# Aircraft Creation Workflow<no value>
This section of the Microsoft Flight Simulator 2024 documentation contains a **workflow checklist** of items to help you with the creation of your aircraft add-ons. Aircraft are the heart and soul of the simulation and, as such, need to be created with great care to ensure that they not only fly and perform correctly, but that they look good and are as optimised as possible within the simulation engine. However, making an aircraft is also a very large task that can sometimes seem overwhelming, especially if you're working on your own or as part of a small team, which is why we've prepared this document: to help you create the aircraft *you* want to make as quickly and simply as possible while maintaining the highest possible quality.

 

{{< callout context="caution" title="IMPORTANT!" icon="outline/alert-triangle" >}}

This document expects you (or members of your team) to have a decent working knowledge of:

{{< /callout >}}

  
- how aircraft work, both at the physical and at the mechanical level  
- 3D modelling and texturing tools and the general workflow using these tools  
- basic programming paradigms  
  
Also note that the workflow shown here is the recommended workflow, but you are not obliged to follow it. This is simply our recommendation on how to approach the task to get the best results in the shortest time.

 

Note that this is not a "step by step" guide, but rather a checklist of a typical worfklow containing all the things to be done when making the aircraft and that - when taken together in the approximate order shown - will cover all the main steps for creating a final aircraft package.

 

-   [Preparation](preparation/)

    -   [Recording Audio](../../../sound/aircraft-audio/recording-audio/)
    -   [Creating A Modular Aircraft Project](creating-the-project/)

 

-   [Modeling Aircraft](../../../models-and-textures/modeling/aircraft/modeling-aircraft/)

    -   ##### Airframe

        -   [File Setup](../../../models-and-textures/modeling/aircraft/airframe/file-setup/)
        -   [Airframe Textures And Materials](../../../models-and-textures/modeling/aircraft/airframe/airframe-materials/)
        -   [Propellers, Turbines And Blades](../../../models-and-textures/modeling/aircraft/airframe/propellers-turbines-and-blades/)
        -   [Windshield And Windows](../../../models-and-textures/modeling/aircraft/airframe/windshield-and-windows/)
        -   [Doors, Hatches, And Canopies](../../../models-and-textures/modeling/aircraft/airframe/doors-hatches-and-canopies/)
        -   [Wheels](../../../models-and-textures/modeling/aircraft/airframe/wheels/)
        -   [Exterior Lights](../../../models-and-textures/modeling/aircraft/airframe/exterior-lights/)
        -   [Airframe Details](../../../models-and-textures/modeling/aircraft/airframe/airframe-details/)
        -   [Clearcoat](../../../models-and-textures/modeling/aircraft/airframe/clearcoat/)
        -   [Dirt And Grime](../../../models-and-textures/modeling/aircraft/airframe/dirt-and-grime/)
        -   [Frost And Ice](../../../models-and-textures/modeling/aircraft/airframe/ice/)
        -   [Registration Numbers](../../../models-and-textures/modeling/aircraft/airframe/registration-numbers/)
        -   [Airframe Collision Meshes](../../../models-and-textures/modeling/aircraft/airframe/airframe-collision-meshes/)
        -   [Fuel Truck And GPU Connections](../../../models-and-textures/modeling/aircraft/airframe/fuel-truck-and-gpu-connections/)
        -   [Ambient Occlusion](../../../models-and-textures/modeling/aircraft/airframe/ambient-occlusion/)
        -   [Parallax Windows](../../../models-and-textures/modeling/aircraft/airframe/parallax-windows/)
        -   [Covers, Chocks, And Pins](../../../models-and-textures/modeling/aircraft/airframe/covers-chocks-pins/)
        -   [Animations Overview](../../../models-and-textures/modeling/aircraft/airframe/animations/animations-overview/)
            -   [Animating Ailerons, Flaps And Spoilers](../../../models-and-textures/modeling/aircraft/airframe/animations/animating-ailerons/)
            -   [Animating The Elevator](../../../models-and-textures/modeling/aircraft/airframe/animations/animating-the-elevator/)
            -   [Animating The Rudder](../../../models-and-textures/modeling/aircraft/airframe/animations/animating-the-rudder/)
            -   Animating Doors, Hatches, and Canopies
            -   [Animating Landing Gear](../../../models-and-textures/modeling/aircraft/airframe/animations/animating-landing-gear/)
            -   [WingFlex](../../../models-and-textures/modeling/aircraft/airframe/animations/wingflex/)
                -   [WingFlex - Flaps](../../../models-and-textures/modeling/aircraft/airframe/animations/wingflex-flaps/)
                -   [Wingflex - Slats](../../../models-and-textures/modeling/aircraft/airframe/animations/wingflex-slats/)
                -   [WingFlex - Spoilers](../../../models-and-textures/modeling/aircraft/airframe/animations/wingflex-spoilers/)
        -   [Airframe LODs](../../../models-and-textures/modeling/aircraft/airframe/airframe-lods/)
            -   [Silhouette And Material Contrast](../../../models-and-textures/modeling/aircraft/airframe/material-contrasts/)

    -   ##### Cockpits And Cabins

        -   [File Setup](../../../models-and-textures/modeling/aircraft/cockpit/file-setup/)

        -   [Cockpit And Cabin Modeling General Principles](../../../models-and-textures/modeling/aircraft/cockpit/cockpit-modeling-general-principles/)

        -   [Cockpit Collision Meshes And Occluders](../../../models-and-textures/modeling/aircraft/cockpit/collision-meshes/)

        -   [Geometry Optimisation](../../../models-and-textures/modeling/aircraft/cockpit/geometry-optimisation/)

        -   [Cockpit And Cabin LODs](../../../models-and-textures/modeling/aircraft/cockpit/cockpit-lods/)

        -   [Seats And Seatbelts](../../../models-and-textures/modeling/aircraft/cockpit/seats-and-seatbelts/)

        -   [Gauges](../../../models-and-textures/modeling/aircraft/cockpit/gauges/)

        -   [Cockpit And Cabin Lights](../../../models-and-textures/modeling/aircraft/cockpit/cockpit-and-cabin-lights/)

        -   [Cockpit Textures And Materials](../../../models-and-textures/modeling/aircraft/cockpit/textures/cockpit-materials/)

            -   [Ambient Occlusion](../../../models-and-textures/modeling/aircraft/cockpit/textures/ambient-occlusion/)

            -   [Decals And Detail Maps](../../../models-and-textures/modeling/aircraft/cockpit/textures/decals/)

            -   [Material Mapping](../../../models-and-textures/modeling/aircraft/cockpit/textures/material-mapping/)

            -   [Translucent Elements](../../../models-and-textures/modeling/aircraft/cockpit/textures/translucent-elements/)

        -   [Animations Overview](../../../models-and-textures/modeling/aircraft/cockpit/animations/)

            -   [Button, Knob, And Lever Animation](../../../models-and-textures/modeling/aircraft/cockpit/animations/button-animation/)

            -   [Peddle Animation](../../../models-and-textures/modeling/aircraft/cockpit/animations/peddle-animation/)

            -   [Yoke Animation](../../../models-and-textures/modeling/aircraft/cockpit/animations/yoke-animation/)

        -   [Adding An EFB](../../../models-and-textures/modeling/aircraft/cockpit/adding-an-efb/)

        -   [VR Helpers](../../../models-and-textures/modeling/aircraft/cockpit/vr-helpers/)

 

-   [Modelling Aircraft Livery](../../../models-and-textures/modeling/aircraft/airframe/liveries/modelling-liveries/)

    -   [Static Liveries](../../../models-and-textures/modeling/aircraft/airframe/liveries/static-liveries/)
    -   [Dynamic Liveries](../../../models-and-textures/modeling/aircraft/airframe/liveries/dynamic-liveries/)
    -   [Edited Liveries](../../../models-and-textures/modeling/aircraft/airframe/liveries/edited-liveries/)

 

-   [Model Exporting](../../../models-and-textures/modeling/aircraft/model-exporting/)

    -   [Building An Aircraft Package](building-an-aircraft-package/)

    -   [Thumbnails](../../../models-and-textures/modeling/aircraft/thumbnails/)

  

-   [Flight Model](../tuning-the-flight-model/tuning-the-flight-model/)

    -   [Basic Aerodynamics](../tuning-the-flight-model/basic-aerodynamics/)
    -   [Geometry](../tuning-the-flight-model/geometry/)
        -   [Geometry - Fuselage](../tuning-the-flight-model/geometry/geometry-fuselage/)
        -   [Geometry - Wings](../tuning-the-flight-model/geometry/geometry-wings/)
        -   [Geometry - Tail](../tuning-the-flight-model/geometry/geometry-tail/)
        -   [Geometry - Other Surfaces](../tuning-the-flight-model/geometry/geometry-other-surfaces/)
    -   [Wheels And Contact Points](../tuning-the-flight-model/wheels-and-contact-points/)
    -   [Weight And Balance](../tuning-the-flight-model/weight-and-balance/)
    -   [Engines](../tuning-the-flight-model/engines/)
        -   [Piston Engines](../tuning-the-flight-model/engines/piston-engines/)
        -   [Turbine Engines](../tuning-the-flight-model/engines/turbine-engines/)
        -   [Propellers](../tuning-the-flight-model/engines/propellers/)
    -   [Electrical Systems](../tuning-the-flight-model/electrical-systems/)
    -   [Fuel System](../tuning-the-flight-model/fuel-system/)
    -   [Fine Tuning](../tuning-the-flight-model/fine-tuning/)
    -   [Engine Fine Tuning](../tuning-the-flight-model/engines/engine-fine-tuning/)
    -   [Testing The Aircraft](../tuning-the-flight-model/testing-the-aircraft/)

 

-   [Model Behaviours](../../../content-configuration/models/modelbehaviors/usingbehaviours/using-model-behaviours/)

    -   [Model Behaviors Component Overview](../../../content-configuration/models/modelbehaviors/usingbehaviours/model-behaviors-component-overview/)
    -   [Model Behaviors Parameters](../../../content-configuration/models/modelbehaviors/usingbehaviours/model-behaviors-parameters/)
    -   [Model Behaviors Inputs](../../../content-configuration/models/modelbehaviors/usingbehaviours/model-behaviors-inputs/)
    -   [Model Behaviors Templates](../../../content-configuration/models/modelbehaviors/usingbehaviours/templates/templates/)
        -   [Default Templates](../../../content-configuration/models/modelbehaviors/usingbehaviours/templates/default-templates/)
        -   [Custom Templates](../../../content-configuration/models/modelbehaviors/usingbehaviours/templates/custom-templates/)
        -   [Important Templates](../../../content-configuration/models/modelbehaviors/usingbehaviours/templates/important-templates/)
    -   [Using Model Behaviors](../../../content-configuration/models/modelbehaviors/usingbehaviours/using-model-behaviours/)
    -   [Creating Cockpit Interactions](../../../content-configuration/models/modelbehaviors/usingbehaviours/interactions/creating-cockpit-interactions/)
        -   [Adding Sound To Interactions](../../../content-configuration/models/modelbehaviors/usingbehaviours/interactions/adding-sound-to-interactions/)
        -   [Creating Interaction Tooltips](../../../content-configuration/models/modelbehaviors/usingbehaviours/interactions/creating-interaction-tooltips/)
        -   [Interaction Configurations](../../../content-configuration/models/modelbehaviors/usingbehaviours/interactions/interaction-configurations/)
        -   [Interaction Procedures](../../../content-configuration/models/modelbehaviors/usingbehaviours/interactions/interaction-procedures/)
        -   [Advanced Interactions](../../../content-configuration/models/modelbehaviors/usingbehaviours/interactions/advanced-interactions/)
    -   [Adding Aircraft VFX](../../../content-configuration/models/modelbehaviors/usingbehaviours/vfx/adding-aircraft-vfx/)
        -   [Visual Effects Templates](../../../content-configuration/models/modelbehaviors/usingbehaviours/vfx/visual-effects-templates/)

 

-   [Instruments](../../../content-configuration/modular-simobjects/aircraft/instruments/instruments/)

    -   [Setting Up For HTML/JS/CSS Instruments](../../../programming-apis/javascript/js-gauge-tutorial/setting-up-for-html-instruments/)
    -   [Creating An HTML/JS/CSS Instrument](../../../programming-apis/javascript/js-gauge-tutorial/creating-an-html-js-css-instrument/)
    -   [Replacing An HTML/JS/CSS Instrument](../../../programming-apis/javascript/js-gauge-tutorial/replacing-js-instrument/)
    -   [Debugging HTML/JS/CSS Instruments](../../../programming-apis/javascript/js-gauge-tutorial/debugging-html-js-css-instruments/)
    -   [Creating WASM Gauges](../../../programming-apis/wasm/creating-wasm-gauges/)
    -   [Debugging WASM Gauges](../../../programming-apis/wasm/debugging-wasm/)

 

-   [Career Activities](../../../content-configuration/careers/career-activities/)

    -   [General Career Mode Requirements](../../../content-configuration/careers/general-career-information/general-career-mode-requirements/)
    -   [Spawn Pilot (Transversal)](../../../content-configuration/careers/general-career-information/spawn-pilot-transversal/)
    -   [Preflight](../../../content-configuration/careers/general-career-information/preflight/)
    -   [Aircraft Loads](../../../content-configuration/careers/general-career-information/aircraft-loads/)
    -   [Aircraft Seats And Seatbelts](../../../content-configuration/careers/general-career-information/aircraft-seats-and-seatbelts/)
    -   [Using Included SimAttachments](../../../content-configuration/careers/general-career-information/using-included-simattachments/)

 

-   [Additional Aircraft Information](additional-aircraft-information/)

    -   [Implementing Cameras](../../../content-configuration/cfg-files/camera/implementing-cameras/)
    -   [Implementing Lights](../../../content-configuration/cfg-files/system/implementing-lights/)

 

-   [Checklists](../../../content-configuration/modular-simobjects/aircraft/checklists/checklists/)

    -   [Checklist Flow](../../../content-configuration/modular-simobjects/aircraft/checklists/checklist-flow/)
    -   [Creating A Checklist](../../../content-configuration/modular-simobjects/aircraft/checklists/creating-a-checklist/)
    -   [Checklist Best Practices](../../../content-configuration/modular-simobjects/aircraft/checklists/checklist-best-practices/)

 

-   [Creating Aircraft Audio](../../../sound/aircraft-audio/aircraft-audio/)

    -   [Recording Audio](../../../sound/aircraft-audio/recording-audio/)
    -   [Setting Up Wwise](../../../sound/aircraft-audio/setting-up-wwise/)
    -   [Creating The Sound.xml](../../../sound/aircraft-audio/creating-the-sound-xml/)
    -   [Engine Audio Setup](../../../sound/aircraft-audio/engine-audio-setup/)
    -   [Advanced Audio Effects](../../../sound/aircraft-audio/advanced-audio-effects/)
    -   [Advanced Sound.xml Features](../../../sound/aircraft-audio/advanced-sound-xml/)
    -   [Audio For AI Aircraft](../../../sound/aircraft-audio/audio-for-ai-aircraft/)
    -   [Additional Wwise Tools](../../../sound/aircraft-audio/additional-wwise-tools/)

 

-   [Liveries](../../../content-configuration/modular-simobjects/aircraft/liveries/liveries/)

-   [Additional Aircraft Information](additional-aircraft-information/)

-   [Passive Aircraft](../../../models-and-textures/modeling/aircraft/passive-aircraft/)