What is Boeing?
Boeing is one of the world’s largest aerospace manufacturers, best known for producing commercial airliners that have shaped modern aviation. In flight simulation, Boeing is practically synonymous with the study-level airliner experience — the 737, 777 and 787 are among the most sought-after and meticulously recreated aircraft in the hobby, with add-on developers spending years modelling their systems to real-world accuracy.
Boeing in Flight Simulation
Boeing aircraft cover a wide range of operations, from the nimble 737 on short-haul routes to the long-range 777 and 787 spanning continents. Each family has a distinct cockpit philosophy, automation logic and handling character — which is part of what makes them compelling to simulate. Unlike Airbus, which uses sidestick controllers and a fly-by-wire system that limits pilot input, Boeing aircraft use a conventional yoke and, in most variants, give the pilot more direct control authority. That difference in feel is noticeable even in the sim.
PMDG has long been the gold standard for Boeing simulation, building study-level recreations of the 737 and 777 that are used by real-world pilots for procedure practice. iFly and BlueBird Simulations have also entered the space with high-fidelity offerings of their own, while Asobo includes default Boeing aircraft across both MSFS 2020 and 2024. For X-Plane, the Zibo 737 mod and FlightFactor’s widebody lineup cover the main Boeing types.
Available Boeing Aircraft in Simulation
| Aircraft | Developer | Simulator | Type |
|---|---|---|---|
| 737 MAX 8 | Asobo | MSFS 2024 | Default |
| 787-9 Dreamliner | Asobo | MSFS 2020 | Default |
| 737-600 | PMDG | MSFS 2020 / 2024 | Payware |
| 737-700 | PMDG | MSFS 2020 / 2024 | Payware |
| 737-800 | PMDG | MSFS 2020 / 2024 | Payware |
| 737-900 | PMDG | MSFS 2020 / 2024 | Payware |
| 777-200ER | PMDG | MSFS 2020 / 2024 | Payware |
| 777-200LR | PMDG | MSFS 2020 / 2024 | Payware |
| 777F (Freighter) | PMDG | MSFS 2020 | Payware |
| 737 MAX 8 | iFly | MSFS 2020 / 2024 | Payware |
| 757-200 / -300 | BlueBird Simulations | MSFS 2020 / 2024 | Payware (Q3 2026) |
| 787-9 Project Griffin | Vector Simulations | MSFS 2024 | Payware (in development) |
| CH-47D Chinook | Blackbird Simulations | MSFS 2024 | Default |
| 737-800 (Zibo Mod) | Zibo / Community | X-Plane 12 | Freeware |
| 757-200 | FlightFactor | X-Plane 12 | Payware |
| 767-300ER | FlightFactor | X-Plane 12 | Payware |
| 777-200ER | FlightFactor | X-Plane 12 | Payware (in development) |
Key Considerations
- Boeing variants within the same family aren’t interchangeable in the sim — a 737-700 and a 737-800 have different performance numbers, fuel burn figures and FMC behaviour. Make sure your SimBrief airframe profile matches what you’re flying.
- PMDG’s 737 and 777 series are widely considered the benchmark for study-level simulation on MSFS and are commonly used by real-world pilots for procedure familiarity. They’re priced accordingly, but the depth justifies it.
- The Zibo 737 mod for X-Plane 12 is a freeware community project that rivals many payware offerings — if you’re on X-Plane and haven’t tried it, it’s an essential download.
- Boeing aircraft use a conventional yoke rather than a sidestick, and in most variants give the pilot more direct control authority than their Airbus counterparts — a distinction that carries through into the simulation.
