See every X-Plane 12 default aircraft by category, plus cockpit variants, stock folder locations and how to restore a missing model.
X-Plane 12 includes a broad default fleet: the Airbus A330-300, Boeing 737-800 and MD-82; business jets and general-aviation aircraft; the F-14 Tomcat; two helicopters; and the ASK 21 glider. The complete bundled list is below, with multiple Cessna 172SP configurations grouped under one aircraft family.
Complete X-Plane 12 default aircraft list
| Category | Included aircraft |
|---|---|
| Airliners | Airbus A330-300; Boeing 737-800; McDonnell Douglas MD-82 |
| Business and personal jets | Cessna Citation X; Cirrus Vision SF50 |
| General aviation and utility | Beechcraft Baron 58; Beechcraft King Air C90B; Cessna 172SP; Cirrus SR22; Lancair Evolution; Piper PA-18 Super Cub; Stinson L-5 Sentinel; Van's RV-10 |
| Ultralight | Aerolite 103 |
| Helicopters | Robinson R22 Beta II; Sikorsky S-76C |
| Military | Grumman F-14 Tomcat |
| Glider | Schleicher ASK 21 |
This is the desktop X-Plane 12 fleet grouped by aircraft family. Simulator updates can revise individual packages, while mobile products and older X-Plane releases have different aircraft catalogues.
Why do X-Plane 12 aircraft counts differ?
Counts differ because an aircraft family, a separate .acf configuration and a livery are not the same thing. Some lists count every selectable configuration; others count each underlying aircraft family once.
The Cessna 172SP package, for example, supplies conventional-instrument, G1000 and float-equipped configurations. They may appear as separate choices in the aircraft selector, but all belong to the C172 family. For help with its glass cockpit, use our Cessna G1000 operating guide.
Another common mistake is mixing aircraft from X-Plane 11, manually copied legacy models or third-party downloads into the X-Plane 12 default list. A livery changes the paintwork, not the aircraft type.
Which default aircraft is best for beginners?
The conventional-panel Cessna 172SP is the best starting point for basic flying because its controls, speeds and systems are manageable without extensive automation.
- Basic flight training: Start with the Cessna 172SP, then move to the Baron 58 for multi-engine practice.
- Glass-cockpit training: Choose the G1000-equipped C172SP or Cirrus SR22.
- Turboprops and jets: Use the King Air C90B before progressing to the Citation X.
- Airliner operations: The 737-800 suits conventional jet procedures, the A330-300 introduces Airbus-style automation, and the MD-82 provides an older cockpit and systems philosophy.
- Helicopters: Expect the light R22 to be highly sensitive; it is included for realistic rotorcraft practice rather than easy first flights.
How do I restore a missing default aircraft?
A missing stock aircraft is usually hidden by an aircraft-selector filter or absent because its package was moved, edited or deleted.
- Clear the aircraft-selector filters. Remove search text and display all categories before assuming that a model is missing.
- Check the aircraft folders. Most stock packages are under
X-Plane 12/Aircraft/Laminar Research; bundled extras may be underX-Plane 12/Aircraft/Extra Aircraft. - Repair the installation. Run X-Plane's updater, or use the platform's file-verification function, to download missing or altered stock files.
- Protect custom changes. Back up any edits first because verification can replace modified default-aircraft files.
Can I add more aircraft to X-Plane 12?
Yes. Keep third-party packages in their own folders under X-Plane 12/Aircraft rather than placing them inside Laminar Research, where an update may overwrite them. Our add-on aircraft installation instructions cover the folder structure and common loading errors.
If the stock fleet feels limited, we maintain a shortlist of worthwhile free X-Plane 12 aircraft rather than treating unofficial downloads as default models.