Editing Microsoft Flight Simulator (section)

==Add-ons, customization, and community involvement==
{{See also|Category: Microsoft Flight Simulator add-ons}}
The long history and consistent sales of ''Flight Simulator'' has encouraged a very large body of add-on packages to be developed as both commercial and volunteer ventures. A formal [[software development kit]] and other tools for the simulator exist to further facilitate third-party efforts, and some third parties have also learned to 'tweak' the simulator in various ways by trial and error. As for number of add-ons, tweaks, and modifications ''Flight Simulator'' can accommodate solely depends on the user's hardware setup. The number is not limited by the simulator, and when multiple computers are linked together with multiple monitors and third-party software and controls, ''Flight Simulator'' enthusiasts can build their own realistic home cockpits.

===Aircraft===
[[File:AFA Beech in Flight Simulator.jpg|thumb|A [[PMDG]] [[Beechcraft 1900|Beech 1900D]] of "American Flight Airways", in AFA Express colors]]
Individual attributes of ''Flight Simulator'' aircraft that can be customized include; cockpit layout, cockpit image, aircraft model, aircraft model textures, aircraft flight characteristics, scenery models, scenery layouts, and scenery textures, often with simple-to-use programs, or only a text editor such as 'Notepad'. Dedicated 'flight simmers have taken advantage of ''Flight Simulator's'' vast add-on capabilities, having successfully linked ''Flight Simulator'' to homebuilt hardware, some of which approaches the complexity of commercial full-motion flight simulators.

The simulator's aircraft are made up of five parts:

* The model, which is a 3D CAD-style model of the aircraft's exterior and virtual cockpit, if applicable. Models consist of two distinct sections - the main chassis or "core", and accessories or dynamic parts, such as the landing gear or ailerons.
* The textures, bitmap images which the game layers onto the model. These can be easily edited (known as ''repainting''), so that a model can adopt any paint scheme imaginable, real or fictional.
* The sounds, literally what the aircraft sounds like. This is determined by defining which WAV files the aircraft uses as its sound-set.
* The panel, a representation of the aircraft's cockpit. This includes one or more bitmap images of the panel, instrument gauge files, and sometimes its own sounds.
* The FDE, or ''Flight Dynamics Engine''. This consists of the air-file (a *.air file), which contains hundreds of parameters that define the aircraft's flight characteristics, and the aircraft.cfg file, which contains more and easier-to-edit parameters.

Most versions of ''Microsoft Flight Simulator'' include some of the world's most popular aircraft from different categories, such as the Mooney Bravo and Beechcraft Baron 58, which fall into the general aviation category; the Airbus A321 and Boeing 737, which fall into the civil jets category; the Robinson R22, which falls into the helicopter category; the Air Scheffel 738, which falls into the general aviation category again; and many other planes commonly used around the world.

Not being limited to using the default aircraft, add-on planes can be downloaded from many sources for free or purchased, which can then be installed into ''Microsoft Flight Simulator''. The Beechcraft 1900D, pictured above, is an add-on aircraft. Similarly, add-on repaints can be added to default aircraft; these repaints are usually downloaded for free.

====AI traffic====
A growing add-on category for the series is AI ([[artificial intelligence (video games)|artificial intelligence]]) traffic. AI traffic is the simulation of other vehicles in the ''FS'' landscape. This traffic plays an important role in the simulator, as it is possible to crash into traffic (this can be disabled), thus ending the player's session, and to interact with the traffic via the radio and ATC. This feature is active even with third-party traffic. Microsoft introduced AI traffic in MSFS 2002 with several airliners and private aircraft. This has since been supplemented with many files created by third-party developers. Typically, third-party aircraft models have multiple levels of detail, which allow the AI traffic to be better on frame rates, while still being detailed during close looks. There are several prominent freeware developers. Some third-party AI traffic can also be configured for "real-time" departures.

===Scenery===
[[File:FS2004-lakes.jpg|thumb|''FS2004'' in the UK [[Lake District]] with VFR ([[visual flight rules]]) photo scenery and terrain additional components]]
Scenery add-ons usually involve replacements for existing airports, with enhanced and more accurate detail, or large expanses of highly detailed ground scenery for specific regions of the world. Some types of scenery add-on replace or add structures to the simulator. Both freeware and payware scenery add-ons are very widely available. Airport enhancements, for example, range from simple add-ons that update runways or taxiways to very elaborate packages that reproduce every lamp, pavement marking, and structure at an airport with near-total accuracy, including animated effects such as baggage cars or marshalling agents. Wide-area scenery enhancements may use detailed satellite photos and 3-D structures to closely reproduce real-world regions, particularly those including large cities, landmarks, or spectacular natural wonders.

===Flight networks===
Virtual flight networks such as [[International Virtual Aviation Organisation|IVAO]], [[Virtual Air Traffic Simulation Network|VATSIM]], and Pilot Edge as well as Virtual Skies, and Mindstar Aviation's AirspaceVR<ref>{{Cite web |last=Deener |first=Sarah |date=4 September 2015 |title=Virtual flights, real communications |url=https://www.aopa.org/news-and-media/all-news/2015/april/09/mindstar |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200302180155/https://www.aopa.org/news-and-media/all-news/2015/april/09/mindstar |archive-date=2020-03-02 |access-date=2020-03-02 |website=[[AOPA]]}}</ref> use special, small add-on modules for ''Flight Simulator'' to enable connection to their proprietary networks in multiplayer mode, and to allow for voice and text communication with other virtual pilots and controllers over the network. These networks allow players to enjoy and enhance realism in their game. These networks are for ATC (air traffic control).

===Miscellaneous===
Some utilities, such as FSUIPC, merely provide useful tweaks for the simulator to overcome design limitations or bugs, or to allow more extensive interfacing with other third-party add-ons. Sometimes certain add-ons require other utility add-ons in order to work correctly with the simulator.

Other add-ons provide navigation tools, simulation of passengers, and cameras that can view aircraft or scenery from any angle, more realistic instrument panels and gauges, and so on.

Some software add-ons provide operability with specific hardware, such as game controllers and optical motion sensors.

FSDeveloper.com is one website that host a forum style knowledge base aimed at the development of add-on items, tools, and software.

[http://www.excelunusual.com Excel Unusual] hosts two versions of flight simulator downloads and tutorials, built from scratch with only VBA and cell formulas, in both 2D<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.excelunusual.com/the-aeroscope-video-preview-2-and-an-improved-excel-file-4/ |title=The Aeroscope – video preview #2 and an improved Excel file (#4) – Excel Unusual |access-date=December 18, 2020 |archive-date=September 20, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200920080510/http://www.excelunusual.com/the-aeroscope-video-preview-2-and-an-improved-excel-file-4/ |url-status=live }}</ref> and 3D.<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.excelunusual.com/a-3d-flight-simulator-video-preview/ |title=A 3D Flight Simulator – video preview – Excel Unusual |access-date=December 18, 2020 |archive-date=November 27, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201127225526/http://www.excelunusual.com/a-3d-flight-simulator-video-preview/ |url-status=live }}</ref>

===Availability===
A number of websites are dedicated to providing users with add-on files (such as airplanes from actual airlines, airport utility cars, actual buildings located in specific cities, textures, and city files). The wide availability over the internet of freeware add-on files for the simulation package has encouraged the development of a large and diverse virtual community, linked up by design group and enthusiast message boards, online multiplayer flying, and '[[virtual airline (hobby)|virtual airlines]]'. The internet has also facilitated the distribution of 'payware' add-ons for the simulator, with the option of downloading the files, which reduces distribution costs.