Available "True FSX" Freeware Aircraft Add-ons and FSX
Lately the chorus of voices complaining about lack of add-ons for FSX has stopped complaining about payware add-ons because the aircraft, airports, and scenery add-ons have really multiplied in the last few months. I have linked to more than a few of these on my blog as well.
Now, the chorus seems to have focused on freeware. There have been claims there is a lack of freeware aircraft available for FSX. So let’s just look at “true” FSX freeware aircraft, where “true” is defined as “Models actually compiled with the FSX SDK”. That is a subset of what is available. These aircraft will have a number of advantages:
1) Faster frame rate
2) Full compatibility with DX10
3) FSX detail / special effects enhancements
So that is a worthy metric.
To determine if a model was built with the FSX SDK, use a file viewer or hex editor to look at the file. Near the beginning of the file, you should see the characters "MDLXMDLH" if it's an FSX model. An FS2002/2004 model will show "MDL8MDLH" or something else,
Using the thread “True FSX Planes” at Sim-Outhouse and working periodically over the Labor Day Weekend, I come up with 55 (yes more than 4 dozen) FSX freeware aircraft (See Note 1):
1) F-5A Freedom Fighter
https://www.sim-outhouse.com/index.php?lloc=downloads&loc=downloads&page=info&FileID=10427
Must have earlier zip for air file
2) Cessna 177RG
https://www.sim-outhouse.com/index.php?lloc=downloads&loc=downloads&page=info&FileID=10522
3) OV-10 Bronco
https://www.sim-outhouse.com/index.php?lloc=downloads&loc=downloads&page=info&FileID=10525
4) Hondajet
https://www.simviation.com/cgi-bin/syb2.cgi?section=jets&file=HONDA_JET_FSX.zip
5) Mitsubishi T-2
https://www.sim-outhouse.com/index.php?lloc=downloads&loc=downloads&page=info&FileID=10699
6) Howard DGA-15P
https://www.fsxaddons.com/file/view/24/howard-dga-15p.aspx
7) Piper Archer-III
https://www.fsxaddons.com/file/view/240/piper-archer-iii.aspx
8) Grumman OV-1 B/C/D Mohawk
9) Piper PA-28-RT Turbo Arrow III
https://library.avsim.net/esearch.php?DLID=120002&CatID=fsxac
10) North American Aviation Navion
https://www.fsdownload.com/modules.php?name=News&file=article&sid=971&mode=thread&order=0&thold=0
11) Lublin R.XIII
https://library.avsim.net/esearch.php?DLID=121136?CatID=fsxac
12) Saab J-29 Tunnan
https://www.sim-outhouse.com/index.php?lloc=downloads&loc=downloads&page=info&FileID=11660
13) RWD-14 Czapla
hotfix
14) Curtiss Jenny
https://simhangar.com/main/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=32&Itemid=34
To install Curtiss Jenny in Microsoft Flight Simulator X, you will need Flight Simulator 2004 version
15) RWD-8
https://www.sim-outhouse.com/index.php?lloc=downloads&loc=downloads&page=info&FileID=11776
RWD-8 expansion pack: https://www.sim-outhouse.com/index.php?loc=downloads&FileType=fsx&page=downloads&Category=aircraft#download
16) Boeing F4B-4
https://www.simviation.com/cgi-bin/syb2.cgi?section=vintage&file=F4Bfx.zip
17) Bristol Beaufighter
https://www.sim-outhouse.com/index.php?lloc=downloads&loc=downloads&page=info&FileID=11831
18) Yak 141
https://simviation.com/simviation/download.php?ID=184
19) Yak 130
https://simviation.com/simviation/download.php?ID=183
20) BAC 167
https://simviation.com/simviation/download.php?ID=239
21) Curtiss Junior
https://www.simviation.com/cgi-bin/syb2.cgi?section=vintage&file=CW1vX.zip
22) Northrop XP-56 Black Bullet
https://www.sim-outhouse.com/index.php?lloc=downloads&loc=downloads&page=info&FileID=11834
23) Aeronca Chief
https://simviation.com/simviation/download.php?ID=250
24) RNZAF CT-4E
https://www.airforce.mil.nz/gallery/download/airtrainerdownload.htm
25) Stinson 108
https://fsnorthwest.net/index.php?ind=downloads&op=entry_view&iden=64
26) 707-420
https://www.simviation.com/simviation/download.php?ID=608
27) Gee Bee Model Z "City of Springfield"
https://simviation.com/simviation/download.php?ID=922
28) Spartan Executive
https://fsnorthwest.net/index.php?ind=downloads&op=entry_view&iden=82
29) Monsted Vincent MV1
30) General Dynamics A-12 "Flying Dorito"
must have Acceleration
31) Bristol F2-B "Biff"
https://library.avsim.net/search.php?SearchTerm=bristol+f2b&CatID=fsxac&Go=Search
32) N2056's Pete ( modernized Pietenpol Aircamper )
https://www.sim-outhouse.com/index.php?lloc=downloads&loc=downloads&page=info&FileID=10199
33) Piasecki H21C
https://flightsim.filefront.com/file/Piasecki_H21C;81851
34) Fokker Dr.1
https://www.neoqb.com/fokker/Files/dr1_by_neoqb.zip
35) Dh89a Dragon Rapide
https://www.sim-outhouse.com/index.php?lloc=downloads&loc=downloads&page=info&FileID=9238
36) PC-7
https://www.sim-outhouse.com/index.php?lloc=downloads&loc=downloads&page=info&FileID=10399
must have earlier zip for panel, etc
37) Howard 500
https://fsnorthwest.net/index.php?ind=downloads&op=section_view&idev=8
38) Cessna 310
https://www.simviation.com/simviation/?ID=61&page=1000
39) Mitsubishi F-1
40) Cessna Citation 500
https://library.avsim.net/download.php?DLID=121612
41) Boeing P12-E
https://www.simviation.com/cgi-bin/syb2.cgi?section=vintage&file=P12E.zip
and hotfix
https://www.simviation.com/cgi-bin/syb2.cgi?section=vintage&file=P12Eudt.zip
42) OS2U Kingfisher
https://www.sim-outhouse.com/index.php?lloc=downloads&loc=downloads&page=info&FileID=10784
43) 1938 Waterman Arrowbile
https://www.sim-outhouse.com/index.php?lloc=downloads&loc=downloads&page=info&FileID=11808
44) OH-6A
https://www.sim-outhouse.com/index.php?lloc=downloads&loc=downloads&page=info&FileID=11970
45) Piper Warrior II
https://library.avsim.net/download.php?DLID=118438
46) Piper PA-44 Seminole
https://library.avsim.net/download.php?DLID=118706
47) Piper Arrow-IV, non-turbo
https://library.avsim.net/download.php?DLID=117250
48) Grumman AA-5B
https://www.sim-outhouse.com/index.php?lloc=downloads&loc=downloads&page=info&FileID=11403
49) T-45C Goshawk
https://library.avsim.net/download.php?DLID=127112
50) DC-3
https://library.avsim.net/download.php?DLID=104181
and an article for developers on how to convert from 3DSMax to Gmax models using this aircraft as an example here.
51) Curtiss F9C-2 Sparrowhawk
https://www.simviation.com/simviation...oad.php?ID=609
52) HAIG L-15
https://www.flightsim.com/cgi/kdl/main/88/fsx_l15.zip?Wee8Z02A
53) Waco UPF-7 Biplane
https://sim-outhouse.com/index.php?lloc=downloads&loc=downloads&page=info&FileID=10878
54) Boeing 221A Monomail
https://sim-outhouse.com/index.php?lloc=downloads&loc=downloads&page=info&FileID=10837
55) FSX RNZN Kaman SH-2G Seasprite
https://www.flightsim.com/cgi/kdl/main/90/sh2gnzv2.zip?Z8qme02m
56) Mooney Mite M-18C
https://www.sim-outhouse.com/index.php?lloc=downloads&loc=downloads&page=info&FileID=12514
57) Seabird Seeker
https://www.aussiex.org/index/download.php?view.36
58) Westland Wyvern S.4
https://www.nazcastudios.com/sea-hawk/Wyvern_FSX.zip
59) SOKO J-20 Kraguj
https://www.sim-outhouse.com/index.php?loc=downloads&page=info&FileID=12623
I am sure if I really put more time into this, I could find more. That is with Saturday, and Sunday morning. There really is more out there than people think, the main problem is the community is dispersed and you cannot count on going to one site and finding it all. I list 10 sites just for these 54.
In terms of pace, FSX was released in Oct 2006. That’s 22 months ago. FSX SP2 was released Dec 2007. That’s 9 months ago. Using the RTM timeframe, that’s 2+ a month. Using the SP2 timeframe, that’s 6 a month. Either way you count them, there has been a steady diet of freeware aircraft.
FSX users should read this and realize the freeware add-ons are out there.
Note 1:
Caveat: I have not downloaded each and every one of these, but quite a few. So far, all the ones marked in the Sim-Outhouse thread as “true FSX” have been, so I am trusting the rest of the data in that thread based on a representative sampling.
Note 2:
Not yet released, but worth watching for:
Aerospatiale Gazelle by Cyril Pioffet
https://pagesperso-orange.fr/gmaxflight2002/media1/Gazelle.htm
Note 3:
ModelChecker.zip at AVSim can be used to perform the model version check: