FlyByWire Simulations
FlyByWire Simulations is a volunteer-run, open-source community project founded in 2020 that builds free, high-fidelity Airbus A320neo and A380 aircraft add-ons for Microsoft Flight Simulator, serving the global flight simulation enthusiast community through donation-funded development.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2020
- Headquarters—
- Headcount11–50
- GTM typeB2C
- OfferingSoftware
What FlyByWire Simulations does
FlyByWire Simulations is a volunteer-driven, non-profit open-source community project founded in 2020 that develops high-fidelity Airbus aircraft add-ons for Microsoft Flight Simulator. The project operates with approximately 17 employees/contributors and is best known for the A32NX (Airbus A320neo), a mature simulation featuring a custom Flight Management System that matches the behavior of the real Honeywell H3, high-fidelity avionics verified by actual pilots and maintenance engineers, and a dynamic sound set recorded from real aircraft. A second aircraft program, the A380X (Airbus A380), was announced in late 2024 and aims to deliver the first high-fidelity A380 for MSFS.
The technical stack combines WASM modules written in C++ and Rust with JavaScript/TypeScript front-ends and custom avionics frameworks, supported by purpose-built internal tooling including the msfs-rs Rust library for MSFS interaction and the Advanced Cockpit Emulator (ace) for development testing. The flyPadOS 3 Electronic Flight Bag provides flight planning, performance calculations, navigational charts, throttle calibration across multiple hardware controllers, and Online ATC integration with VATSIM. Distribution runs globally through a custom open-source Installer, the official website, the MSFS in-sim aircraft selection menu, and the Flightsim.to livery marketplace, all backed by Cloudflare CDN infrastructure.
The business model is explicitly non-commercial: all aircraft and tools are free, with voluntary donations managed transparently through Open Collective and a stated policy that no profit is generated. User acquisition is community-led via Discord, GitHub, YouTube, Twitch, and social channels, with 2M+ cumulative downloads and an active contributor base. There is no disclosed revenue, no funding rounds, no parent company, and no institutional ownership; the project is sustained by volunteers and donations.
FlyByWire Simulations firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- FlyByWire Simulations
- Legal name
- FlyByWire Simulations
- Website
- https://flybywiresim.com
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2020
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 11–50 employees
- Short description
- FlyByWire Simulations is a volunteer-run, open-source community project founded in 2020 that builds free, high-fidelity Airbus A320neo and A380 aircraft add-ons for Microsoft Flight Simulator, serving the global flight simulation enthusiast community through donation-funded development.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
FlyByWire Simulations industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Flight Simulation Software
- NAICS
- Search, Detection, Navigation, Guidance, Aeronautical, and Nautical System and Instrument Manufacturing (334511)
- SIC
- Search, Detection, Navagation, Guidance, Aeronautical Sys (3812)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Avionics Test, Simulation & Calibration Equipment (IMABAFAN)
- akta.pro secondary industry
- Racing & Flight Simulation Hardware (Wheels, Pedals, HOTAS) (HDACANAE)
Keywords
FlyByWire Simulations business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2C
- Offering type
- Software
- Cost components
- Infrastructure, Operations, Technology or R&D, Personnel
Revenue model
- Donations: The project accepts donations through Open Collective which are used transparently to provide better services such as fast and reliable download networks and integrated online features. No profit is generated from donations.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Freemium | Pay-as-you-go | Free Open-Source Aircraft Add-ons |
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels4 records
Marketing channels7 records
FlyByWire Simulations product offering
Product offeringCore offering
FlyByWire Simulations develops and distributes free, open-source high-fidelity aircraft add-ons for Microsoft Flight Simulator, including the Airbus A320neo (A32NX) and the upcoming Airbus A380 (A380X). The aircraft feature custom avionics, a custom Flight Management System modeled on the Honeywell H3, a flyPadOS 3 Electronic Flight Bag, and dynamic sound sets recorded from real aircraft, all delivered free of charge through a custom-built installer.
Product overview
FlyByWire Simulations is a free and open-source community project that develops high-fidelity aircraft for Microsoft Flight Simulator. The portfolio consists of two core aircraft products: the A32NX (Airbus A320Neo) which is a mature, actively developed simulation with advanced avionics including flight management system, throttle calibration, and Electronic Flight Bag features; and the A380X (Airbus A380) which is an upcoming project aiming to create the first high-fidelity A380 in the simulator. Supporting infrastructure includes a custom-built open-source installer, the flyPadOS 3 EFB application providing cockpit management functionality, Discord bot utilities, and development tools including msfs-rs (Rust library for MSFS interaction) and the Advanced Cockpit Emulator (ace) for development testing. The project has achieved over 2 million downloads and maintains an active Discord community.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Brands
- A32NX: A community-developed Airbus A320neo aircraft for Microsoft Flight Simulator providing high-fidelity simulation with advanced avionics, custom FMS, and professional sound set.
- A380X
- flyPadOS 3 EFB
- Installer
- Discord Bot
Products and services
- A32NX (Airbus A320neo) A community-developed, high-fidelity Airbus A320neo aircraft simulation add-on for Microsoft Flight Simulator, providing accurate aircraft systems, avionics, a custom Flight Management System, and dynamic sound sets. Targeted at flight simulation enthusiasts seeking professional-grade cockpit realism.
- A380X (Airbus A380) An upcoming high-fidelity Airbus A380 aircraft simulation add-on for Microsoft Flight Simulator, representing the first high-fidelity A380 in the simulator. Targeted at flight simulation enthusiasts seeking realistic wide-body aircraft simulation.
- FlyByWire Installer A custom-built, open-source installer application that enables users to easily download, install, and manage FlyByWire aircraft projects (A32NX, A380X) on Microsoft Flight Simulator. Targeted at flight simulation enthusiasts using MSFS 2020 or MSFS 2024.
Companies that use FlyByWire Simulations
Customer profileSegments1 record
Ideal customer profiles1 record
FlyByWire Simulations technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed Yes
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature8 records
FlyByWire Simulations partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Five partnerships are on record, tiered minor, core and supporting.
- Flightsim.tominorFlightsim.to serves as the recommended marketplace for downloading compatible liveries for FlyByWire A32NX aircraft. The partnership enables third-party livery creators to distribute their work to the FlyByWire user community.
- Microsoft (Asobo)coreFlyByWire Simulations develops add-on aircraft for Microsoft Flight Simulator. The company leverages the MSFS platform APIs, SDK, and marketplace. Development includes support for both MSFS 2020 and MSFS 2024 versions.
- CloudflarecoreCloudflare provides CDN and hosting infrastructure for FlyByWire Simulations website, documentation, and download networks, ensuring fast and reliable global content delivery.
- NavigraphsupportingFlyByWire aircraft can utilize Navigraph navigation data. The A32NX has features related to Navigraph data management and troubleshooting support.
- VATSIMsupportingFlyByWire's flyPad EFB includes Online ATC features compatible with VATSIM network, allowing users to connect to virtual ATC services.
Scale indicators4 records
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights6 records
FlyByWire Simulations competitors and assessment
Company assessmentEmerging players
- Azurpoly: Azurpoly is a smaller, emerging developer of MSFS aircraft add-ons with partial overlap to FlyByWire's high-fidelity enthusiast focus but a narrower product portfolio.
Direct peers
- ToLiss: ToLiss produces high-fidelity Airbus aircraft (A319, A320, A321, A340) for MSFS and X-Plane, directly overlapping with FlyByWire's A32NX and A380X product focus.
- Fenix Simulations: Fenix Simulations produces a high-fidelity payware Airbus A320 for Microsoft Flight Simulator, directly competing with FlyByWire's A32NX in the same aircraft niche, platform, and customer segment.
- QualityWings: QualityWings is a long-standing developer of high-fidelity payware aircraft add-ons for flight simulators, serving the same professional-grade enthusiast segment as FlyByWire.
- iniBuilds: iniBuilds develops premium aircraft and scenery add-ons for MSFS (including the A300), serving the same high-fidelity enthusiast market as FlyByWire with both free and paid offerings.
- PMDG: PMDG is the established leader in high-fidelity, payware aircraft add-ons for MSFS (e.g., 737, 777), competing with FlyByWire for the same enthusiast customers seeking realistic airline-grade simulations.
- Carenado: Carenado develops payware general-aviation and airliner aircraft add-ons for multiple flight simulator platforms, competing with FlyByWire for enthusiast customers seeking high-fidelity aircraft.
Broad incumbents
- Laminar Research: Laminar Research develops X-Plane, the principal competing consumer flight simulation platform to MSFS, serving the same enthusiast customers but as a broader platform incumbent rather than an add-on specialist.
- Aerosoft: Aerosoft is an established publisher of a broad flight simulation catalog (airports, scenery, aircraft) across MSFS and P3D, overlapping with FlyByWire as a wider-portfolio incumbent rather than a single-aircraft specialist.
Others
- Orbx: Orbx is a flight simulation ecosystem developer of scenery, airports, and utilities for MSFS and X-Plane, adjacent to FlyByWire as a fellow MSFS ecosystem participant serving the same user base.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat6 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
FlyByWire Simulations social profiles
Digital presenceFlyByWire Simulations financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
FlyByWire Simulations leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
FlyByWire Simulations funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
FlyByWire Simulations M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about FlyByWire Simulations
What does FlyByWire Simulations do?
FlyByWire Simulations develops and distributes free, open-source high-fidelity aircraft add-ons for Microsoft Flight Simulator, including the Airbus A320neo (A32NX) and the upcoming Airbus A380 (A380X). The aircraft feature custom avionics, a custom Flight Management System modeled on the Honeywell H3, a flyPadOS 3 Electronic Flight Bag, and dynamic sound sets recorded from real aircraft, all delivered free of charge through a custom-built installer.
Is FlyByWire Simulations a public or private company?
FlyByWire Simulations is a private company. It is classified as nonprofit foundation owned and is currently operating.
When was FlyByWire Simulations founded?
FlyByWire Simulations was founded in 2020. It employs 11 to 50 people.
How does FlyByWire Simulations make money?
One revenue line is on record: donations.
Who are FlyByWire Simulations's main competitors?
Azurpoly is listed as an emerging player. Direct peers are ToLiss, Fenix Simulations, QualityWings, iniBuilds, PMDG and Carenado. Broad incumbents are Laminar Research and Aerosoft. Orbx is listed as an others.
Does FlyByWire Simulations have an API?
No public API is recorded for FlyByWire Simulations.
What industry is FlyByWire Simulations in?
FlyByWire Simulations's product category is Flight Simulation Software. Its primary akta.pro industry code is IMABAFAN, Avionics Test, Simulation & Calibration Equipment, with a secondary code of HDACANAE, Racing & Flight Simulation Hardware (Wheels, Pedals, HOTAS). Its NAICS code is 334511 and its SIC code is 3812.