See which Boeing 717 add-ons work in MSFS 2020, where freeware liveries fit, and why FSX or MD-80 files are not substitutes.
For MSFS 2020, the main complete Boeing 717 is Captain Sim's 717 Captain, a native commercial aircraft aimed more at visual and general operations than deep systems simulation. Freeware choices are mainly liveries, camera presets and other enhancements; older FSX packages and MD-80 add-ons are not substitutes.
What Boeing 717 choices are there in MSFS 2020?
The clearest full-aircraft option is the Captain Sim 717 Captain, while most other Boeing 717 downloads depend on an installed base aircraft. The production aircraft was the 717-200, so add-ons may be listed under either Boeing 717 or Boeing 717-200.
| Option | Standalone aircraft? | What it provides | Main limitation |
|---|---|---|---|
| Captain Sim 717 Captain | Yes | A commercial 717-200 package built for MSFS, including the aircraft model and cockpit | Do not assume that every system, computer page, failure or procedure is reproduced in high fidelity |
| 717 liveries and repaints | No | Alternative airline and fictional colour schemes | Each repaint must match the exact base aircraft for which it was created |
| Camera, sound or handling modifications | No | Changes to views, audio or flight behaviour | They can conflict with aircraft updates or with one another |
| Legacy FSX or Prepar3D packages | No | Aircraft made for older simulators | They cannot simply be copied into MSFS 2020 |
MSFS 2020 does not include a Boeing 717 in its standard aircraft collection. A repaint therefore cannot create the missing aeroplane by itself. Readers looking for new community releases can browse our wider MSFS add-on library and the more focused civil jet aircraft download category.
Is there a free Boeing 717 for MSFS 2020?
Free Boeing 717 downloads are usually repaints or basic community packages rather than a direct equivalent to a fully developed commercial aircraft. Availability changes as projects are released, abandoned or updated, so the download description matters more than the thumbnail.
Before installing a free package, check whether it says complete aircraft, livery, texture or repaint. A livery listing should name its required base model. If that requirement is absent from your simulator, the repaint may not appear at all or may load with missing, pink or chequered textures.
A complete-aircraft claim also deserves scrutiny. Look for an explicit statement that the download was made for MSFS 2020 and identify what it uses for its cockpit, avionics, sound and flight model. A visually convincing exterior does not prove that the 717's systems have been reproduced.
Will an FSX Boeing 717 work in MSFS 2020?
An FSX Boeing 717 cannot normally be installed in MSFS 2020 by copying its old model and aircraft files into the Community folder. MSFS uses a different package structure, rendering system and avionics framework; selecting a legacy flight-model option does not convert an FSX aircraft.
Our guide to using FSX aircraft in modern MSFS versions explains why a genuine developer conversion is required. Packages advertised only for FSX should be treated as incompatible unless their author supplies a separate MSFS edition.
The Boeing 717 is also not an MD-80 repaint. Although the 717 developed from the MD-95 and shares the rear-engined family appearance, its cockpit, systems, dimensions and engines differ. Use our separate overview of MD-80 aircraft for MSFS if that is the jet family you want.
Why does my Boeing 717 livery not appear?
A missing Boeing 717 livery usually means the repaint targets a different base package, has been installed one folder too deep or has become incompatible after an aircraft update.
- Confirm the dependency: verify that the repaint names your exact Boeing 717 package, not an FSX aircraft or another developer's model.
- Inspect the folder level: after extraction, the package's
manifest.jsonandlayout.jsonfiles should not be buried inside an extra duplicate folder. - Remove old duplicates: two versions of the same repaint can share identifiers and prevent one another from loading correctly.
- Test without enhancements: temporarily remove sound, cockpit, camera and flight-model modifications, then load the unmodified base aircraft.
- Check the platform: PC users can install compatible Community-folder packages. Xbox users are limited to content distributed through the in-simulator Marketplace and cannot install ordinary downloaded files. MSFS 2020 was not released for PlayStation.
If the aircraft itself loads but the livery is broken, reinstall the base aircraft first and then add only the matching repaint. If the aircraft does not load without any modifications, the fault lies with the base package rather than its liveries.