Find the best flight simulator for jet aircraft, with clear picks for airliners, business jets, military combat, beginners and home cockpits.
For general flight simulation, Microsoft Flight Simulator 2024 is the best all-round simulator for flying jet aircraft, especially airliners and business jets, because it combines a wide jet ecosystem, global scenery, live weather and support across PC and consoles. Choose X-Plane 12 for desktop flexibility, or DCS World when “jet aircraft” means combat.
Best jet flight simulators compared
The best choice changes with the type of jet flying you intend to do.
| Best use | Simulator | Why it fits | Main caveat |
|---|---|---|---|
| All-round civilian jets | Microsoft Flight Simulator 2024 | Global scenery, strong visuals, live weather and a large aircraft ecosystem | Aircraft system depth varies; console add-ons and peripherals require explicit support |
| Airline procedures and home cockpits | X-Plane 12 | Flexible desktop platform, extensive configuration and strong procedural aircraft options | Scenery and individual aircraft quality depend heavily on add-ons |
| Fighters and military operations | DCS World | Detailed combat avionics, weapons, radar, carrier operations and mission environments | Modules have different fidelity levels, and it is not intended as a global civilian simulator |
| Established specialist installation | Prepar3D | Useful where an existing training workflow, aircraft or hardware installation depends on it | Usually not the best starting point for a new home simmer |
Our detailed comparison of MSFS, X-Plane and Prepar3D covers the broader differences in scenery, aircraft depth, training use and add-on support.
Which simulator is best for civilian jets?
Microsoft Flight Simulator 2024 is the strongest default recommendation for airliners and business jets. A long route passes over recognisable terrain and cities without requiring a hand-built scenery installation, while the available aircraft range extends from light jets to large airliners.
That does not make every included or downloadable jet equally realistic. One aircraft may model route constraints, electrical buses, hydraulic systems and autoland logic in depth, while another provides little beyond basic autopilot functions. The exact aircraft package matters more than the length of the simulator’s aircraft list.
X-Plane 12 is the better fit when desktop flexibility, flight-model configuration, multi-monitor use, plugins or a custom cockpit take priority. It can also be an excellent airline simulator when paired with a deeply modelled aircraft. There is no useful blanket rule that every X-Plane jet flies better than every MSFS jet; compare the particular aircraft you intend to use.
Microsoft Flight Simulator 2024 is available on PC, Xbox Series X|S, PS5 and PS5 Pro. Microsoft Flight Simulator 2020 remains a sensible option for someone with a mature PC or Xbox installation, but it was never released on PlayStation. Check each aircraft and peripheral individually rather than assuming compatibility between the 2020 and 2024 generations.
Which flight simulator is best for fighter jets?
DCS World is the best choice for modern fighter jets when radar operation, weapon employment, aerial refuelling, carrier procedures and tactical missions are part of the requirement. Its focus is combat rather than worldwide airline flying.
Not every DCS aircraft has the same system depth. Some modules model clickable cockpits and detailed start-up, sensor and weapon procedures; others deliberately use simplified controls. Check the module’s stated fidelity before buying it.
Readers deciding between civil aviation and military operations should use our civilian-versus-combat comparison of X-Plane and DCS. For aircraft-specific choices, our fighter-jet recommendations across the main combat simulators explain the strengths of different platforms.
Does the jet add-on matter more than the simulator?
For serious jet flying, the aircraft add-on often matters as much as the underlying simulator. “Study-level” is not a formal certification, so screenshots and marketing labels do not prove that an aircraft reproduces real operating logic.
- Autoflight: Check whether LNAV, VNAV, altitude constraints, holds, go-arounds and mode annunciations behave correctly.
- Aircraft systems: Look for meaningful electrical, hydraulic, pneumatic, fuel and pressurisation modelling rather than merely animated switches.
- FMS operation: A capable jet should handle route discontinuities, departures, arrivals, approaches and performance data appropriate to that aircraft.
- Flight envelope: Handling should remain credible during rotation, flare, crosswinds, high-altitude cruise and configuration changes—not only in level flight.
- Compatibility: Confirm the exact simulator generation, operating system and console support. A PC add-on cannot be assumed to exist on Xbox or PlayStation.
A mistake we see constantly is choosing a platform first and only then discovering that the desired jet is unavailable, simplified or incompatible with the owner’s hardware. Select the aircraft and required features before committing to the simulator.
How should a beginner start flying jets?
The easiest route into jet flying is Microsoft Flight Simulator 2024 with a straightforward aircraft, short routes and assistance features reduced gradually.
- Learn manual handling first: Practise take-offs, circuits, speed control and landings without trying to programme a complete airline route.
- Add basic autopilot modes: Learn heading, altitude, vertical speed and indicated-airspeed control while watching the flight-mode annunciator.
- Introduce the FMS: Start with one departure, a short route and one instrument approach before attempting long-haul operations.
- Move to cold-and-dark procedures: Add electrical power, engine starting, navigation alignment and checklists after the aircraft is already familiar.
Choosing an uncomplicated aircraft prevents the FMS from becoming the entire lesson. Our guide to selecting a first simulator jet covers suitable aircraft types and the systems a newcomer should learn first.
Can you fly jet aircraft with a controller?
Yes, a gamepad can handle basic jet flying, particularly on a console, but a separate throttle makes speed and thrust management much easier. A joystick suits Airbus-style controls and combat jets, while a yoke is more representative of many Boeing and business-jet cockpits.
A HOTAS is the practical choice for DCS because radar, trim, sensors and weapons must be operated without repeatedly reaching for the keyboard. Rudder pedals help with taxiing, crosswind landings and engine-out control, although a twist-grip joystick is adequate while learning.
Complex glass cockpits, busy airports and traffic can also tax a computer more heavily than a simple aircraft over sparse scenery. If performance becomes uneven, reduce traffic and airport detail before sacrificing cockpit display readability; stable control response is more useful than maximum visual settings during an approach.
Which jet simulator should you choose?
Choose Microsoft Flight Simulator 2024 for the best all-round civilian jet experience, X-Plane 12 for a flexible desktop or home-cockpit setup, and DCS World for combat jets. Choose Prepar3D mainly when an existing aircraft, training workflow or specialist installation specifically requires it.