Which helicopters are included in MSFS 2020 and 2024?
See the MSFS 2020 and 2024 helicopter lists by edition, plus missing-aircraft fixes, platform limits and the best model for beginners.
Microsoft Flight Simulator 2020 includes the Bell 407 and Guimbal Cabri G2 after its free 40th Anniversary Update. MSFS 2024 Standard and Deluxe include six conventional helicopters, Premium Deluxe eight and Aviator eleven. The edition, not the PC, Xbox or PlayStation platform, determines the bundled fleet.
Microsoft Flight Simulator 2024 helicopter list by edition
The complete MSFS helicopter list ranges from two aircraft in MSFS 2020 to eleven in the MSFS 2024 Aviator Edition.
| Simulator or edition | Included helicopters | Total |
|---|---|---|
| MSFS 2020 Standard, Deluxe or Premium Deluxe | Bell 407; Guimbal Cabri G2 | 2 |
| MSFS 2024 Standard | Airbus H125; Airbus H225; Bell 407; Erickson S-64F Aircrane; Guimbal Cabri G2; Robinson R66 | 6 |
| MSFS 2024 Deluxe | The same six helicopters as Standard | 6 |
| MSFS 2024 Premium Deluxe | The Standard fleet plus Airbus H160 and Boeing CH-47D Chinook | 8 |
| MSFS 2024 Aviator | The Premium Deluxe fleet plus Bell 47J Ranger, Westland Scout and Westland Wasp | 11 |
Deluxe adds no helicopters. Premium Deluxe is the relevant upgrade for the H160 and Chinook, while Aviator bundles three additional rotorcraft from Microsoft's previously released aircraft collection. Our full MSFS 2024 aircraft and edition breakdown covers the fixed-wing fleet as well.
An equivalent MSFS 2024 edition supplies the same helicopter types on PC, Xbox Series X|S, PlayStation 5 and PS5 Pro. MSFS 2020 remains a PC and Xbox simulator and was never released for PlayStation.
Did MSFS 2020 include helicopters at launch?
MSFS 2020 launched without native helicopters; the free 40th Anniversary Update added the Bell 407, Guimbal Cabri G2 and native helicopter flight modelling.
Both aircraft are included with every MSFS 2020 edition rather than sold as separate Marketplace purchases. An installation missing the anniversary or official aircraft content may not display them.
Are eVTOL aircraft counted as helicopters?
No. The Jetson ONE, Joby S4 and Volocopter VoloCity can take off vertically, but they are eVTOL or powered-lift aircraft rather than conventional helicopters.
The Magni M-24 Orion is a gyroplane, whose main rotor is not normally engine-driven in flight. Aircraft-selection filters sometimes group these types near helicopters, which is why unofficial MSFS 2024 helicopter totals can differ.
Why is an included helicopter missing?
A missing default helicopter usually indicates an aircraft filter, incomplete official content, the wrong edition entitlement or an account problem.
- Check the edition. MSFS 2024 Standard and Deluxe stop at six helicopters. The H160 and Chinook require Premium Deluxe or Aviator, while the Bell 47J, Scout and Wasp require Aviator.
- Look in Free Flight. Clear search terms, manufacturer, aircraft-type and favourites filters. Career Mode only shows aircraft valid for the selected certification, company and mission, so it is not a reliable inventory screen.
- Update and inspect official content. In MSFS 2020, install the 40th Anniversary content and check Content Manager for pending aircraft packages. In MSFS 2024, inspect the library and allow required aircraft data to download or stream.
- Verify the signed-in account. Use the account that owns the simulator edition or upgrade, confirm online services are available and restart after the entitlement check completes.
- Rule out PC add-on conflicts. Start in Safe Mode or temporarily move helicopter-related packages out of the
Communityfolder. A damaged, incompatible or incorrectly nested package can disrupt the aircraft selector or prevent a helicopter from loading.
Which included helicopter is best for beginners?
The Guimbal Cabri G2 is the best starting helicopter because it is a light trainer with less mass and system complexity than the utility and heavy-lift models.
Practise stable hovering, pedal coordination and gentle collective changes before moving to the Bell 407, Robinson R66 or H125. The H225, S-64F and Chinook are specialised heavy aircraft and make poor first trainers.
Do MSFS helicopters require special controls?
Dedicated helicopter hardware is not required, but the controller or joystick needs inputs for cyclic, collective and pedals or anti-torque. Some aircraft also model engine throttle separately.
A mistake we see constantly is assigning one physical lever to both collective and engine throttle. Fixed-wing rudder assistance can also fight pedal input in the hover; our joystick binding and axis calibration guide explains the relevant setup for both simulator generations.
Can you add more helicopters to Microsoft Flight Simulator?
Yes. PC users can install compatible Community packages or Marketplace aircraft, while console users are limited to products released through the in-sim Marketplace for their platform.
Our MSFS freeware and add-on library contains aircraft beyond the bundled fleet, and our recommended helicopter add-ons and mods provides a rotorcraft-specific shortlist.
Check the stated simulator support before installing an aircraft. An MSFS 2020 helicopter is not automatically compatible with MSFS 2024; changes to flight modelling, avionics, animations or custom code can leave an older package partly functional or unable to load.