What are the best aircraft in Microsoft Flight Simulator?
The best aircraft in Microsoft Flight Simulator are the Cessna 172 for learning, A2A Comanche 250 for piston realism, FlyByWire A32NX for freeware airliner flying, Fenix A320 for payware Airbus operations, PMDG 737 for Boeing procedures, TBM 930 for fast touring and XCub for bush work. Always verify MSFS 2020 or 2024 compatibility.
There is no single winner for every pilot. A convincing light aircraft needs believable stall, trim and engine behaviour; a good airliner is judged more heavily on its flight-management system, autopilot logic and procedure coverage. Exact first-party availability also depends on your simulator version, edition and installed content.
Best MSFS aircraft by flying style
These are our strongest starting points for the main types of flying in Microsoft Flight Simulator.
| Aircraft | Best for | Why it stands out | Availability |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cessna 172 G1000 | Beginners and flight training | Predictable handling, manageable speed and useful glass-cockpit training | First-party content |
| Daher TBM 930 | Fast general aviation | Airliner-like speed without a multi-crew cockpit workload | First-party content |
| A2A Comanche 250 | High-fidelity piston flying | Detailed engine management, aircraft condition and convincing handling | Third-party payware; check simulator support |
| Van’s RV-7/RV-7A | Sport flying and aerobatics | Responsive handling with tailwheel and nosewheel options | PC freeware |
| FlyByWire A32NX | Free Airbus operations | Detailed Airbus systems, cockpit workflows and electronic flight-bag tools | PC freeware |
| Fenix A320 family | High-fidelity Airbus flying | Deep systems modelling for realistic short- and medium-haul procedures | PC payware; check simulator support |
| PMDG 737 | Boeing airline operations | Detailed systems and a strong fit for scheduled short- and medium-haul flying | Payware; platform and version support varies |
| PMDG 777 | Long-haul Boeing flying | Suitable for pilots who want wide-body systems and long-range procedures | Payware; check platform and simulator support |
| CubCrafters XCub | Bush and short-field flying | Good visibility and short-strip capability, with tailwheel handling to master | First-party content |
| Guimbal Cabri G2 | Learning helicopters | A sensible introduction to rotor control, hovering and power management | First-party content; installation may vary |
Do not judge an aircraft by its exterior model alone. The common disappointment is a beautiful cockpit paired with shallow avionics, unreliable VNAV, incorrect engine response or poor behaviour near the stall.
Which aircraft should a beginner choose?
The Cessna 172 is the best first aircraft for most MSFS pilots. It is stable enough to let you practise pitch, power, trim, circuits and navigation without the workload running away from you; our explanation of the Cessna 172’s beginner-friendly handling covers the reasons in more detail.
Move to the TBM 930 after you can hold altitude, trim accurately, fly a circuit and manage an approach without relying on AI assistance. The TBM is not difficult to hand-fly, but its speed gives you much less time to correct a bad descent or missed checklist item.
Which free aircraft are worth installing?
The FlyByWire A32NX is the clearest freeware choice for pilots who want realistic Airbus procedures. It is far more involved than the default training aircraft, so learn basic instrument flying first; PC users can install the freeware FlyByWire A32NX package with expanded systems and cockpit tools.
For general aviation, the RV series offers something the Cessna does not: quicker control response and sportier performance. The free RV-7/RV-7A pack with both undercarriage layouts lets you choose the more approachable nosewheel RV-7A or practise proper tailwheel technique in the RV-7.
Freeware quality varies sharply. Check that the package is a complete aircraft rather than a livery, that any required base aircraft is installed, and that the stated simulator version matches your installation.
Will MSFS 2020 aircraft work in MSFS 2024?
An MSFS 2020 aircraft is not automatically fully compatible with MSFS 2024. Some packages load correctly, while others appear in the aircraft selector but suffer from blank displays, missing sounds, broken controls, incorrect flight behaviour or crashes.
- Confirm the simulator version: look for explicit MSFS 2020 or MSFS 2024 support in the package documentation.
- Check the platform: Community-folder downloads and aircraft requiring external software are PC workflows, not Xbox installations.
- Install dependencies: some modifications require a first-party aircraft or another package to be present.
- Avoid duplicate versions: an old and updated copy loaded together can create missing textures, duplicated cockpit parts or avionics faults.
- Add aircraft one at a time: test each package before installing the next, rather than copying an entire MSFS 2020 Community folder into MSFS 2024.
If the aircraft does not appear, the package is often nested one folder too deep or placed in the wrong Community folder. Follow our add-on aircraft installation and troubleshooting steps rather than repeatedly reinstalling the simulator.
What is the best aircraft on Xbox?
On Xbox, choose an included aircraft or an add-on offered through the in-simulator Marketplace with support for your specific MSFS version. The Cessna 172, TBM 930, XCub and Cabri G2 cover training, touring, bush flying and helicopters without requiring manually installed files.
External PC downloads such as the A32NX and RV packages linked above cannot be copied into an Xbox Community folder. For a complex airliner, select a Marketplace aircraft only after checking its Xbox compatibility, avionics depth and recent user documentation; a PC recommendation does not automatically translate to console.