Top-rated products

The Community’s Favourite Addons, Gear, and Tools

With thousands of products available across the world of flight simulation, it can be overwhelming to know what’s worth your time and money. This page highlights the top-rated products—based on user reviews, community feedback, and real pilot recommendations—that consistently deliver value, immersion, and realism.

Whether you’re looking to build your first simulator setup or expand your collection with high-quality addons, this guide will help you make informed choices.

Top Aircraft Addons

Aircraft are the core of any sim experience. The following models stand out for their realism, detail, and community support:

Microsoft Flight Simulator (MSFS 2020)

• Fenix A320 – Highly realistic Airbus simulation with in-depth systems and real-world flight model.
• PMDG 737 Series – Gold standard in Boeing aircraft for home sims, offering the NG and MAX series.
• Just Flight BAe 146 – Classic airliner with a beautifully detailed cockpit and flight systems.
• iniBuilds A300-600 – A realistic wide-body aircraft for simmers looking for something unique.

X-Plane 11/12

• Zibo Mod 737 – Free, community-developed Boeing 737 with near study-level systems.
• Toliss A319/A321 – Extremely reliable Airbus aircraft with excellent performance and system depth.
• FlightFactor 757/767 – Highly rated for their complexity and long-haul capability.
• HotStart Challenger 650 – Business jet with unmatched system fidelity and realism.

Prepar3D (P3D)

• PMDG 747, 777, and NGXu – Deep, professional-level simulation for serious users.
• Majestic Dash 8 Q400 – High-fidelity turboprop with complex systems and flight dynamics.
• QualityWings 787 – User-friendly and feature-rich long-haul aircraft.

Top Scenery Addons

Detailed scenery helps immerse you in the world you’re flying through. These are widely considered among the best:

• FlyTampa (MSFS/P3D/X-Plane): Known for realistic airports with stunning detail and smooth performance.
• Orbx (All platforms): From regional airports to full cityscapes, Orbx is a top-tier provider of visual enhancements.
• FlightBeam Studios: Focused on major hubs with high performance and immersive visuals.
• iniBuilds Airports: Offers premium airports for MSFS with high texture quality and realism.

Freeware favourites:

• Flightsim.to: Hosts thousands of free MSFS sceneries.
• SimHeaven (X-Plane): Adds detailed buildings, autogen, and regional enhancements.
• X-Europe and X-America: Popular X-Plane overlay packages for regional realism.

Top Utilities and Tools

Enhancing your sim experience isn’t just about flying—it’s also about realism, planning, and control.

• Navigraph – Provides real-world charts, navdata updates, and moving map integration. Compatible with MSFS, X-Plane, and P3D.
• Volanta – Flight tracking, route planning, and logbook management with a sleek interface.
• SimBrief – Flight planning tool used by both real pilots and simmers, now integrated with Navigraph.
• FSRealistic – Adds camera shake, breathing sounds, touchdown thumps, and dozens of other small effects that improve immersion (MSFS/X-Plane).
• Little Navmap – Free and powerful flight planning tool with real-time map tracking and airport data.

Top Hardware for Home Cockpit Builders

For many simmers, hardware adds a tactile dimension to flying. These products are widely praised for their quality, durability, and plug-and-play compatibility:

Flight Controls

• Honeycomb Alpha Yoke and Bravo Throttle – Industry-leading build quality, smooth inputs, and wide compatibility.
• Thrustmaster TCA Airbus Pack – Perfect for Airbus simmers; includes quadrant, sidestick, and addons.
• Logitech G Pro Flight Yoke & Throttle – Budget-friendly and reliable.
• CH Products & Saitek/Logitech Rudder Pedals – Widely used for basic flight training setups.

Headsets & Displays

• TrackIR 5 – Head tracking for enhanced situational awareness.
• Tobii Eye Tracker 5 – Eye and head tracking in one, compatible with MSFS.
• VR Headsets (Reverb G2, Quest 3, Pimax) – Increasingly popular for total immersion.

Other Enhancements

• Buttkicker Gamer Plus – Adds vibration feedback based on sim data for added realism.
• Stream Deck (with Flight Plugin) – Assign switches, autopilot functions, camera views, and more.

Highly Rated Platforms and Marketplaces

Where you buy matters—some platforms offer refund policies, easy updates, or bundle deals:

• Orbx Direct – Unified installer and updates across all major sims.
• SimMarket – One of the largest catalogues of global products.
• MSFS Marketplace – Convenient, but sometimes limited in update timing.
• Aerosoft – Strong in European scenery and aircraft.
• X-Plane.org Store – The go-to for payware X-Plane addons.

Whether you’re just starting your journey or refining a professional-grade setup, these top-rated products represent the best in the flight sim industry. They’re backed by strong community reviews, developer updates, and ongoing support.

Focus on a few high-impact purchases—such as a quality aircraft or controller—then expand gradually based on your flying goals. Always check compatibility, simulator version requirements, and user feedback before purchasing.