How do I enable and use aircraft smoke effects in FSX?

In FSX and FSX: Steam Edition, aircraft smoke is normally controlled by the Smoke System command, assigned to the I key by default. The aircraft must also contain a valid [SMOKESYSTEM] section in aircraft.cfg, and the named .fx files must be installed in FSX’s main Effects folder.

How do I install a smoke effect in FSX?

Install the effect file in the Effects folder beside fsx.exe, then reference that effect from the chosen aircraft’s aircraft.cfg.

1. Find the aircraft folder. It will normally be under SimObjects\Airplanes inside the FSX installation. Our guide to locating FSX aircraft folders covers boxed, Steam and custom-library installations.
2. Back up aircraft.cfg. Copy the original file somewhere safe before changing it.
3. Install the effect files. Copy supplied .fx files into the main Effects folder. Put any accompanying textures in the destination specified by the add-on, usually Effects\texture. A mistake we see constantly is an extra nested directory such as Effects\Effects\example.fx.
4. Add or edit the smoke section. Use the entries supplied with the effect. A typical structure is [SMOKESYSTEM] followed by lines such as smoke.0 = -12.0, -16.0, 0.0, fx_example_smoke and smoke.1 = -12.0, 16.0, 0.0, fx_example_smoke. These are placeholders, not universal coordinates.
5. Reload the aircraft. Switch to another aircraft and back after saving. Restart FSX if it continues using the old configuration.

If aircraft.cfg already contains a [SMOKESYSTEM] section, merge or replace its entries rather than creating a second section. Number the emitters uniquely from smoke.0, and write the effect’s base filename exactly as supplied, normally without the .fx extension.

For a concrete package structure, the EMB-120 package’s worked configuration example shows the usual Effects-folder, aircraft.cfg and I-key workflow.

How are FSX smoke positions set?

Each smoke line contains three position values in feet relative to the aircraft model’s reference datum, followed by the effect name.

Coordinates from one aeroplane rarely fit another because every model can use a different reference datum. If a plume appears in the wrong place, alter one axis at a time in small increments, reload the aircraft and reverse the adjustment if it moves in the wrong direction.

How do I turn aircraft smoke on and off?

Load the configured aircraft and press I to switch its standard smoke system on; press I again to switch it off.

1. Use an external view so the emitter positions are easy to check.
2. Press the I key without Shift or Ctrl. Existing particles may remain visible briefly after the system is switched off.
3. Check the control assignment if nothing happens. Open FSX’s control assignments, locate Smoke System (on/off) and assign a keyboard key or joystick button.

The standard command activates every entry in that aircraft’s [SMOKESYSTEM] section together. It cannot independently select left, right or coloured emitters unless the add-on includes a custom gauge or controller.

Why is aircraft smoke not working in FSX?

When the smoke command produces nothing, the usual cause is an incorrect file path, a mismatched effect name or a missing aircraft.cfg entry.

• No smoke from any emitter: confirm that the named .fx file is directly inside the active FSX installation’s Effects folder and that its spelling matches aircraft.cfg.
• The I key does nothing: restore or reassign the Smoke System (on/off) control. Also check whether the package uses its own panel gauge instead of the standard command.
• Only one plume appears: inspect every smoke.N line for duplicated numbers, typographical errors or different effect filenames.
• Smoke appears far from the aircraft: the coordinates were probably written for another model or datum. Adjust the three position values rather than moving the effect file.
• Smoke appears as black or opaque squares: this is an effect-texture or rendering fault, not a control problem. Follow our diagnosis for black particle squares and broken contrails.

Can FSX use coloured or automatic engine smoke?

FSX supports coloured and engine-positioned smoke, but a basic [SMOKESYSTEM] entry remains a manual on/off effect rather than an engine-condition simulation.

• Manual display smoke: use ordinary smoke entries when you want predictable control from the I key.
• Selectable colours: use an add-on with multiple effects and a controller, such as this gauge-controlled coloured-smoke package.
• Automatic engine smoke: choose a package with gauge or controller logic if smoke must respond to engine parameters. The standard smoke section alone does not track throttle, N1 or whether an engine is running.

Contrails, touchdown tyre smoke and some start-up effects belong to other FSX effect systems, so the I key does not normally control them.