Where can I download FSX mods and freeware aircraft?
For FSX and FSX: Steam Edition, the easiest place to download mods and freeware aircraft is our FSX downloads library, where aircraft, scenery and utilities are sorted by category. Choose files labelled for FSX, check whether they are complete packages or repaints, and keep clear of uploads that need a separate base model.
Which FSX download section should you use?
Use the section that matches the add-on type, because in FSX the word 'mods' can mean flyable aircraft, scenery, AI traffic or utilities. Starting in the right category saves time and cuts down the chance of downloading something that does not match what you meant to install.
| Section | Best for | What you will usually find |
|---|---|---|
| Main FSX downloads hub | A one-stop starting point | Aircraft, scenery, utilities and other add-ons in one place |
| Civil aircraft | Airliners, business aircraft and other commercial types | Complete aircraft packages, liveries and model variations |
| General aviation aircraft | Trainers, singles, light twins and small props | Simpler aircraft that are often easier for beginners to install and fly |
| Scenery | Airports, cities, landmarks and terrain improvements | Visual upgrades rather than flyable aircraft |
If you already know what you want to fly, go straight to our freeware FSX civil aircraft section for airliners and commercial types, or our FSX general aviation aircraft library for trainers and light aircraft.
How do you avoid incompatible or incomplete add-ons?
The safest approach is to check what the package actually contains before you install it. Most bad FSX downloads are not broken files; they are the wrong simulator version, repaint-only packages, or older installers aimed at the wrong folder.
- Check the simulator label. FSX, FSX: Steam Edition, FS2004, Prepar3D and MSFS files are not the same thing. Some older FS2004 aircraft can work in FSX, but only when the upload notes say so.
- Look for 'complete aircraft' or 'repaint only'. Repaints need the original base model, and often the original panel or sound set as well. This is one of the most common reasons an add-on appears with missing parts or all-white textures.
- Be careful with auto-installers. Older installers may only recognise boxed FSX locations. Manual ZIP packages are often easier to trust because you can see every folder and read the instructions first.
- Check for extra gauges, effects and sounds. If those files are missing, the aircraft may load but have silent engines, dark screens or non-working cockpit items.
- Keep the ZIP and the README. If something goes wrong, you will want the original archive and the included notes instead of guessing what belonged where.
Are FSX and FSX: Steam Edition downloads the same?
Most manual freeware packages work in both versions, but installers are the weak point. If the add-on asks you to browse to your simulator folder, make sure it is pointing at your real FSX or FSX:SE install and not an old path left over from another version.
What should you download first if you are new to FSX?
Start with one complete freeware aircraft and test it before adding anything else. Installing several aircraft, scenery packages and utilities at once makes troubleshooting harder, and FSX problems often come from one missing file in one add-on.
- Pick a complete aircraft package. Avoid repaint-only downloads for your first install.
- Read the included notes before copying files. Older FSX add-ons may place files in more than one folder.
- Test the aircraft on its own. Load it in a simple daytime flight so missing textures, bad cockpit views or sound problems show up straight away.
- Add scenery or utilities afterwards. If something stops working, you will know which download caused it.
Once you have chosen a package, our guide to installing add-on aircraft in FSX covers the usual folder structure and the mistakes we see most often.