Using simple text-editors and the 3D modelling plugins included in the Software Development Kit (SDK) it is possible to create custom aircraft for the Aerofly FS 2 Flight Simulator from scratch or to modify existing aircraft to expand their functionality.

Modifying an existing Aerofly FS 2 aircraft can be done quite easily by changing the and the aircraft TMC and TMD text files of the aircraft. It's possible to add custom cameras, change the flight physic parameters and even program own logic circuits. Hidden work-in-progress functionality can be discovered and unlocked to enable (currently) hidden gimmicks. One example of a modded aircraft is the Cessna 172 'cold and dark' mod, developed by one of the IPACS development team members.

When creating an own aircraft for the Aerofly FS 2 a 3D model of the aircraft is needed. Then the definition files of the aircraft are created and the 3D model is exported and converted to the Aerofly FS 2 engine format. Then the definition files are refined, the physics are set up, the animations are implemented and the sound output is defined.

The overview below shows the necessary steps to get an aircraft model from a 3D design software like 3D Studio Max or Cinema4D into Aerofly FS 2. The steps are described in more detail later in the modelling chapter.

Steps 1. to 6. have already been done for the example aircraft that comes with this SDK so that you can start with step 7. right away and use the example aircraft as a reference for your projects.

1. Create a new folder using lowercase letters a-z, digits 0-9 and the underscore only (like c172, b747, f4u, mustang, …). This folder will be referred to as the intermediate folder. The name of this folder will be the internal name of the aircraft (the name displayed in the aircraft menu can be set later) and determines the names of several files. In the following, we will choose the name to be xxxx.
2. Copy and/or export all necessary source texture and sound files to the intermediate folder. The files must be in a format supported by the Aircraft Converter (.bmp / .tif / .png / .wav).
3. Prepare the 3D model as described below.
4. Export the 3d model to the intermediate folder using the filename xxxx (this creates the 'xxxx.tgi' file) as described further down.
5. Create the aircraft definition and configuration files. You can create these files from scratch using the section 'Aircraft Definition' in this document as a reference, or you can copy and modify the files from an existing aircraft. If you just want to get the 3d model into the simulator to check the graphics, simply copy the 'template.tmc' and 'template.tmd' files from the SDK's 'template' folder and rename them to 'xxxx.tmc' and 'xxxx.tmd' respectively. Change the name and description in the .tmc file and replace the entry 'Box' in the GeometryList parameter at the end of the .tmd file by the names of all your geometries.
6. Add the 'model.tmc' file. For the beginning, you can copy the 'model.tmc' from the SDK's 'template' folder and fine tune texture sizes later.
7. Run the aircraft converter. Right click on the 'xxxx' intermediate folder and choose Aerofly FS 2 Aircraft Converter from the context menu and start the conversion.
8. Your new aircraft is available in Aerofly FS 2 now. Test and refine the dynamics, graphics and sounds as desired.