Replay a flight in FS2004 with Instant Replay or Flight Video. Follow the steps, find .FSR files, and fix missing, jerky or incorrect playback.
In Microsoft Flight Simulator 2004 (FS9), choose Options > Instant Replay to watch the last part of your flight. For a full replay, start Options > Flight Video before take-off, stop and save it afterwards, then select that .FSR recording for playback. Instant Replay cannot recover events already outside its rolling buffer.
These instructions apply to Microsoft Flight Simulator 2004: A Century of Flight, commonly called FS2004 or FS9. Its Flight Video feature stores simulator replay data rather than an AVI or MP4 movie, and it does not provide a modern editing timeline.
Which FS2004 replay method should I use?
Choose Instant Replay when the event has just happened; choose Flight Video when you need a recording that can be opened again later.
| Method | Choose it for | Main limitation |
|---|---|---|
| Instant Replay | Reviewing a landing, take-off, touchdown or recent manoeuvre | Only the recent history still held in the rolling buffer is available |
| Flight Video | Saving a complete flight or a planned sequence for later playback | Recording must begin before the event |
The mistake we see most often is treating Instant Replay as a permanent flight recorder. It is only a temporary look back at the flight that is already in progress.
How do I use Instant Replay for a flight in FS2004?
Instant Replay plays a selected number of recent seconds without requiring you to start a recording beforehand.
- Show the menu bar: press
Altif the menus are hidden in full-screen mode. - Open the replay controls: select Options > Instant Replay.
- Set the look-back period: enter the number of seconds you want to review and choose the playback speed.
- Begin playback: confirm the settings. FS2004 starts at the chosen point in the buffer and plays forwards.
- Return to the live flight: let the replay finish or exit it. The simulator returns to the point at which Instant Replay was started, not the earlier point shown during playback.
Instant Replay does not offer free timeline scrubbing, and increasing the requested duration cannot restore history that FS2004 no longer holds. If the take-off has left the buffer by the time you land, it cannot be recovered through Instant Replay.
Can I save an FS2004 Instant Replay?
No, FS2004 cannot convert the rolling Instant Replay buffer into a permanent .FSR file after the event. If the event is still available, you can run Instant Replay while using screen-recording software, but that creates an ordinary video rather than an interactive simulator replay.
Our explanation of simulator replay data versus normal video capture covers which format to use when you need to share or edit the result.
How do I replay an entire FS2004 flight?
Start Flight Video before departure and leave it recording until the whole flight, or the section you need, has finished.
- Prepare the original setup: load the aircraft, airport, weather and scenery you intend to use.
- Start Flight Video: open Options > Flight Video and select the command for recording a new clip. Give the recording a recognisable name when prompted.
- Fly the sequence: use normal simulation rate where possible. Avoid unnecessary rate changes and long pauses if accurate timing matters.
- Stop and save: return to the Flight Video controls after the required section and stop the recording.
- Play it later: open Options > Flight Video, select the saved recording and start playback.
FS2004 normally stores Flight Video recordings as .FSR files in Documents\Flight Simulator Files. Older versions of Windows label the parent folder My Documents; redirected Documents folders may instead sit under another location associated with the active Windows account.
An FSR file is not a self-contained movie. It does not package the original add-on aircraft, airport scenery or every system state inside the recording, so keep the same aircraft and scenery installed if you want dependable playback.
Can I change camera views during an FS2004 replay?
Yes, you can switch between the available cockpit, virtual cockpit, spot and tower views while Instant Replay or Flight Video is running.
Changing the camera does not change the recorded aircraft path, which lets you watch the same landing from several angles. Our guide to FS2004 camera controls during replays covers the relevant view options in more detail.
Treat Flight Video as a visual reconstruction of the aircraft's movement, not a recording of every simulator process. Add-on gauges, custom system logic, doors, ATC, changing weather and AI traffic may not reproduce exactly even when the aircraft follows the correct path.
Can I continue flying from an FS2004 replay?
No, a Flight Video is not a dependable point from which to take control and continue the flight.
If you want to resume from a particular position, save the live flight at that point using Flights > Save Flight. A saved flight restores a situation, while an FSR file plays previous movement; our FS2004 save-and-resume instructions explain that distinction.
Why is my FS2004 replay missing, wrong or jerky?
A missing or inaccurate replay usually points to the file location, an incompatible recording, absent add-on content or simulator performance during playback.
| Problem | Likely cause | What to do |
|---|---|---|
| The recording is not listed | The FSR is still inside an archive, under another Windows account or outside the active Flight Simulator Files folder | Extract the file and place it in the actual Documents folder used by the Windows account running FS2004 |
| The aircraft is missing or incorrect | The original add-on was removed, changed or has a different title= entry in aircraft.cfg | Restore the same aircraft package and configuration used when the recording was made |
| The aircraft floats or sinks into the runway | The original airport scenery is absent or the replacement scenery uses a different elevation | Restore the original scenery; otherwise the aircraft may follow its recorded coordinates against a different ground level |
| Playback stutters | The aircraft, scenery, weather or AI traffic is demanding more performance than the computer can maintain | Use normal simulation rate and reduce traffic or scenery load during playback |
| Gauges, doors or systems behave differently | The add-on uses custom code that FS2004 Flight Video does not fully reproduce | Use the original add-on version; if the state still differs, that system is outside what the recording captured reliably |
| The FSR came from another simulator | Replay files should not be assumed to work across FS2004, FSX or other Flight Simulator versions | Play the recording in the simulator version for which it was created |
How can I tell whether FS2004 or the replay file is at fault?
A fresh, short recording with default content is the quickest way to separate an FS2004 problem from a damaged or dependency-heavy FSR file.
- Load default content: choose a default FS2004 aircraft over default scenery.
- Make a short recording: record a simple flight segment lasting less than a minute, then stop it normally.
- Replay it immediately: if it works, the original FSR probably depends on missing content or is incompatible. If it also fails, investigate the simulator installation and active add-ons.
If even a new default-aircraft recording closes the simulator, follow our FS2004 crash-to-desktop checks rather than repeatedly moving or renaming the replay file.