How do I remove an aircraft add-on from FSX?

To remove an aircraft add-on from FSX or FSX: Steam Edition, use its supplied uninstaller if available. Otherwise, close FSX and move the aircraft’s folder out of SimObjects\Airplanes. Remove shared gauges, effects or sounds only when the add-on’s file list proves they belong exclusively to that aircraft.

The safest way to uninstall an FSX aircraft

The safest order is to use the package’s uninstaller, test a temporary removal and only then delete its remaining files.

1. Identify the package: determine whether it is a complete aircraft, a repaint or a multi-aircraft pack. Check the original archive, readme or installation log for a file list.
2. Protect your files: make a copy of the aircraft folder and any configuration files you intend to edit. Our FSX add-on and settings backup checklist identifies the main locations worth preserving.
3. Replace it in your default flight: if the aircraft is loaded by your default or saved flight, select a stock FSX aircraft and save that flight again before removal.
4. Run the supplied uninstaller: look in the add-on’s folder, Start menu entries or Windows installed-applications list. Run this before deleting anything manually; some uninstallers need their original files to complete the removal.
5. Move a manually installed aircraft: close FSX, then move its complete folder from SimObjects\Airplanes to a temporary folder outside the simulator. Rotorcraft may instead be under SimObjects\Rotorcraft.
6. Restart and test FSX: check the aircraft selection screen and load several aircraft that might share its sounds, panels or gauges. Keep the temporary copy until you know nothing else depends on it.
7. Delete documented leftovers: remove global effects, gauges, modules or scenery only when the package’s file list identifies them and no other add-on uses them.

A mistake we see constantly is deleting files from Gauges or Effects merely because their names resemble the aircraft. Those folders often contain dependencies shared by several add-ons.

Where are FSX aircraft add-ons stored?

Most complete aircraft are installed as individual folders under the simulator’s SimObjects\Airplanes directory.

• Boxed FSX commonly uses C:\Program Files (x86)\Microsoft Games\Microsoft Flight Simulator X\SimObjects\Airplanes.
• FSX: Steam Edition commonly uses C:\Program Files (x86)\Steam\steamapps\common\FSX\SimObjects\Airplanes.
• A custom FSX or Steam library can be on any drive, and add-on managers can use another folder referenced by FSX’s SimObjectPaths entries.

If the package name does not match its folder, open aircraft.cfg and compare its title=, ui_manufacturer=, ui_type= and ui_variation= values with the aircraft shown in FSX. Our explanation of the FSX aircraft folder structure helps distinguish a complete aircraft folder from files belonging to a repaint.

One folder can contain several models and liveries. Deleting that whole folder removes every [fltsim.x] variation inside it, not just the aircraft name you selected in FSX.

How do I remove only an FSX repaint or livery?

Remove a repaint by deleting its matching [fltsim.x] entry from aircraft.cfg and then deleting only the texture folder referenced by that entry.

1. Back up aircraft.cfg: copy it before opening it in a plain-text editor.
2. Find the correct variation: match the repaint using ui_variation=, title= and the texture= value.
3. Remove the complete block: delete from that [fltsim.x] heading down to, but not including, the next section heading.
4. Check for shared textures: delete the corresponding texture.name folder only if no remaining [fltsim.x] entry refers to it.
5. Renumber the entries: make the remaining headings consecutive, beginning with [fltsim.0], so there are no gaps.

Do not delete the aircraft’s complete folder when removing one repaint. Its model, panel, sound and base textures may serve every remaining livery.

Can I delete the aircraft’s gauges, effects and sounds?

Files installed outside the aircraft’s own folder should be deleted only when they are documented as package-specific and are not shared.

If the aircraft was installed through an add-on manager, remove it through the same manager. For managed packages, Addit! Pro’s aircraft removal tools can remove complete packages or selected files while helping to protect recorded shared components.

Why does the aircraft still appear, or why do errors start?

An aircraft that remains in the menu still has a valid [fltsim.x] entry somewhere FSX scans, while errors usually indicate a saved-flight reference or an accidentally removed dependency.

• Restart FSX fully: the simulator builds its aircraft list during startup.
• Check every variation: a multi-livery folder may contain several entries with similar names.
• Search other aircraft paths: boxed FSX and Steam Edition can coexist, and a second copy may be installed in another SimObjectPaths location.
• Inspect saved flights: a flight referencing the removed aircraft may report that it cannot load the requested model or substitute another aircraft. Load a stock aircraft and resave the flight.
• Check AI traffic: traffic schedules refer to an aircraft’s exact title= value. Removing that aircraft makes its assigned AI flights disappear until the traffic package is changed or the aircraft is restored.
• Restore shared files if another aircraft breaks: missing gauges, sounds or effects after removal usually mean a shared dependency was deleted. Restore it from the temporary backup rather than reinstalling FSX.