Download X-Plane 11 aircraft add-ons, verify XP11 compatibility, tell full aircraft from liveries, and install packages in the correct folder.
You can download X-Plane 11 aircraft add-ons from our X-Plane aircraft and mods library, including freeware airliners, general aviation aircraft, military types, helicopters and repaints. Check each file's stated simulator version first: an X-Plane 12-only aircraft or a livery for a missing base model will not work as a standalone XP11 aircraft.
Where should I look for X-Plane 11 aircraft?
Our main X-Plane library is the best starting point because it covers several aircraft categories and simulator generations. Read the description and compatibility information on the individual download page rather than assuming every X-Plane file supports version 11.
For passenger jets and large cargo aircraft, browse the dedicated civil heavy aircraft download category. It contains Boeing, Airbus and other transport types, along with repaints and related files, so confirm whether each package is a complete aircraft or an addition to one.
Is the download a complete aircraft or only a livery?
Check the package type before downloading, because many files described as aircraft add-ons require another model that is not included.
| Package type | What it contains | What you need |
|---|---|---|
| Complete aircraft | An .acf file plus the model, cockpit, textures and supporting files | X-Plane 11 and any dependencies named in the description |
| Livery or repaint | Replacement textures for a particular aircraft and variant | The exact base aircraft specified by the author |
| Update or patch | Changed files rather than a complete model | The original aircraft, usually at a specified release level |
A common mistake we see is placing a repaint in the main Aircraft directory and expecting a new aeroplane to appear. A repaint belongs inside the compatible base aircraft's liveries folder, with the supplied folder structure preserved.
How do I check X-Plane 11 compatibility?
The download description should explicitly list X-Plane 11 or provide an XP11-specific version of the aircraft.
- Do not assume backward compatibility: an aircraft built only for X-Plane 12 may use file formats, systems or flight-model features that X-Plane 11 cannot interpret.
- Treat older aircraft cautiously: some X-Plane 10 models load in X-Plane 11, but instruments, sounds, lighting, plugins and flight behaviour may not work properly.
- Check dependencies: an aircraft may require a separate plugin, object library or base model. Missing dependencies often cause blank displays, absent objects or error messages.
- Check operating-system support: the aircraft model itself may be portable, while included plugin binaries support only particular systems or processor architectures.
If you want a curated starting point rather than browsing every listing, our recommended XP11 freeware aircraft shortlist covers airliners, general aviation and historic types.
How do I install a downloaded X-Plane 11 aircraft?
Most freeware X-Plane 11 aircraft are installed by extracting one complete aircraft folder into X-Plane 11/Aircraft. Our full X-Plane aircraft installation instructions cover the folder layout in more detail.
- Extract the archive completely. Do not leave the aircraft inside a ZIP, RAR or similar compressed file.
- Find the actual aircraft folder. It should contain at least one
.acffile alongside its model and texture folders. - Copy that folder into
X-Plane 11/Aircraft. A user-created category folder insideAircraftis acceptable and keeps third-party models separate from the simulator's stock aircraft. - Keep the supplied structure intact. Do not move the
.acf, cockpit, object and texture files separately. - Read the included documentation. Complete any stated plugin or dependency setup, then start or restart X-Plane 11.
Why is the downloaded aircraft not showing in X-Plane 11?
If an installed aircraft is absent from the aircraft selector, first confirm that the extracted package contains an XP11-compatible .acf file somewhere under X-Plane 11/Aircraft.
- The archive is still compressed instead of extracted.
- The files were copied outside the
Aircraftdirectory. - The download is a livery, patch or sound pack rather than a complete aircraft.
- The package contains only an X-Plane 12 or unsupported older
.acffile. - The wrong folder was copied from an archive containing documentation and several separate packages.
- X-Plane was already running and has not been restarted since the files were added.
If the aircraft appears but has blank instruments, missing objects or non-working systems, the installation has usually been found; the remaining fault is more likely a missing dependency, incompatible plugin or unsupported aircraft version.