The Horizon 787-9 is our top Boeing 787 for MSFS 2020 on PC. Compare it with the default 787-10 and Kuro 787-8, including dependencies.
For PC, the Horizon Simulations 787-9 is the best Boeing 787 for MSFS 2020: it is freeware, uses the improved default 787 systems, and offers the most useful mid-sized Dreamliner variant. It requires the Premium Deluxe 787-10. On Xbox, the default Boeing 787-10 is the safest and most practical choice.
Which MSFS 2020 Boeing 787 should you choose?
| Aircraft | Best for | Requirement | Main limitation |
|---|---|---|---|
| Horizon Simulations 787-9 | Best overall choice on PC | Premium Deluxe 787-10 | Not a standalone aircraft and unavailable as a normal PC Community package on Xbox |
| Microsoft 787-10 | Xbox, reliability and simple installation | MSFS 2020 Premium Deluxe | Only represents the longer 787-10 variant |
| Kuro 787-8 | Simmers who specifically want the shortest Dreamliner | Premium Deluxe 787-10 | Shares the same base-aircraft dependency |
Our ranking assumes that Microsoft Flight Simulator 2020 and its installed aircraft content are fully updated. The Aircraft and Avionics Update 2 substantially improved the original 787-10, so launch-era reviews and old cockpit tutorials no longer give a fair picture of it.
Why is the Horizon 787-9 the best option?
The Horizon 787-9 gives PC users a popular Dreamliner variant without discarding the upgraded avionics foundation of the default aircraft. It is a complete flyable modification rather than a livery, with variant-specific modelling and performance work built around Microsoft's 787 systems.
That dependency is both its strength and its main catch. You must own and install the Premium Deluxe 787-10; buying the Standard or Deluxe edition does not provide the files that Horizon and Kuro need. Our comparison of dependency-based freeware airliners explains how these 787 variants compare with other free jets.
Choose the Kuro 787-8 instead when the shorter fuselage is the deciding factor. Choose the default 787-10 when you value fewer compatibility variables, prefer the longest variant, or play on Xbox.
What do you need to install a freeware 787?
You need the correct MSFS 2020 edition, fully updated base content and a PC build of the chosen aircraft.
- Confirm your edition. Check that MSFS 2020 Premium Deluxe and its Boeing 787-10 content are attached to your account and installed.
- Update the simulator and aircraft. Use Content Manager to install pending base-aircraft and avionics updates before adding the Horizon or Kuro package.
- Use an MSFS 2020-compatible build. Do not assume that a package prepared for MSFS 2024 will work in MSFS 2020. When browsing our MSFS aircraft and mod library, check the stated simulator and dependency requirements.
- Extract it into the Community folder. The package folder should contain files such as
manifest.jsonandlayout.json. An extra nested folder is a common reason an aircraft never appears. - Test one modification at a time. Remove obsolete 787 enhancements and verify that the default 787-10 loads before troubleshooting the freeware variant.
What is the best Boeing 787 for Xbox?
The default Boeing 787-10 is the practical choice for MSFS 2020 on Xbox because it is supported natively through the Premium Deluxe edition. Xbox does not provide normal access to the Community folder, so PC ZIP packages for the Horizon 787-9 and Kuro 787-8 cannot simply be copied across.
Only add-ons released through the simulator's Xbox-compatible Marketplace can be installed there. A livery does not add a missing aircraft or replace the Premium Deluxe dependency.
Why does the 787 not appear or work correctly?
- The aircraft is missing from the selection screen: confirm that the Premium Deluxe 787-10 is installed, then check for an incorrectly nested Community folder.
- The model is invisible or has missing textures: reinstall the base 787 content and verify that the downloaded package is for MSFS 2020 rather than MSFS 2024.
- The cockpit displays remain black: first test the default 787-10. If that works, remove older avionics, cockpit and 787 enhancement packages that may be overriding the updated files.
- The simulator crashes while loading: empty other 787-related modifications from the Community folder and add them back individually to identify the conflict.
- LNAV or VNAV behaves unexpectedly: check for route discontinuities, incomplete performance data and an unexecuted flight-plan change before blaming the aircraft installation.
Is the MSFS 2020 Boeing 787 study level?
None of these choices is a complete study-level reproduction of every 787 system, maintenance function and failure mode. The upgraded default systems are capable enough for normal gate-to-gate IFR flying, and the Horizon and Kuro variants inherit much of that functionality.
For FMC preparation, engine start, LNAV, VNAV and approach management, follow our step-by-step MSFS 2020 Boeing 787 operating guide. Learning the shared avionics workflow also makes it easier to move between the 787-8, 787-9 and 787-10.