F18 Hornet Aircraft Missing

Hello,

Indeed, the F18 Hornet seemingly disappearing from FSX Steam Edition would make anyone concerned. But don't worry, our flight simulators rarely lose aircraft on their own, so there's always a reasonable explanation. Let's delve deeper into this issue.

In line with what the previous user mentioned, you are likely dealing with a directory or configuration file issue. This could happen for a variety of reasons such as a system or software glitch, an accidental deletion, or even file corruption due to malware or a disk error.

One place to start is by examining your FSX directory. In case you're unsure, the default directory path is:

C:\Program Files (x86)\Steam\SteamApps\common\FSX

Navigate to this directory and then proceed to:

SimObjects\Airplanes

Check to see if the F18's folder is still intact. Normally, it should be labeled as 'FA-18', but it could vary depending on the installation.

If the folder is not there, it could mean that the aircraft's files have been deleted. Conversely, if it is there, the files might be corrupted or configured improperly.

To determine if there's a configuration issue, open the 'aircraft.cfg' file within the 'FA-18' folder. It should contain several entries, each representing a different livery. The base model should be represented as well. If this file is missing or has been edited incorrectly, it could result in the aircraft disappearing from the game.

Here's an example of what an entry might look like:


[fltsim.0]
title=FA-18 Hornet
sim=FA-18
model=
panel=
sound=
texture=
kb_checklists=FA-18_check
kb_reference=FA-18_ref
atc_id=N000FA
atc_airline=NAVY
atc_flight_number=000
ui_manufacturer="Boeing"
ui_type="F/A-18"
ui_variation="Default"
ui_typerole="Twin Engine Jet"
ui_createdby="Microsoft Corporation"
description="..."


Please make sure your 'aircraft.cfg' entries are properly formatted like the above. If there are syntax errors, they may cause the aircraft to disappear from FSX.

If the 'FA-18' directory or 'aircraft.cfg' file are missing or incorrect, you'll need to restore them. One solution that doesn't involve reinstalling the entire game is to extract the necessary files from the game's installation package. However, this requires a certain level of technical knowledge and might be risky if done incorrectly.

Alternatively, you could also download an F-18 model from our website at Fly Away Simulation. We have a wide selection of military aircraft, including several versions of the F-18 Hornet. Here's how you can install an aircraft manually:

• Download the aircraft (or similar) from our website.
• Unzip the downloaded file.
• Copy the unzipped folder into your 'Airplanes' directory in FSX.
• Launch FSX, and the aircraft should appear in the aircraft selection menu.

To access our F-18 downloads, simply search 'F18 Hornet' in the search bar at the top of the website. Following this path, you should be able to get your F18 back without needing to reinstall the entire game.

Lastly, it's also important to consider that these solutions should generally apply to more recent flight sim platforms like Microsoft Flight Simulator (2020) and X-Plane 12, given that the aircraft files are configured properly and correctly installed in the respective directories.

Remember, keeping your sim running smoothly often means being meticulous with your file handling. Mistakes can happen, but they're often not as catastrophic as they seem.

Safe flights and happy landings!