Where can I get free aircraft add-ons for MSFS?
You can download free aircraft add-ons for Microsoft Flight Simulator from our organised MSFS freeware library, with separate collections for civil jets and general aviation aircraft. PC users install these packages through the Community folder; Xbox and PlayStation users are limited to free aircraft distributed through the simulator’s supported in-game channels.
Where should I download free MSFS aircraft?
Our MSFS freeware aircraft and mod library is the main starting point for packages covering Microsoft Flight Simulator 2020 and 2024. Read each file description rather than assuming that every download marked “MSFS” supports both editions.
Airliner pilots can browse the dedicated collection of free civil jets and passenger aircraft. For touring, training and bush flying, use our general-aviation aircraft collection.
Check what the package actually contains before downloading. An aircraft enhancement or livery may appear under an aircraft-related category without supplying a complete flyable aeroplane.
| Download type | Complete aircraft? | What to check |
|---|---|---|
| Complete aircraft | Usually | Included cockpit, systems, sounds and any required dependencies |
| Aircraft enhancement | No | Requires the corresponding default or separately installed aircraft |
| Livery | No | Requires the exact aircraft model named in the description |
| Legacy conversion | Sometimes | May have limited cockpit functions, animation or flight-model fidelity |
Will MSFS 2020 aircraft work in MSFS 2024?
An MSFS 2020 aircraft should be treated as compatible with MSFS 2024 only when the file description or update notes confirm it. Many packages transfer successfully, but custom avionics, external dependencies, installers and older flight-model configurations can cause missing instruments or prevent the aircraft loading.
Keep the two simulator installations separate. Put the package in the Community folder belonging to the version you are launching, and do not assume one installation automatically serves both simulators.
Can I install free aircraft on Xbox or PlayStation?
Console players cannot manually copy downloaded ZIP packages into a Community folder. On Xbox Series X|S and PlayStation 5 or PS5 Pro, free aircraft must be distributed through an in-game channel supported on that console.
Microsoft Flight Simulator 2020 is available on PC and Xbox, not PlayStation. Microsoft Flight Simulator 2024 is available on PC, Xbox Series X|S, PS5 and PS5 Pro. A freeware package described as a PC or Community-folder download will not install on any console edition.
How do I install a downloaded aircraft?
- Confirm the package type. Make sure it is a complete aircraft rather than a livery or modification requiring another product.
- Check compatibility. Look for an explicit reference to MSFS 2020, MSFS 2024 or both, plus any required base aircraft or libraries.
- Extract the archive. Do not place the ZIP, RAR or 7z archive directly in the Community folder.
- Find the actual package folder. In a conventional MSFS package, the folder containing files such as
manifest.jsonandlayout.jsonis the one that belongs in Community. Extra nested folders are a common reason aircraft fail to appear. - Install it with the simulator closed. Copy the package into the correct Community folder; our detailed aircraft installation instructions cover the different PC installation locations.
- Start MSFS and select the aircraft. If it is missing, restart the simulator and recheck the package structure, compatibility and dependencies.
Why does a free aircraft not appear in MSFS?
The usual cause is a folder nested one level too deeply. Other common failures include downloading only a repaint, installing an MSFS 2020-only package in MSFS 2024, omitting a required dependency, or leaving both old and new releases of the same aircraft installed.
- Remove the previous release before installing an updated package instead of merging the folders.
- Check the included documentation for required default aircraft, avionics or libraries.
- Verify that the extracted package is in Community, not the original compressed archive.
- Temporarily remove conflicting versions if the aircraft loads with a blank cockpit or crashes the simulator.
Are free MSFS aircraft safe and legal?
Freeware does not mean unrestricted. Keep the included readme and licence, and do not redistribute or modify the aircraft unless its author permits it. Use established download libraries, scan downloaded files with your operating system’s security tools, and treat an unexpected executable as a reason to stop and verify the package description.