition under your purchase or account details if the list seems shorter than expected.
- Install missing owned aircraft if they are listed but not active in your hangar.
This matters because the practical answer to “what aircraft are included?” is really the aircraft your account owns and your sim currently has installed.
Why is my aircraft list smaller than someone else’s?
Usually it comes down to one of five reasons:
- Different edition of MSFS 2024
- Some aircraft not installed
- Separate ownership from MSFS 2020 not yet carried across
- Platform or account mismatch
- Content still updating after a fresh install
It is rarely because the sim has randomly removed aircraft. Most of the time, it is an edition or entitlement issue.
Are the included aircraft enough, or do you still need add-ons?
For most players, the included line-up is enough to cover training, sightseeing, IFR, airline flying, helicopters, gliding and career-mode missions. Whether you need add-ons depends on how specific your interests are.
If you want a very particular aircraft type, livery set or niche flying style, you may still want to expand your hangar later. If that is your plan, our Microsoft Flight Simulator downloads library at Fly Away Simulation is the sensible next stop.
The short version
Microsoft Flight Simulator 2024 includes a large multi-role aircraft roster, but there is no single list that applies to everyone. The base sim includes about 70 aircraft at launch, and Deluxe, Premium Deluxe and Aviator editions add more. To know exactly what is included for you, check your edition first, then confirm which owned aircraft are actually installed in your sim.