Free and Payware for all 3 Flight Simulators

1.  This Section is looking at Utilities that may be used by all three Flight Simulator Platforms

Cross Platform Utilities – Flight Planning Tools – Flight Trackers – Navigation Charts Free or Payware

  Flight Planning Tool

Watch the

Official Trailer here

 FREE

 “The SimBrief Dispatch System is the web’s most comprehensive FREE virtual flight planning service. Features include detailed fuel calculations for over 120 aircraft types, an extensive route database, real-world weather forecasts, current NOTAMs, ETOPS planning, and much more!” Official Simbrief Quote!

Simbrief is integrated into many Aircraft across all Platforms.  Your flightplan can be transferred into the Aircrafts FMC/MCDU, saving you a good deal of time to enter it manually. You also have Simbrief integration into STKP and Volanta. On top it offers Load sheet with relevant fuel and  Passenger/Cargo data to update your aircrafts weight and balance.

This is a “Must Have”! 

Electronic Flight Bag

Watch the Trailer

by FSELITE here

Free

Main Features

  • For a full detailed list of features click here.  There are many!!
  • Simbrief Integratation for Flight Planning
  • Metar – TAF – Notams
  • Radio Freq. for Airports
  • Live Flight Tracker with STKP Traffic
  • VATSIM – IAVOA – Pilotedge Integration
  • Navigraph Integration for Charts (Subscription req.)
  • Airport Information (RWY’s, elevation etc.)
  • Fleet Management
  • Various Map Overlays incl. Live Weather
  • Real Airline Ops (Schedules – Aircraft) a real goodie

 Summary:  STKP is a must have. The developer has done a marvellous job. Many features that support your Flight Simulator. Frequent updates – excellent Support.  Main goodies is the Real Airline Operations feature give you all routes flown by major Airlines incl. Airframe

Electronic Flight Bag

Watch the Trailer

by FSELITE here

 

Basic Free

Main Features

  • For a detailed list of features click here.  Again there are many.
  • Simbrief flight Planning Import
  • Weather Info
  • Live Flight Tracker with Live Volanta traffic
  • Flee Management
  • Various Map Overlays incl. Live Weather
  • Activities
  • Online ATC check
  • VATSIM IVAO etc. Network check
  • Replay function of your track 
  • Schedules and other features require Premium version

Summary:  Volanta  has the advantage to work via the Web Browser. Otherwise it offers most of the features of STKP at the Basic level. Real Airline Operations  requires  Premium version at a monthly subscription.  Updates are provided by ORBX on a regular basis. I never had any problems with Volanta, so I can not comment on support.

Charts – FMS Data – Avionics Update

 

Watch the Trailer by Navigraph here

 

€10,77 /month       €97,50 / Year

Main Features

  • For a full detailed list of features click here.  It’s the official Navigraph Video.
  • Flight Planning incl. Export function
  • Navigraph Integration for Charts (Subscription required)
  • Metar – TAF – Notams
  • SID and STAR Charts
  • Airport Information (RWY’s, elevation etc.) 
  • Radio Freq. for Airports
  • Various Map Overlays incl. Live Weather 
  • Avionics Integration into certain MSFS Aircraft
  • FMS AIRAC updates across all platforms – this is essential to ensure you fly the correct/valid Tracks

Summary:  Subscription based application. But no matter if you fly VFR or IFR, just cruise around in a GA Aircraft or take a Commercial Airliner into the sky, I wouldn’t miss it.  Charts are specifically useful if you need to look at SIDS or STARS . Yes, Simbrief adds SIDS and STARS to your plan. But more than often I change them with the help of Navigraph to a more sensible track. Your can also use the Autoroute function to plan your flight. 

2. Flight Simulator Market Places - Free and Payware

At Marketplaces –  you can get Free and Pay Ware addons for your Flight Simulator

There are dozens of providers on the market, specifically for Pay Ware. Many addons are offered by multiple providers. Some Developers sell only  direct via their Website.
Individual Highlights for the Simulators will be on the MSFS 2020 - X-plane 12 and P3D Help pages. The Way they have been listed are not in a preferential order, nor do they reflect on their quality. pricing, and ease of use.
Elmar Wegerle
Admin

3. Flight Simulator Free Ware Providers

Flightsim.to                            Visit me 

Simulator Platform:  MSFS 2020

X-Plane.to                               Visit me

Simulator Platform:  X-Plane 12

Both Websites are operated by one provider. Flightsim.to for MSFS offer as massive amount of Free Ware addons from scenery, liveries, utilities etc.  They are also marketing Pay Ware. You need to register before you can download most of the stuff. You don’t have to sign up for the Premium connection – the free one is good enough. One of the things I do like is that any of your downloads flag up with possible updates. 

There is a Newsfeed at the bottom of this Page!!

MSFSaddon.com                    Visit Me 

 

Simulator Platform:  MSFS 2020

MSFSaddon.org

They may be linked to the .com site?

Similar to  Flightsim.to, the Website also offers a range of Free Ware. may be not as many, but you may find some stuff not available on others.  What I dislike is the amount of Commercial Popups – that can be nerving at times. Having said that, a Website does cost money to run, so any contributions are welcome. MSFSaddon.org has a similar layout. They may be linked together.

Allflightmods.com                 Visit me

 

Simulator Platform:  MSFS2020 – FSX  and older

II just found that Website in a recent research. It also offers some good addons.  What I like about is that you also get helpful instructions how to install it.  To my surprise I found stuff for FSX and older. Yet northing for P3D platform.

flightnews24.de                     Visit me

 

Simulator Platform:  MSFS2020 – X-Plane 12 – P3D

 
It is a Flight News Website – no downloads

The Site was included because it has a good info structure giving you direct links to some amazing sceneries. The goes directly to the Free Ware section.  It is definitely worth browsing around  there!

X-Plane.org                            Visit me

Simulator Platform: X-Plane 12

The Link also has the a major Forum for X-Plane 12

To make best use it, create an account an sign in, otherwise you may not able to download content. X-Plane 12 is different from version 11.  but some Customer made addons from 11 still work in 12. Trial and error!  The forum also has help links to most addon Developers in X-plane (FlightFactor – Toliss etc.)

Flightsim.com                      Visit me

Simulator Platform:  X-plane 12 – MSFS2020 – P3D

Account required but free

I have not actually tried this Site. Having said that it appears to offer a range of addons across all platforms. If you have any comments/experience about this one, leave a comment in the sections below.

Avsim.com                           Visit me

Simulator Platform:  P3D and older

Account required but free

Not much on X-Plane 12 or MSFS 2020.  This used to be my download platform for FSX and P3D. 

Flyawaysimulations.com     Visit me

Simulator Platform:  X-Plane 12 – MSFS2020 – P3D

Free or Pro version (better download speed)

A good mixtures of addons across all platforms. Downside is that a 357MB file may take you 30 minutes, because your speed is restricted unless you go for the Pro versions at $5 per month. 

4. Flight Simulator Pay Ware Providers

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SIMMARKET – Visit me

My first invoice goes back to 2002. Simmarket has been in the Simulation Market for a long time. You will find a huge amount of Pay Ware across all Platforms. You can either purchase/download the product from their Website. I would recommend you use their APP. You can specify the Root directory of your Simulator in the setup. your addon will install correctly. Moreover, it will tell you when there is an update available also install it.

Aerosoft – Visit me

Aerosoft started of in 1991 – well established – and publishes developers addons as well as their own in house projects. Again you have addons across all platforms which you can either purchase direct or use an APP. The APP also has the advantage of identifying which if there is an update available. Aerosoft has a marketing agreement with ORBX, where you can also find some of their products. A good place to start browsing around. use the APP to install and update

Orbx – Visit Me

Established in 2005, ORBX was then best known for their terrain improvement work. Over the years they developed some excellent sceneries – utilities – aircraft.  Lately, other  fine  developers are published such as DRZEWIECKI DESIGNFlyTampa and VerticalSim, just to name a few. the Electronic Flight bag -Volanta – is also available here. Addons are across all Platform. Go and pay them a visit. Use ORBS Central APP to buy purchase and update their products. 

logoJust Flight  – Visit me

1996 I had my first addon!  Again a long established developer and publisher of third party addons.  A good range of commercial and GA aircraft.  The X-plane 11/12 Global traffic should be on your shopping list. MSFS 2020 BA146 pro or Fokker 28 (new release) are worth investigating. All products are to download requiring a customer account Updates are notified via E-mail.  Customer support has never let me down. just have a look around the shop.

logo Contrail – Visit me

Established a few years ago the Contrail Web shop offers products across all three platforms. Latin VFR – Flightbeam Studios – – MK Studios – Sim-Wings or FlyTampa just to name a few and there are plenty. you purchase over their APP and specifiy the root directory of your SIM and you are done. Updates come over the Contrail APP.  My favourite is Flightbeam Studios with their legendary airports.  It’s best of you you just investigate via the Link above. install and update over the APP.

Ini LOGOiniBuilds- Visit Me

iniBuilds started of in 2019 making liveries for P3D and GSX profiles. The A300-600 for X-plane 12 made them well known. with the arrival of MSFS 2020 they expanded rapidly, giving us the marvellous A310 and many sceneries, especially for MSFS2020 and X-plane12.  IniBuilds is a definite “Must stop over” for all flight Simmers. use their APP to install and update

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Flight1  – Visit me

My first purchase record goes back to 2005, Again we have a good established company, offering addons across all three platforms. Probably best know for publishing Quality Wings 787 for P3D and  the Garmin addon, you will find an interesting range of aircrafts from commercial right down to GA, military and Business Jets. Again you have an installer that manages the install/updates for you.

Flightsim.to – Visit me

Already mentioned in the Free Ware section, you can also buy, download and update Pay Ware products on their website. I have not had any purchase experience- I guess the good thing is that you can compare Free and pay Ware addons and see if you rather spend money or take the jump and pay some extra for the additional functional or visual benefits of a product.

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FSDreamTeam – Visit me

Note: MSFS2020 and P3D only – Offering a range of excellent airports for both platforms, FSDT is best known for their GSX utility. GSX improved Pushback, baggage loading and marshalling with a lot of visible people such as Passengers and Ramp persons. An excellent addon to improve immersion.

5. Flight Simulator Pay Ware Aircraft and Airports from Developers Sites

It is impossible to list all developers for the three Simulator Platforms here.  Most Airports you can find across various Marleting Platforms. Aerosoft sells on ORBX as well as on Just Flight  – Flight1 and others just to list one example. However some products which are neat are  sold mainly  through Developers own Website – PMDG (also on Aerosoft and with MSFS Marketplace) Island sim only sell through their own website. Below you find the links with some screenshots for some of those developers

PMDG Logo

PMDG has been with me since 2014:   Products are offered in P3D V5 with the B737 range, the B777 variants and B747 and 8 aircraft. I forgot the DC-6 Cloudmaster, apologies. MSFS 2020 currently has the B737-600/700 plus the B737-800 and B737-900 on the market. The B777 is work in progress. Visit me

PMDG B748 P3D
P3D V5
X-plane.org Store Logo

XPlane.org is not associated with Laminar Research, the developer of X-plane. The Website/Shop is however a longstanding Store for many X-plane products. Flightfactor Toliss and Aerobask, just name a few. Pay them a visit. you obviously need an account.  All purchases are well documented and backed up. Some of the products you can review in the videos    Visit me

6. Freeware Addons Updates from Flightsim.to

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