Find the native Dash 7 add-on for MSFS 2020, why our FSX port-over will not work, and what PC and Xbox pilots must check before installing.
Yes. A native commercial de Havilland Canada DHC-7 Dash 7 add-on is available for Microsoft Flight Simulator 2020 on PC. However, the freeware Dash 7 hosted in our library is an FSX port-over, not an MSFS aircraft, and cannot simply be placed in the MSFS Community folder.
Which Dash 7 package works in MSFS 2020?
The native commercial option is the PILOT’S DHC-7 package made for Microsoft Flight Simulator. Check that the product specifically names MSFS 2020 and supports your platform; an FSX edition bearing the same aircraft name is not compatible.
| Aircraft package | Works in MSFS 2020? | What to know |
|---|---|---|
| Native commercial DHC-7 | Yes | Use the edition explicitly sold for Microsoft Flight Simulator. |
| Our FSX-only Dash 7 download | No | This legacy port-over was packaged for FSX, not MSFS 2020. |
| Dash 8 Q400 for MSFS | Yes | A related but different twin-engined aircraft, not a Dash 7. |
The Dash 7 and Dash 8 are often confused in searches. The DHC-7 is a four-engined STOL turboprop; the later Dash 8 family uses two engines and has different systems, performance and handling.
Can the FSX Dash 7 be installed in MSFS 2020?
No. Copying the FSX aircraft into the MSFS Community folder, renaming its directory or editing aircraft.cfg will not convert it. MSFS requires compatible models, materials, systems, sounds and package metadata.
A proper conversion normally requires the source assets and the original creator’s permission. Our explanation of why FSX aircraft are not drop-in MSFS add-ons covers the compatibility problem in more detail.
Is there a freeware Dash 7 for MSFS 2020?
We do not list a native freeware Dash 7 for MSFS 2020 in our catalogue. The freeware Dash 7 linked above remains an FSX aircraft, so the word “port-over” should not be read as meaning it was ported to MSFS.
If freeware matters more than flying the exact type, our native MSFS Dash 8 Q400 package provides a related regional turboprop. It is not a substitute for the four-engined DHC-7, so expect different cockpit systems and flight characteristics. Other compatible aircraft can be found in our MSFS 2020 and 2024 add-on library.
Can Xbox users install the Dash 7?
Xbox users can install only aircraft distributed through the simulator’s in-game Marketplace and marked for Xbox. A Dash 7 package downloaded for PC cannot be copied or transferred to an Xbox, even when both versions run MSFS 2020.
Before buying, verify the simulator edition and Xbox compatibility shown on the Marketplace listing. Do not assume that a PC release is also offered on console.