Learn how to change aircraft in Microsoft Flight Simulator 2020 and 2024, switch liveries, and fix planes missing from the selector.
To change aircraft in Microsoft Flight Simulator, open Free Flight or the World Map, select the tile showing your current aircraft, choose another available aeroplane or helicopter, and confirm it before starting the flight. If already airborne, return to the main menu and reload the flight with the new aircraft.
How do I change aircraft in MSFS 2020 or 2024?
Both editions place the aircraft selector in pre-flight setup, although Microsoft renamed that area in MSFS 2024.
| Version or mode | Where to select the aircraft | Availability |
|---|---|---|
| MSFS 2020 | World Map | Aircraft installed and included with your edition or account |
| MSFS 2024 Free Flight | Free Flight setup | Aircraft available to your account in that mode |
| MSFS 2024 Career | Career mission or company screens | Restricted by the mission, certification or company aircraft |
- Open pre-flight setup. Choose World Map in MSFS 2020 or Free Flight in MSFS 2024. If a flight is already loaded, exit it first; the standard pause menu does not provide the complete aircraft library.
- Select the current aircraft tile. In MSFS 2020 it appears near the upper-left of the World Map. In MSFS 2024, use the aircraft control within Free Flight setup. With a controller, highlight the same tile and use the on-screen confirmation prompt.
- Find the exact model. Search by aircraft or manufacturer, or use the category filters. Clear filters such as favourites or aircraft type if the expected model is absent.
- Choose the variant and livery. Packages may list different engine, wheel, float or avionics variants separately. Select the required version rather than assuming every thumbnail represents the same configuration.
- Confirm and review the flight. Check that the new aircraft name and thumbnail appear in pre-flight setup, then verify the departure position, route, fuel and payload before selecting Fly.
The aircraft shown in a Hangar or profile screen is not always the one assigned to the pending flight. The decisive check is the aircraft tile on the World Map or Free Flight screen.
Can I change aircraft while flying in MSFS?
The normal Microsoft Flight Simulator workflow does not let you replace an aircraft in the middle of a flight. Return to the main menu, select the new aircraft and load the flight again.
On PC, Developer Mode includes an Aircraft Selector intended for add-on testing. It can replace the model without using normal pre-flight setup, but may reset systems or leave the flight plan, avionics, cameras and aircraft state inconsistent. We recommend the menu method for ordinary flights, Career progress and reliable logbook recording.
Why is my aircraft missing from the MSFS selector?
A missing aircraft is usually filtered out, unavailable to the signed-in account, restricted by the selected activity or not loaded correctly.
- Active filters: Clear search text and reset manufacturer, category and favourites filters. This is the mistake we see most often when an installed aircraft appears to have vanished.
- Edition differences: Not every edition contains the same fleet. Check the aircraft supplied by each MSFS 2024 edition or compare against our complete MSFS 2020 aircraft list.
- Add-on installation: PC freeware must be extracted and placed correctly in the
Communityfolder; an extra nested folder can prevent detection. Our aircraft add-on installation guide covers the folder checks and Marketplace method. Consoles cannot use manually copied Community-folder packages. - Wrong simulator version: An FSX, X-Plane or Prepar3D aircraft will not appear in MSFS. Some MSFS 2020 add-ons also require a compatible update before they work properly in MSFS 2024.
- Restricted activity: Career missions, training lessons and challenges may prescribe a specific aircraft even when other models are available in Free Flight.
- Disabled third-party content: Safe Mode can suppress Community add-ons after a crash. Exit safely and restart in normal mode once the faulty package has been identified or removed.
How do I change the livery instead of the aircraft?
Select the base aircraft, then open its livery or appearance choices and choose the required paint scheme. A livery changes the exterior textures; it does not add a separate flyable model.
The repaint must match the exact aircraft and often the precise variant. Our guide to finding and installing compatible free liveries explains why a repaint may be installed but remain absent from the selector.
What should I check after changing aircraft?
Recheck the flight setup because a route and parking position suitable for one aircraft may not suit another.
- Starting position: A large airliner may not fit the gate previously chosen for a light aircraft. Runway starts usually load with engines running, while parking starts may use a cold-and-dark state.
- Control profile: Confirm the active bindings, throttle axes, brakes and sensitivity, especially when moving between piston aircraft, jets and helicopters.
- Flight plan: Verify that the route appears in the new aircraft's avionics rather than assuming every cockpit imports it identically.
- Fuel and payload: Recalculate them for the replacement aircraft instead of retaining values intended for a different model.