How do I start FSX with a saved default flight?

To start FSX or FSX: Steam Edition with a saved default flight, configure and enter the flight, press the semicolon key to save it, and select Make this the default flight. Then clear Show opening screen in General settings so FSX loads that saved situation at launch.

How do I set a saved flight as the FSX default?

The procedure is the same in the boxed edition of FSX and FSX: Steam Edition.

1. Build the flight: select the aircraft and livery, airport position, weather, date and time. Load a flight plan first if it should be associated with the saved situation.
2. Enter and configure the aircraft: set the fuel, payload, radios, switches, views and engine state. For a gate start, select a named parking position rather than the airport or active runway; our guide to choosing a gate, ramp or parking stand before saving explains the airport-selection step.
3. Open Save Flight: press the semicolon key, or use Flights > Save from the menu bar. Press Alt first if the menu bar is hidden in full-screen mode. If the key has been reassigned, use the menu command.
4. Save the situation: enter a distinctive title, select Make this the default flight, and confirm the save. Do not use the Flight Planner’s save command for this job; that saves the route, not the complete aircraft situation.
5. Set the startup behaviour: open Options > Settings > General and clear Show opening screen if FSX should load the flight immediately. Leave it selected if you want the opening screen first.
6. Test it: close FSX normally, reopen it and verify the aircraft, location and cockpit state before relying on the new default.

The default-flight checkbox and opening-screen option control separate parts of the process:

What does an FSX default flight remember?

An FSX default flight is a saved situation, not merely a preferred aircraft or airport.

• aircraft model and selected variation or livery;
• airport, runway, gate, ramp or other saved position;
• date, local time and saved weather conditions;
• fuel and payload settings;
• radio frequencies, navigation selections and many cockpit controls;
• panel and view configuration;
• the associated flight plan when one was loaded before saving.

Check the aircraft after reloading rather than assuming every switch was restored. FSX saves its native variables well, but sophisticated add-on aircraft often store electrical, hydraulic, navigation or failure states through their own panel-state systems.

For a cold-and-dark default, complete the shutdown before saving and ensure the throttle and mixture or condition controls are in the intended positions. Our instructions for setting up an engines-off FSX start cover the usual stock-aircraft considerations.

Why does FSX ignore or fail to load the default flight?

Most default-flight failures come from the opening-screen setting, an unsaved default selection, blocked access to the saved-flights folder or a missing add-on.

• The opening screen still appears: the flight may already be the default, but Show opening screen remains selected. Clear that option if the flight should load immediately.
• The old aircraft or airport returns: save the replacement situation again and confirm that Make this the default flight is selected before completing the save.
• The aircraft starts at a runway: selecting an airport without choosing a gate or parking stand normally places the aircraft on a runway. Select the required parking position, enter the flight and save it again.
• The save does not appear in Load Flight: make an ordinary test save and look for it in FSX’s flight list. FSX may be unable to write to the Flight Simulator X Files folder under Documents because of folder permissions, security protection or Documents-folder redirection.
• The controls move during loading: FSX reads connected controller axes after restoring the saved state. A throttle quadrant left fully forward can therefore override the saved cockpit lever position. Use our checks for diagnosing a throttle that jumps forward on load.
• FSX hangs or crashes at startup: the situation may reference an aircraft, repaint, gauge or scenery package that has been removed or damaged. Restore the opening screen and create a simple replacement using a stock aircraft and default airport.

A saved weather snapshot also does not guarantee that online weather will refresh when the flight loads. Treat the saved conditions as part of the situation unless you deliberately select another weather source after entering the flight.

Can I use an add-on aircraft as the default flight?

An add-on aircraft can be the FSX default, but a stock aircraft at a default airport is the safer choice for dependable startup.

Use an add-on only if it loads correctly from a normal saved flight and does not require its own scenario or panel-state loader. Some complex aircraft expect FSX to initialise a stock flight first; in that case, follow the aircraft’s documentation and keep the stock aircraft as the simulator default.

Removing or renaming the aircraft, repaint, airport scenery or required gauges can break the saved situation. Keep a simple stock flight available so that you can replace the default without rebuilding the installation.

How do I replace or stop the default flight?

Replace the FSX default by saving another situation with Make this the default flight selected.

You do not need to delete the previous saved flight. In fact, deleting the active default before assigning a replacement can leave FSX pointing to a situation that no longer exists.

To retain the default but stop it loading automatically, reselect Show opening screen under General settings. If a damaged situation prevents you reaching that option, follow our recovery steps for stopping automatic default-flight loading.