Compare the best bush planes in Microsoft Flight Simulator, from the XCub and Beaver to the PC-6 and Kodiak, with clear picks for every role.
The CubCrafters XCub is the best all-round bush plane in Microsoft Flight Simulator: it is manageable for beginners, convincing on short strips and included in MSFS 2020 and MSFS 2024. Choose the DHC-2 Beaver for classic float operations, the Pilatus PC-6 for extreme strips, or the SimWorks Studios Kodiak 100 for payware utility flying.
Best MSFS bush planes by role
The right aircraft depends on the strip, payload and type of flying rather than raw short-take-off performance alone.
| Aircraft | Best for | Why choose it | Main limitation |
|---|---|---|---|
| CubCrafters XCub | Best overall and first taildragger | Accessible slow-flight handling, tundra tyres and enough performance for demanding back-country strips | Light payload and restricted forward visibility on the ground |
| DHC-2 Beaver | Classic bush and float flying | Useful carrying ability, strong low-speed character and wheel or float operations where the relevant variant is available | Heavier than a Cub and less tolerant of poor energy management |
| Pilatus PC-6 Porter | Steep, short and high-altitude strips | Turboprop power, effective low-speed control and beta or reverse thrust after touchdown | Careless power-lever use can destabilise the rollout |
| Zlin Savage Cub | Slow VFR exploration | Light, simple and forgiving for basic stick-and-rudder flying | Limited speed, payload and equipment |
| Cessna 208 B Grand Caravan EX | Cargo and IFR utility work | Capacity, range and capable avionics without needing another purchase | Requires more room than a Cub and is not an extreme-STOL aeroplane |
| SimWorks Studios Kodiak 100 | Best modern payware bush utility aircraft | Detailed systems, meaningful loading and a convincing cargo-and-STOL role | Weight, centre of gravity and torque demand proper management |
| Got Friends Wilga 35/80 | Characterful short-field flying | High-lift performance, excellent visibility and distinctive handling | Unusual systems and behaviour make it less suitable for a first bush plane |
Our broader comparison of bush aircraft by operating role explains where Cubs, Beavers, Caravans and Porters fit beyond Microsoft Flight Simulator.
What is the best included bush plane in MSFS 2020 and 2024?
The XCub is our default recommendation when you want a capable bush plane without purchasing an add-on. It combines useful short-field performance with relatively friendly handling, while still teaching proper tailwheel control, speed discipline and crosswind technique.
Choose the Savage Cub instead for unhurried sightseeing and basic VFR flying. Move to the Grand Caravan when carrying cargo, flying instruments or covering longer distances matters more than landing in the smallest possible clearing.
Aircraft bundles and variants can differ between editions, so check the aircraft supplied with each MSFS 2024 edition rather than assuming every aircraft seen in another pilot's hangar is included in yours.
Are payware bush planes better?
The SimWorks Studios Kodiak 100 is the strongest payware choice for pilots who want a modern, turbine-powered utility aircraft with meaningful loading and systems management. It suits cargo runs and remote operations better than the XCub, but it is heavier, more complex and less forgiving when loaded incorrectly.
The Got Friends Wilga is the more distinctive choice for low-and-slow short-field flying. Its appeal lies in character and hands-on operation rather than speed or sophisticated avionics.
Payware does not remove Microsoft Flight Simulator's terrain and ground-handling limitations. Large tyres cannot make every patch of satellite scenery landable, and an add-on built for MSFS 2020 may require a developer update before working correctly in MSFS 2024. For the older simulator, our MSFS 2020 payware aircraft recommendations explain why the Kodiak remains such a strong utility choice.
What should you look for in an MSFS bush plane?
Choose a bush aircraft by how controllable and useful it remains near the ground, not by its advertised stall speed alone.
- Low-speed control: The aeroplane should retain predictable pitch, roll and rudder authority through the approach and flare.
- Useful load and centre of gravity: A tiny landing distance means little if full fuel and cargo place the aircraft outside its permitted loading envelope.
- Power at altitude: Turbine aircraft such as the Porter and Kodiak cope better with heavy loads and high-elevation strips, although they require disciplined power management.
- Undercarriage and propeller clearance: Tundra tyres and a rugged gear arrangement help on rough surfaces, but scenery collision geometry still sets the practical limit.
- Cockpit and mission equipment: A basic Cub is ideal for visual exploration; the Caravan or Kodiak is better for weather, navigation and cargo work.
How do you land a bush plane on a short strip?
A successful short-field landing comes from correct loading, a stabilised approach and an early go-around decision—not from forcing the aircraft onto the ground and standing on the brakes.
- Reduce unnecessary weight. Check fuel, payload and centre of gravity before departure; a heavily loaded aircraft approaches faster and needs more runway.
- Inspect the strip. Make a reconnaissance pass to assess wind, slope, obstacles and the actual scenery surface. Unmarked terrain may contain invisible bumps or collision objects.
- Use the aircraft's own procedure. Set flap, propeller and approach speed from its checklist rather than applying one generic bush-flying speed to every type.
- Touch down under control. Keep the aircraft aligned, hold the correct crosswind inputs and avoid heavy braking while a taildragger is yawing.
- Use reverse thrust carefully. On aircraft such as the PC-6 or Kodiak, select beta or reverse only after touchdown and once directional control is established.
- Go around early. Reject an unstable approach before reaching the trees or descending into a strip from which the aircraft cannot climb safely.
What mistakes cause most bush-plane crashes?
Most failed bush arrivals begin with excess weight, excess speed or an attempt to salvage an unstable approach.
- Loading full fuel and cargo without checking the centre of gravity
- Braking hard while the taildragger is still turning or bouncing
- Using maximum flap automatically, without considering climb performance during a go-around
- Pulling a turboprop into reverse during the flare
- Assuming tundra tyres make photogrammetry, vegetation and arbitrary rough terrain safe
- Leaving water rudders down for take-off or selecting the wrong gear configuration on an amphibious aircraft
Do the recommendations change between MSFS 2020 and 2024?
No—the XCub remains the best all-round starting point, while the Beaver, Porter, Caravan and Kodiak retain their specialised roles. What changes is the aircraft and variant available in your edition, owned-content library or compatible add-on collection.
Third-party availability also differs by platform. On Xbox Series X|S and PlayStation 5, an aircraft must be offered through the simulator's console-compatible catalogue; the existence of a PC version does not guarantee a console release.
Can you use your chosen aircraft in Microsoft Flight Simulator Bush Trips?
Only when the activity permits aircraft selection; official Bush Trips commonly prescribe or lock the aircraft. Your own bush-plane choice matters mainly in Free Flight and other activities that allow it.
Bush Trips also introduce separate problems involving navigation, recognised landing zones and saved progress. Our solutions for Bush Trip navigation and progress issues cover those without duplicating the aircraft advice here.