How old is Microsoft Flight Simulator 2004 (FS2004)?
Microsoft Flight Simulator 2004, usually called FS2004 or FS9, is 22 years old as of July 2026. Despite the name, it was first released on 29 July 2003, so it does not turn 23 until 29 July 2026. The title reflects the product year, not the launch year.
FS2004 release date and age
The exact answer most people want is simple: FS2004 first launched on 29 July 2003. That means it is 22 years old today, based on the current date of July 2026.
You will also see the full title Microsoft Flight Simulator 2004: A Century of Flight. In the community, though, most of us shorten it to FS2004 or FS9. Both names refer to the same simulator.
Retail dates could vary slightly by country, especially back when boxed releases reached different regions at different times. Even so, 29 July 2003 is the launch date generally used when people ask how old FS2004 is.
Why is it called Flight Simulator 2004 if it came out in 2003?
Because Microsoft named it for the model year rather than the calendar year of release. That was common at the time, not just in games but across software and consumer products. So although it says 2004 on the box, the simulator actually arrived in mid-2003.
The subtitle A Century of Flight also matters. The release was tied to the hundredth anniversary of powered flight, which fell in 2003. That is another reason the 2003 launch date catches people out when they first look it up.
FS2004 timeline at a glance
| Item | Detail |
|---|---|
| Full title | Microsoft Flight Simulator 2004: A Century of Flight |
| Common community name | FS2004 or FS9 |
| Original release date | 29 July 2003 |
| Age as of July 2026 | 22 years old |
| Next anniversary | 23 years old on 29 July 2026 |
What does FS9 mean?
FS9 is simply the internal version name most simmers use for Flight Simulator 2004. You will see it in file names, add-on installers and folder references, especially with older aircraft, scenery and utilities.
So if you are checking an old repaint, panel, gauge or AFCAD file and it says it is for FS9, that normally means it was made for FS2004.
How can you tell if your simulator is really FS2004?
If you have an old installation on a PC and you are not sure whether it is FS2004 or another Microsoft Flight Simulator version, these are the quickest checks.
- Check the program file name: FS2004 normally runs from
fs9.exe. If you seefsx.exe, that is FSX, not FS2004. - Look at the title screen: FS2004 will usually show
Microsoft Flight Simulator 2004: A Century of Flight. - Check the installation folder name: many default installs use a folder name that includes
Flight Simulator 9. - Look at add-on compatibility notes: if an installer or readme says it is for FS9, that points to FS2004 compatibility.
Is FS2004 still usable today?
Yes, plenty of simmers still keep FS2004 running. Its age does show, of course. The graphics engine is old, it was built for much earlier versions of Windows, and some original disc-based installations can be awkward on modern systems.
That said, FS2004 still has value. It loads quickly, runs well on modest hardware, and has a huge back catalogue of classic freeware aircraft and scenery. If you still fly it, our downloads library remains a useful place to find FS2004-compatible add-ons.
Where FS2004 sits in Flight Simulator history
FS2004 is one of the best-known entries in the classic Microsoft Flight Simulator line. It came before FSX and after the earlier 2002-era release, and for many long-time simmers it was the version that balanced performance, add-on support and stability particularly well.
That is why the question still comes up. Even more than two decades after release, FS2004 is old enough to be a retro simulator, but it is not forgotten. A lot of legacy aircraft, scenery packages and utilities were built around it, and many of those still circulate today.
The short answer
If you only need the headline: Microsoft Flight Simulator 2004 is 22 years old as of July 2026. It was released on 29 July 2003, even though the title says 2004.