Microsoft Flight Simulator 2020 Aircraft – Complete List

Microsoft Flight Simulator offers several planes to fly, but what’s the difference between them? With three editions of the game available for purchase, it can be challenging to track which planes belong in which version.

We’ll break it down for you in airliners, jets, propellers, and turboprops so that you can choose the right edition for your needs.

Flight Simulator History:

The first attempt at Flight Simulator technology dates back to the late 1940s when a Finnish man named Vilho Soininen decided to model planes in 3D. He was amazed at the results, and so the Finnish government offered him money to build a full-featured aircraft simulation. Sadly, Soininen wasn’t really known for financial dealings, so he didn’t take it. Instead, he worked on a non-flying simulator, which became the first version of Flight Simulator, which was initially based on the basic Earth Simulator.

The first version of Flight Simulator took on State of the Art, New Technology and Open Source titles. It also famously used a graphics renderer that required three Apple II computers to run.

Microsoft Flight Simulator:

All versions of the Microsoft Flight Simulator include all aircraft to date and full multiplayer support. Other features include simulated flight controls, a 3D graphic engine, and a simulator (complete with aircraft) that measures your seat height to ensure it’s always at a comfortable height.

With versions for Windows, Mac, Android and iOS, Flight Simulator represents one of the more comprehensive and robust Flight Simulators around. It may not be for everyone, but for aviation enthusiasts, it can make a serious splash.

Microsoft Flight Simulator X – A revised version of Microsoft Flight Simulator X launched as the Steam Edition in late 2014. It is for sale through Steam but has been made available through the Microsoft store.

The game features updates to the engine and general physics. It’s a fantastic game, but if you don’t own it, you won’t be able to play it unless you get it through Steam.

The most recent release in the Microsoft Flight Simulator series is also the first new major version since 2004. It brings with it some serious enhancements over the previous version, including major scenery changes and a fleshed-out campaign.

With these significant improvements in tow and an age restriction of only 10 years old, it’s definitely worth picking up. It’s priced at $35.

Microsoft Flight Simulator Aircraft:

If you are using Flight Simulator X program you can see the details and specifications of every aircraft. Click the learning centre tab on the Flight Simulator X program, then go to the index tab and click specification, and you will see the length, wing size, the maximum take-off weight, distance, maximum altitude, and speed. You can also view the details by selecting the aircraft you want to fly with and click the details button. On the newer Simulator version, you’ll see more detailed aircraft settings.

Which version is correct for you?

First, think about your intended purpose for purchasing. You can get the full version of Microsoft Flight Simulator through Steam’s store, which has every aircraft available, with some exclusive ones that can only be unlocked through the purchase of membership with that site.

If you are going to purchase any version of the game, make sure to pick the one that will have the most planes to choose from. With that out of the way, we’ll dig into all of the aircraft in the new Flight Sim. One of the easiest ways to cover as much ground as possible is to fly across a massive body of water. Large bodies of water make the flight a lot less intimidating, especially if you know your way around a joystick.

The Planes:

Each plane has a physical model of its own, and they can be added to the cockpit with a chunky joystick on the dash, but Microsoft’s been busy adding in more avionics and other details than what you’d find on the standard version. It’s been put together with a remarkable amount of attention to detail and legibility.

It’s particularly noticeable on the Chinese Shaanxi Y-8 and the Nord Noratlas (both presented with a very different look than their western contemporaries), where you can see multiple markings at once and some kind of edge at the base that’ll guide you where you are in-flight. That’s not the only way Microsoft has beefed up the realism. Perhaps the most impressive feature is that this isn’t a purely realistic Flight Simulator.

How to select aircraft in Microsoft Flight Simulator:

Microsoft has three routes for how you can select aircraft, whether you’re buying or renting from the Flight Simulator. The “Buy-Order” option is the most generous, with 30 aircraft to choose from at launch. They’re broken down into 13 classes, each with 12 aircraft and then six-ship options for each type. This also includes a $100 in-game currency that you can use to buy additional aircraft. You’re also able to pay $10 for the “DLC” option, with a much more limited set of aircraft available. It features 12 aircraft, of which only two are ships and only four are aircraft.

Finally, there’s the “Daypass” option, which gives you ten aircraft and $100 to pay for additional purchases.

There are different types of aircraft you can select, starting from Cessna to Boeing 747 and Airbus. In the Standard version of Flight Simulator 2020, there are 20 aircraft you can choose. If you are looking for more aircraft options, you need to upgrade to the Deluxe version or Premium version. For Flight Simulator X, you can select 27 aircraft, and in the older version, there are fewer ones to choose. For more detailed aircraft and cockpit, you need the premium version.

When I played Microsoft Flight Simulator 2002 in Canada, there were few choices to select which aircraft I want to fly. If I want to choose more aircraft, I have to buy Boeing 777-300 and Boeing 767-300 separately, and it comes with CD, but after I watch Flight Simulator 2020 on Youtube, it is more accurate than Flight Simulator 2002, and there are more aircraft types to select.

Microsoft Flight Simulator Standard Edition Planes:

There are 20 aircraft with standard edition:

• Airbus 320 neo
• Boeing 747-8 Intercontinental
• Beechcraft Bonanza G36
• Beechcraft Kingair 350i
• CAP 10
• Cessna 152
• Cessna 172 Skyhawk or G1000
• Cessna 208 B Grand Caravan EX
• Cessna Citation CJ4
• DA40 NG
• DA62
• DR400-400 Cadet
• EXTRA 330LT
• Flight Design CTSL
• ICON A5
• Pitts Special S2S
• Savage Cub
• TBM 930
• VL-3
• Xcub

 

Microsoft Flight Simulator Deluxe Edition Planes:

The Deluxe version come with extra aircraft:

⦁ Beechcraft Baron G58
⦁ Cessna 152 Aerobat
⦁ Cessna 172 Skyhawk
⦁ Diamond DA40 TDI
⦁ Diamond DV20

Microsoft Flight Simulator Premium Deluxe Edition Planes:

The Premium Deluxe Edition comes with extra aircraft:

⦁ Boeing 787-10 Dreamliner
⦁ Cessna Citation Longitude
⦁ Cirrus SR22
⦁ Pipistrel Virus SW121
⦁ Zlin Shock Ultra

Conclusion:

The decision to buy a Pro version of Microsoft Flight Simulator or an Ultimate edition is going to come down to the priorities you want. However, the Ultimate Edition comes with a bit of bonus; a set of mods called “Airports”. This DLC can be applied to any version of Microsoft Flight Simulator and will offer a significant amount of bonuses and improvements, such as being able to fly out of airports that are not their home airports and allowing you to control any type of aircraft, not just the fictional planes you’ve purchased. If you do pick up Ultimate, it’s worth noting that the Standard Edition allows you to take this content with you without having to pay extra.