The FlightGear Qt launcher, showing a handful of the aircraft that are able to be downloaded or updated from the FGAddon repository.
This list is not updated to include all the official GPL licensed aircraft for FlightGear, but gives a visual sampling of the different types of aircraft and genres of aircraft officially available.
Most models shown here are available from the official FlightGear project and can be downloaded from the FlightGear launcher, with no additional steps required for installation. Alternatively these aircraft can be obtained directly from the FGAddon SVN repository. If the aircraft is installed manually, you will lose the ability to check for, and install updates from within the launcher. Some models shown here are available from non-official hangars.
FlightGear aircraft features, quality, and compatibility vary significantly. Their development is dependent on the volunteers who worked on them, with exception of some University and Government funded projects. Aircraft are listed by completeness status in Category:Aircraft by status.
The Cessna 172 is the default aircraft in FGFS 2.0. These aircraft typically have 1-2 piston engines, props, and avionics geared towards those with civilian pilot licenses.
See Helicopter for the main article about this subject.
Helicopters have fundamentally different controls than fixed wing aircraft (see Flying the Helicopter). Modern helicopter typically feature 1-2 turbine engines, which power a main rotor with 2-6 blades.
These typically have the simplest controls, with minimal avionics. Flying gliders or sailplanes using thermals can provide more complicated experience. Ultralights on the other hand are among the simplest aircraft in FG.
FlightGear includes a wide variety of vintage military aircraft. Complexity and realism is typically tied to the level of development work with a specific aircraft.
FlightGear has a wide variety of modern and retired military jets available, highlighted by features such as air-to-air refueling from the venerable KC-135 and the ability to simulate A-10 ordnance release.
Lighter than air aircraft (Available from version 1.9.0)
These aircraft take advantage of lighter than air gas to become buoyant. In addition to typical aircraft control methods such as elevator, rudder and engine throttle, ballast and control of gas volume and pressure become options.
