Recommended Resources for Microsoft Flight Simulator 2024

Welcome! In a word, while I create detailed guides, aircraft lessons, and fault-finding help. Also, here at Flight Simulation Showcase, the flight simulation community is huge. In addition, there are some excellent specialist resources out there that I don’t try to duplicate.

Below is a curated list of high-quality websites, tools, and forums that complement my work here. So, if you’re looking for official updates, community discussion, advanced tools, or real-world aviation data, these resources are worth bookmarking.

In addition, if there’s a site you think belongs on this list, feel free to get in touch — I’m also always happy to expand it.

Official Simulator & Developer Resources

Microsoft Flight Simulator (Official)
https://www.flightsimulator.com/
Primary official site for news, updates, and announcements (Microsoft/Asobo)

Communities & Forums

AVSIM Forums
https://www.avsim.com/
Large flight sim community with forums, add-ons, and discussions going back decades

FlightSim.com
https://www.flightsim.com/
One of the longest-running flight sim sites with news, files, and community content

Reddit – r/flightsim
https://www.reddit.com/r/flightsim/
Active flight sim discussion, tips, screenshots, and add-on suggestions

Reddit – r/VATSIM
https://www.reddit.com/r/VATSIM/
Community hub for VATSIM pilots and controllers

Add-on Developers & Product Hubs

PMDG (Precision Manuals Development Group)
https://pmdg.com/
High-fidelity payware airliners that are popular with serious sim pilots

(Note: PMDG doesn’t host direct download links — purchases are through this site.)

Fenix Simulations
https://fenixsimulations.net/
Developer of quality airliner add-ons (A320 series, etc.)

Just Flight
https://www.justflight.com/
Wide range of aircraft add-ons and tools

Tools & Utilities

SimBrief
https://www.simbrief.com/
Free flight planner and dispatch tool used widely by virtual and real pilots

Navigraph
https://navigraph.com/
Charts, navigation data and nav-data subscriptions for detailed flight planning

VATSIM (Virtual Air Traffic Simulation Network)
https://www.vatsim.net/
Network for online ATC and pilot traffic, real-time aviation environment

IVAO (International Virtual Aviation Organisation)
https://ivao.aero/
Alternative multiplayer network supporting ATC & pilot connections

SkyVector
https://skyvector.com/
Free real-world aviation charts and planning tool

Real-World Aviation & Learning

FAA (Federal Aviation Administration)
https://www.faa.gov/
Official aviation authority with resources useful for flight sim realism

Aviation Weather Center
https://www.aviationweather.gov/
Real-world aviation weather reports, METARs/TAFs

Other Helpful Community Sites

Flight planning & charts index (community list)
https://flightsim.to/file/47440/useful-websites-and-tools-for-flow-pro
A community-compiled list of useful tools and web resources for flight sim pilots