Microsoft Flight Simulator has, through first and third party developers, picked up a gargantuan array of aircraft options. From complex airliners and military types to helicopters and bush planes. We’ve got exotic prototypes and some of the best known and most flown airplanes in the world. That said, we can always wish for just a few more and I’ve compiled a list of types that I’d love to see some day.

Rules of the list

The aircraft I’ve picked are not yet part of Microsoft Flight Simulator either by any third party or first party developer to the best of my knowledge. Some on the list may be in development (and I know a few are) but aren’t yet available for purchase and don’t appear to be imminently arriving. One or two of them may end up being a challenge to reproduce for licensing or other reasons but this is a wish list and not necessarily a practical list. So let’s do this!

The wishlist

Boeing 737 Original

The Boeing 737 is such an iconic airplane and its one that stretches back decades and through multiple generations of aircraft. The one that I’d really like to see is the Boeing 737 original series. The -100 and -200 are the classics of the series, and, of the two, I think the -200 would be my preference in part because approximately 50 of the type are still in active duty service in 2024. Case in point, C-GNLK, a 737-200 used by Nolinor in Canada, holds the distinction of being the oldest in service and at time of writing it had just flown on a flight between Yellowknife and Edmonton.

This classic 737 is also interesting because many of them have been modified with “gravel kit” enabling them to land on semi-prepared air strips in remote areas. Some are also in the combi configuration these days with mixed cargo and passenger accommodations. All of this sounds immensely fun to fly in the world of MSFS 2024!

At least one developer, Blackbird Simulations (previously Milviz), is reportedly working on one though it doesn’t seem to be on their imminently releasing radar at the moment with other projects getting the priority.

de Havilland Canada DHC-3 Otter

Microsoft Flight Simulator has collected a good number of de Havilland Canada designed airplanes. The DHC-2 Beaver is one my favourite aircraft available in the sim as a default airplane. We also have the DHC-4 Caribou and DHC-6 Twin Otter. How about the original Otter or the Turbo Otter?

The DHC-3 Otter was essentially an enlarged Beaver operating in the same role but with an overall larger size and capacity. The Otter is a workhorse and one with both a long history flying in civil and military aviation. Many still fly and the Turbo Otter, equipped with a Pratt & Whitney Canada PT6A turbo prop, is a mainstay of many seaplane based commuter air services around the world.

I’m not aware of anyone working on an Otter for MSFS but I’d welcome one!

Leonardo AW139

This helicopter seems like a good match with all of the mission based opportunities in Microsoft Flight Simulator. The AW139 and variants specific to different services fly for the Italian Coast Guard, air ambulance services, tour operators, VIP transport services, and more. With 1,100 produced so far since it first flew in 2001, this seems like a popular helicopter that isn’t yet available to us in MSFS.

Dassault Falcon 7X/8X

When it comes to flying in style the Dassault business jets offer an intriguing mix as both luxury transport but also aircraft with some military inspired performance and pedigree. Reportedly the 7X and 8X business jets have superb handling and that they share more than a bit of their overall control scheme and software with that developed for the Rafael fighter jet. That may be mostly marketing spin from Dassault but it’s enough to make me want to fly this business jet as one that may offer a bit of spice to the luxury business jet flights in sim.

With a Mach 0.9 speed rating and 11,945 kilometer range, they can also do unbelievably long hops or very fast hops if you want to do that sort of thing.

I’d love to see a Dassault Falcon of some sort make its way into MSFS!

de Havilland Canada Dash 8

Coming in at number one, the most anticipated airplane on my wishlist is a Dash 8. This twin engine turbo propeller airliner is among the aircraft that I’ve most wanted to fly since I embarked on learning airliner operations a couple of years back.

The Dash 8 is a heavily used commuter airliner, similar in overall configuration to the ATR that we have in the sim, but with greater speed, capability and capacity in the larger variants. Of all of the variants, I think I’d prefer the Q400 due to its modern day operation, but I’d be happy with any of them right down to the short Dash 8-100. Short flights, relatively high speed, and worldwide operations make this one my most desired airliner and number one on this list.

There is a developer working on a Dash 8 but with sporadic updates it’s unclear if or when it might arrive. Hopefully soon!

How about you?

What’s an aircraft that you’re really hoping comes to Microsoft Flight Simulator in 2024 and beyond?


34 responses to “Five aircraft I’d really like to fly someday in MSFS 2024”

  1. Blackbird is also working on the Otter & Turbo Otter. Unfortunately they have about a dozen announced products under development and at the rate they release things, it might end up being released for MSFS 2030 or whatever the next edition ends up being.

    Liked by 2 people

    1. ShamrockOneFive Avatar
      ShamrockOneFive

      Interesting! I know about their SR-71 project and some other stuff they are maybe working on… didn’t know they had thrown their hat in the ring on the Otter. Their work on the Beaver was great, so… hopefully sooner than later!

      Like

      1. Samuel Cary Morgan Avatar
        Samuel Cary Morgan

        The Otter/Turbo Otter have been my last must-have airframe for quite a while and I’ve been bugging Blackbird both online and in person at the Expo about it for a while. It’s been in development for a long time and had a complete rework late 2023. In the latest State of the Sim, you can go to about the 26:20 mark in the video and they talk a bit about it – in very excited ! It is coming !

        Liked by 1 person

      2. ShamrockOneFive Avatar
        ShamrockOneFive

        That’s great news! I must have missed it in their State of the Sim video. Very excited to have this aircraft coming to the sim – we can fight over who gets to download it first! 😎

        Like

      3. They’ve declared that many of their previous addons from FSX/Prepar3D will be coming to MSFS, as well.

        And that includes the Otter & Turbo Otter 🙂

        Unfortunately, they just announced that some others won’t be coming, like their excellent KA 350, Avanti, Phantom (which was in the same ballpark as HeatBlur), etc.

        And though they have apparently developed both their T-38A & C for MSFS as well, they just announced that both are “off the table” for an indefinite time. Looks like I need to keep P3D around for awhile longer!

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  2. I’d love to get a Gulfstream jet on MSFS

    Liked by 2 people

    1. ShamrockOneFive Avatar
      ShamrockOneFive

      Yes! Would love to see a Gulfstream.

      Like

  3. I would love to fly the AW609 tilt rotor.

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    1. ShamrockOneFive Avatar
      ShamrockOneFive

      Oooh that’d be fun!

      Like

    2. TBH, many of the v2024 Defaults are tops on my list.

      Mainly the C-17, A400M, Canadair CL-415, and some others – particularly since they seem to have been developed to a much higher degree of fidelity than Defaults usually are. Like, if they’re as good as the A310 and A320 v2 Defaults, I will be VERY satisfied!

      My other wish list is that the developers go back and apply ALL the v2024 features to their v2020 addons (particularly those around CFD/SBS/NPS).

      One that I’d love to see that was in development but seems to have disappeared:

      the JRollon/SimCoders Marchetti SF260.

      Like

  4. People do love making list. Tough to name just five, but without thinking about it too much:

    707

    A380

    Ka-50 🙂

    Twin Otter

    Something super high tech and stupid fast with cool MFDs

    Liked by 2 people

    1. ShamrockOneFive Avatar
      ShamrockOneFive

      Lists are popular!

      Good list. Most of that’s going to be fulfilled already though I don’t know of any Ka-50/52s for MSFS just yet. Black Shark lives on eh!

      Like

  5. kenriandbd8c04065 Avatar
    kenriandbd8c04065

    I’d love to see the Bombardier Global Express. It’s an awesome machine that can do both short hops and long haul trips with equal ease. And for the military guys there’s the GlobalEye and the E-11 variants. Besides, with the Airbus H160, having a Global would mean both my real world machines would be in the sim…which would be super cool.

    Liked by 2 people

    1. That sounds like a great option! I’d love to see it.

      Like

  6. No one signs up to post a comment Avatar
    No one signs up to post a comment

    Three of these are in development.

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    1. ShamrockOneFive Avatar
      ShamrockOneFive

      Ish. But none are looking like they are imminently arriving or even on the front burner at the companies developing them. Hopefully some day!

      Liked by 1 person

  7. I’d like to be able to fly a super high fidelity version of the Embraer E-2 family. Firstly, because of its surprisingly long range due to its increased efficiency compared to the original E-series. Secondly I find the plane’s design very fascinating because usually when a new generation of the same aircraft comes out It’s only major exterior changes are the engines and wings. But the E-2 also has a smaller tail fin, and heavily redesigned wings that resemble those of the 787 Dreamliner. Lastly, I believe that it will be a very popular aircraft with regional airlines around the globe especially in America once the scope clause laws are amended so regional airlines can operate heavier aircraft on regional flights.

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Yeah I’d love a 195E-2. I had a great flight on them this summer and it was terrific. Quite the airplane and the look of it is definitely unique.

      Hopefully we’ll see it!

      Like

  8. Piper Navajo

    Also the older 737s (original -100, -200, and “Classic” -300 -400)

    DC-9

    The Colimata Concorde from X-Plane

    747-100/200

    Those are my five.

    Also A340, L-1011, DC-8, B-17, Beechcraft Duchess, B200 King Air, PBY, F8F Bearcat. . .

    I better stop.

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Oh, and the Embraer 145.

      Like

    2. I like your list a lot! 😎

      Like

  9. Станислав Строкаш Avatar
    Станислав Строкаш

    One of the rarely depicted ever BAe Jetstream 31 tops my wishlist. Humble and able bird usually gets forgotten by everyone.

    Liked by 2 people

    1. Great option! Yes, frequently overshadowed by other types.

      Like

  10. S Hickingbottom Avatar
    S Hickingbottom

    I would love to see the de Havilland DH.103 Hornet or Sea Hornet which represented the pinnacle of piston engined fighter design. Captain Eric ‘Winkle’ Brown, the WW2 test pilot who flew 487 different types, more than anyone in history, rated it as his favourite aeroplane when he wrote in his book “Circumstances had conspired against the Sea Hornet in obtaining the recognition that it justly deserved as a truly outstanding warplane…in my book the Sea Hornet ranks second to none for harmony of control, performance characteristics and, perhaps most important, in inspiring confidence in its pilot. For sheer exhilarating flying enjoyment, no aircraft has ever made a deeper impression on me than did this outstanding filly from the de Havilland stable.”

    The Sea Hornet was so powerful that ‘Winkle’ Brown thoroughly enjoyed giving aerobatic displays with one engine feathered. How amazing would that be to be able to enjoy doing that in MSFS 2024. The metal parts of Sea Hornet F.20 TT193 were found in Canada and it is now under long term restoration to flying condition by Pioneer Aero Ltd at Ardmore, New Zealand. Avspecs Ltd in New Zealand have developed the ability to rebuild the unique plywood and balsa fuselages for DH Mosquito’s and the Hornet was built the same way. A Hornet cockpit was put together for Cockpit fest in the UK so enough information should be available to recreate this classic. We can only live in hope that someone takes on the challenge, the publicity would be great for the restoration as no Hornet currently exists.

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  11. I was going to say the Fokker DR.1, but then I searched for it just to make sure, and it is available for free on the Gotfriends website. Going to try it out since it should be worth a download for the looks alone.

    Liked by 2 people

    1. although there is much Cessna representation in current MSFS, i would sill like to see a 210 turbo-centurion. and to honor Bob Hoover. A Rockwell turbo commander with a glass of ice water on the dash would be an instant buy for me.

      Liked by 2 people

      1. Bring on the Cessnas! I think a 210 would be terrific.

        I wasn’t aware of the Turbo Commander but now that I’m looking at it it reminds me a bit of the Mitsubishi MU-2. Very fun type of airplane to have in sim. Hope to see it some day!

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    2. Yes there is! I’ve been meaning to check it out.

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    • Vickers Viscount (love that Rolls Royce Dart sound).
    • Handley Page Dart Herald (RR Darts again. I flew in this one a few times in the early ’70s, with Canada’s Eastern-Provincial Airways)

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Hey Jim! Long time no see. I love both of those suggestions. Still tons of aircraft to hope to see!

      Like

      1. Hey back! I’m just doing MSFS single-player these days. I heard that MSFS 2024 multi-player will have the correct models showing for each plane. It would be nice to do some MP formation flying with all (or any of) the planes above.

        Liked by 1 person

  12. My wishlist:

    Convair 880 and 990, the latter of which was to carry fewer passengers than the 707 and DC-8 but fly faster. Production was very slow, thus the market wasn’t there for these jets and American Airlines, keen on the 990, found there was only a substantial difference in speed between the 707 and 990. Only 65 and 37 were ever built.

    Handley Page HP. 45 Heracles

    F-89 Scorpion

    B-47 Stratojet

    Fairey Rotodyne, a hybrid aeroplane/helicopter

    Bell 429 Global Ranger

    727-100

    Dornier 228

    Like

  13. I’m a sucker for retro jets so…

    BAC 111

    Vickers VC10

    DC-9

    Lockheed Tristar 1011

    Like

  14. I would love to see a good B-17 and/or B-25 bombers and the Aero Commander.

    Other items on my wishlist would include a better Lockheed Electra and Spartan Executive.

    Liked by 1 person

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