To fly online with VATSIM, you will need to download and install a software application which connects your Flight Simulator with the VATSIM servers. There are several such applications, and all are free. Clients are available for P3D, X-Plane, Microsoft Flight Simulator (2020), FSX and FS9 across several operating systems. These applications also enable you to communicate with ATC and other aircraft. To do this, a headset with microphone is very useful, but not required. Text communication is always available. There is extensive information and help for all pilot clients in the VATSIM Forums.
Download X-Plane for Mac to flight simulator with accurate cockpit details. The demo program alone requires close to 5GB of free space. Judging from our experiences, the. XSquawkbox - (X-Plane only) xSquawkbox is a well established pilot client for connecting to X-Plane and can run on Windows, Mac OS and Linux. The download includes installation instructions. There is a very useful FAQ here. Some definitions of terms used above: FSX - Microsoft Flight Simulator X FS9 - Microsoft Flight Simulator (also known as. X-Plane is the world's most advanced flight simulator. Download the X-Plane 11 demo today, for free. Available for macOS, Windows, and Linux. Download X-Plane 11.50 for Mac from our software library for free. This Mac download was scanned by our antivirus and was rated as malware free. The most recent installer that can be downloaded is 19.8 MB in size. The application lies within Games, more precisely Simulation. This software for Mac OS X is an intellectual property of Laminar.
There are a great many other users, both pilots and ATC, logged on to the VATSIM network at any given time. Before you fly online, you are expected to first become familiar with the various aspects of VATSIM such as:
Currently all Pilot clients are written for Windows except XSquawkbox which is only used for X-Plane and can be used in Windows, Mac OS and Linux.
Which pilot client should I use?
X-Plane 11 Downloads and Add-ons. X-Plane has always been the professionals choice for a flight simulation package. However, over the past few years - X-Plane has become more popular with the 'general' flight simulator user, the user that flies at home on his PC or Mac.
Please note that all pilot clients work in Windows. Swift and xSquawkbox also work in Mac OS and Linux.
My Flight Simulator | Recommended pilot client | Audio for VATSIM Capability | Other compatible clients | Audio for VATSIM Capability |
P3D | vPilot | In built | Swift | In built |
X-Plane | xPilot | In built | XSquawkbox/Swift | Standalone Client Required/In built |
Microsoft Flight Simulator (2020) | vPilot | In built | None | N/A |
FSX | vPilot | In built | Swift | In built |
FS9 | Swift | In built | None |
Audio for VATSIM Compatibility
In-built - Audio for VATSIM is already built into the client and you need only set up your microphone and speakers/headset and your client connects to Audio for VATSIM.
Standalone Client Required - Audio for VATSIM has not yet been integrated into the client so the standalone Audio for VATSIM client is required. Connect to VATSIM first through your preferred pilot client and then connect to the standalone Audio for VATSIM client.
vPilot - (P3D, Microsoft Flight Simulator 2020 and FSX)
vPilot is a simple, effective client designed to get new pilots flying quickly with excellent model matching so that you can see other online pilots with the correct aircraft type and livery. Generally, it's 5-10 minutes from download to working, including setting up your model matching. Documentation is thorough. vPilot is supported by not only the community but by the developer who continues to make feature improvements, and is the most commonly used pilot client on VATSIM.
vPilot is probably the best choice for new members that use P3D, Microsoft Flight Simulator 2020 and FSX because it is quick and easy to install and get started with.
xPilot - (X-Plane only)
xPilot is the newest pilot client built especially for X-Plane but with the ever familiar look and feel of vPilot (for P3D and FSX).
xPilot is probably the best choice for new members that use X-Plane because it is quick and easy to install and get started with.
Swift - (P3D, X-Plane, FSX, FS9)
Swift is a new pilot client for VATSIM currently undergoing open beta testing. It is compatible with all the main pilot clients and several operating systems. It is a feature-rich client but the instructions must be read
xSquawkbox - (X-Plane only)
xSquawkbox is a well established pilot client for connecting to X-Plane and can run on Windows, Mac OS and Linux. The download includes installation instructions.
There is a very useful FAQ here.
Some definitions of terms used above:
X Plane 10 For Mac Free Download
FSX - Microsoft Flight Simulator X
FS9 - Microsoft Flight Simulator (also known as FS2004)
FS2002 - Microsoft Flight Simulator 2002
P3D - Prepar3D (pronounced “prepared”) a visual simulation platform that allows users to create training scenarios
Model Matching - refers to the process by which the pilot software selects which 3D model and texture to display while connected to VATSIM