Where can I find free flight simulator add-ons?

Free flight simulator add-ons are available in Fly Away Simulation's freeware library, organised by simulator. You can download aircraft, liveries, scenery, missions, utilities and other mods for Microsoft Flight Simulator, FSX, X-Plane, Prepar3D and older platforms. Match every file to your exact simulator version, device and required base products before installing it.

Where can I download free simulator add-ons?

Start with our freeware aircraft, scenery, livery and utility catalogue, then select the category for the simulator you actually use.

This page is on the official Fly Away Simulation website. We are a flight- and train-simulation community and downloads library that has served simmers since the early Flight Simulator era. Fly Away Simulation is our correct name; Fly Away Simulations is a common plural search for the same site.

Is there a free one, and is Microsoft Flight Simulator 2020 included?

The add-on files marked freeware are free, but they do not include a free copy of Microsoft Flight Simulator 2020 or another required commercial simulator.

You must already have access to the compatible base simulator. A free livery, sound pack or systems update may also require a separately obtained aircraft, plugin or scenery library. Read the requirements before downloading so that a free file does not leave you with an unusable package.

Freeware describes price, not permission. It does not automatically allow redistribution, modification, commercial use or inclusion in another download. Keep the author's documentation and follow the supplied licence.

Can I install PC add-ons on Xbox Series S or Series X?

No downloadable PC add-on from our library can be manually installed on Xbox Series S, Xbox Series X, PS5 or PS5 Pro.

Console editions do not expose the PC Community folder. Use only a console-compatible edition supplied through the simulator's supported content system; the existence of a PC version does not guarantee a console release. MSFS 2024 is available on PC, Xbox Series X|S, PS5 and PS5 Pro, while MSFS 2020 remains PC and Xbox only.

What types of flight simulator add-ons are available?

Free simulator add-ons include complete aircraft, repaints, airports, terrain, missions, traffic and utilities, but each package type has different requirements.

• Complete aircraft: A flyable model containing the core files needed by its supported simulator. It may still rely on default avionics, sounds or another component named by the author.
• Liveries and repaints: Alternative paint schemes for one specific aircraft model and often one engine, fuselage or developer variant. A repaint alone does not create a flyable aircraft.
• Scenery: Airports, cities, landmarks, terrain, mesh and object packages. Two add-ons covering the same airport can conflict, while some scenery requires separate object libraries.
• Utilities and plugins: Tools for cameras, planning, weather, systems or simulator management. Check both simulator and operating-system support before running them.
• AI traffic: Aircraft models, liveries and flight plans used for computer-controlled traffic. Missing one element may produce absent aircraft, blank textures or default substitutions.
• Missions and flight plans: Prepared routes, challenges or scenarios. Mission formats and required aircraft are often tied to one simulator generation.

Choose a complete aircraft when you do not already own the named model. Install a livery only when its description matches your aircraft developer, model, variant and simulator release.

How do I check whether an add-on is compatible?

An add-on is compatible only when its simulator, release, platform, base product and dependencies match your installation.

1. Name the simulator precisely. MSFS 2024, MSFS 2020, FSX, X-Plane 11, X-Plane 12 and individual Prepar3D generations are different targets. Microsoft Flight Simulator by itself is not specific enough.
2. Confirm the device and operating system. A PC package cannot be installed on a console. X-Plane plugins and external utilities may support only particular desktop operating systems.
3. Read the complete description. Check supported releases, exclusions, known issues and any compatibility notes following simulator updates. Screenshots do not prove compatibility.
4. Identify the package type. Terms such as repaint, livery, patch, panel update, sound set or configuration fix normally mean another package must already be installed.
5. List every dependency. Obtain the exact base model, plugin or object library named by the author. Similar aircraft names do not make liveries or configuration files interchangeable.
6. Check for conflicts. Avoid running two airport packages for the same location or multiple modifications replacing the same aircraft systems unless their documentation confirms they work together.

A mistake we see constantly is treating every Microsoft-branded simulator as one platform. FS2004, FSX, MSFS 2020 and MSFS 2024 use different package structures. Owning the same aircraft type in each simulator does not make its add-ons transferable.

How do I add a downloaded package to Flight Simulator?

Extract the archive into a temporary folder, read its documentation and move the complete package to the location required by your simulator.

1. Keep the original archive. Save the downloaded ZIP separately so you can restore files or reinstall the package.
2. Extract everything first. Do not run the add-on from inside its compressed archive, and do not scatter individual files into the simulator directory.
3. Find the actual package folder. A manually installed MSFS package commonly contains manifest.json and layout.json. That folder normally goes directly inside the active Community folder, not inside an additional wrapper directory.
4. Use the correct simulator location. X-Plane aircraft normally belong under Aircraft, while scenery normally belongs under Custom Scenery. FSX and Prepar3D aircraft may use SimObjects, while scenery can require registration or activation rather than a simple copy into the simulator root.
5. Follow package-specific instructions. An included installer or readme takes priority over generic folder advice, especially for gauges, plugins and older scenery.
6. Test one addition at a time. Start the simulator and check the aircraft or location before installing another package. This makes conflicts much easier to isolate.

The active MSFS Community location varies with the simulator release, installation method and package location selected on that computer. Use the location reported by your own installation rather than copying a path from someone else's system.

Why is my add-on not showing in the simulator?

Most missing add-ons are installed in the wrong folder, nested one level too deep, missing a dependency or built for another simulator version.

Are free flight simulator add-ons safe?

Treat every third-party download with the same care as other software, even when it comes from an established archive.

• Scan the archive and any executable with up-to-date security software.
• Inspect the extracted files before running an installer. An executable may be legitimate for a complex utility, but a simple repaint should not usually require unrelated software or permanent administrator access.
• Back up any default file that an older package asks to overwrite.
• Prefer packages contained in their own folders over those that replace core simulator files.
• Keep the original ZIP and the documentation so that you know what was installed and how to remove it.
• If a fault begins immediately after installation, remove the newest package first rather than reinstalling the entire simulator.