How do I change aircraft and location in FSX Free Flight?
Change aircraft and location in FSX Free Flight, choose a runway or gate, switch during a flight, and fix missing aircraft, airports and stands.
In Microsoft Flight Simulator X (FSX) and FSX: Steam Edition, open Free Flight, select Change beneath Current Aircraft, choose the model and variation, then select Change beneath Current Location. Find an airport, choose a runway, gate or parking position, confirm each selection, review time and weather, and select Fly Now.
These steps apply to both the boxed edition of FSX and FSX: Steam Edition. Microsoft Flight Simulator 2020 and 2024 use different menus.
How do I change aircraft and location in FSX Free Flight?
Use the two Change buttons on the Free Flight screen to configure the aircraft and departure point before loading the simulation.
- Open Free Flight: Return to the main FSX screen and select Free Flight. If you intend to use a saved flight, load it before making new selections.
- Select the aircraft: Under Current Aircraft, select Change. Choose the manufacturer, model and variation, then confirm with OK. Enable Show all variations if the livery you want is hidden.
- Search for the airport: Under Current Location, select Change. Searching by the airport identifier is normally quickest, but you can also search by airport name or location.
- Choose the starting position: Select the airport, then choose an active runway, a specific runway, a gate, parking or another start defined by that scenery.
- Set the conditions: Return to Free Flight and adjust the weather, season, date and time if required.
- Load the flight: Check the aircraft and location summaries, then select Fly Now.
The aircraft selector can hide variations and improperly installed add-ons. Our guide to finding and loading aircraft in FSX covers its filters and the usual add-on installation problems.
Current Location sets only the departure point; it does not create a route or destination. Use the FSX Flight Planner to build and load a route. If the planner offers to move the aircraft to the departure airport, set your exact gate or stand afterwards so that the planner does not replace it.
Which FSX starting position should I choose?
Choose a gate or ramp for start-up and taxi practice, a specific runway for controlled training, or Active Runway when you want FSX to choose for you.
| Starting position | Choose it when | What FSX does |
|---|---|---|
| Active Runway | You want the quickest departure | FSX chooses a runway using the airport data and weather. It may not match real-world operations, and ATC can make a different assignment if conditions change. |
| Specific runway | You are practising a particular departure or approach | The aircraft loads on that runway even when the wind favours another one. |
| Gate | You are flying an airliner from a terminal | The aircraft loads at the selected terminal stand. Match the gate size to the aircraft where possible to avoid overlapping buildings or nearby stands. |
| Parking or ramp | You are flying general aviation, cargo or a remote-stand operation | You start clear of the runway and usually away from passenger gates, which is better for start-up and taxi procedures. |
| Helipad or water start | You have a suitable helicopter or floatplane | The option appears only where the airport or add-on scenery defines that type of start. |
For the full airport-selection workflow, including stand types and missing parking positions, see our instructions for starting FSX at a gate, parking stand or ramp.
Does choosing a gate create a cold-and-dark start?
No. A gate selection changes the aircraft's position, not its engine or cockpit state. Default FSX aircraft commonly load with their engines running because the system state comes from the default flight, a saved flight or the aircraft itself.
For a repeatable cold-and-dark start, configure the aircraft on the ground and save that flight. Complex add-on aircraft may have a separate panel-state system that must also be saved or selected.
Can I change aircraft or airport after the flight starts?
Yes. Reveal the FSX menu bar with Alt if it is hidden, then use Aircraft > Select Aircraft to change models or World > Go to Airport to relocate to another airport and starting position.
An aircraft change normally retains the existing position and flight situation. Replacing a light aircraft with an airliner at low speed can therefore cause an immediate stall, while changing to a larger aircraft on a small stand can place it inside scenery. Some complex add-ons also initialise more reliably when selected on the Free Flight screen rather than swapped into a running flight.
Go to Airport is best for a normal runway, gate or ramp start. When the required location is not defined as an airport starting point, use the controls described in our guide to repositioning an aircraft with the FSX World Map; it can change latitude, longitude, altitude, heading and airspeed.
Why is an aircraft, airport or gate missing in FSX?
Missing entries usually result from selector filters, an incomplete add-on installation or limitations in the airport data used by FSX.
Why does an aircraft not appear?
- Hidden variation: Enable Show all variations and check any manufacturer, publisher or aircraft-type filters.
- Texture-only download: A repaint normally requires its specified base aircraft. Installing only the texture folder does not create a complete aircraft.
- Wrong installation: Confirm that the aircraft was installed into the active FSX installation. This is a common problem when boxed FSX and Steam Edition are both installed.
- Wrong simulator format: Aircraft made for Microsoft Flight Simulator 2020 or 2024, X-Plane or Prepar3D cannot be loaded directly by FSX.
- Incomplete configuration: Missing model files or invalid aircraft configuration entries can prevent FSX from listing the add-on.
Why is an airport, runway or gate not listed?
- New or renamed airport: The stock FSX airport database reflects the original simulator era. A newer airport or identifier may be absent, so try the airport's former code or name.
- No parking data: FSX can list only the runways, gates and parking spots defined in the airport scenery. Many small airfields have runway starts but no selectable stands.
- Inactive add-on scenery: An installed airport must also be enabled and ordered correctly in the Scenery Library.
- Conflicting airport files: Duplicate airport definitions can make the selectable stands disagree with the visible scenery. Disable the unwanted or duplicate airport add-on rather than editing the stock files.
Why does FSX ignore my aircraft or location selection?
A saved flight or flight-plan relocation can replace choices made earlier on the Free Flight screen.
Load the saved flight or flight plan first, allow or decline any relocation prompt, then select the final aircraft and exact starting position last. The default flight controls what Free Flight initially displays, but choices confirmed afterwards should take precedence when you select Fly Now.