Hi everyone,

I’m the developer behind FFB-Bridge.

I’ve launched a new project called AirframeDB, that I hope will be of interest to you all.

While developing FFB-Bridge, I collected a growing amount of research about lots and lots of aircraft: their real-world systems, their simulator implementations, developer documentation and pilot accounts. What started as research for individual features gradually became a much broader collection. You've seen some of this work in the Aircraft Library on the FFB-Bridge website, but my internal database has a lot more than what I shared so far.

So, I decided to share what I collected with everyone. Free, no catch (no ads, no tracking, nothing. Just a simple website). AirframeDB is a free aircraft reference that brings together the real aircraft and the versions we fly in Microsoft Flight Simulator and X-Plane.

The initial catalogue contains 159 aircraft profiles across both simulator families. You can explore aircraft background and systems, browse photographs, follow links to manuals and other sources, and compare entries side by side. There’s also material for developers researching aircraft systems and documented interfaces.

My aim is to build a living, growing catalogue covering default aircraft and third-party add-ons, with room to expand into other simulators. The initial third-party selection reflects my own editorial judgement, I picked devs that I personally know are great. I'm sure there are many I missed, and I'm open to adding more if the community rates them.

Visit AirframeDB

Personally, I’ve found it great fun just browsing—particularly using Shuffle to discover something different. There’s also an optional email signup for future additions. Totally optional (I hate sites that force you to give email just to READ!), everything is fully accessible without any email. Email is just if you want to stay updated on new stuff.

I hope sharing this research helps you discover something new about the aircraft you fly. Feedback welcomed, I plan to add a lot more to this!

Just brilliant!

Nothing else to say. Oh, apart from thanks 👍😎

[EDIT: Will it eventually cover addon aircraft as well? As that's where the interest really lies I think. The first aircraft type I entered in was 'Bonanza' and it came up with all the default options (and lots of great info) but didn't reference the Black Square Bonanza, which was what I was really looking for). Thanks

Edited Saturday at 11:23 AM1 day by JYW

Thank you!

2 hours ago, JYW said:

Just brilliant!

Nothing else to say. Oh, apart from thanks 👍😎

[EDIT: Will it eventually cover addon aircraft as well? As that's where the interest really lies I think. The first aircraft type I entered in was 'Bonanza' and it came up with all the default options (and lots of great info) but didn't reference the Black Square Bonanza, which was what I was really looking for). Thanks

Yes, the goal is to have ALL aircraft (above a minimum level of quality based on my judgement).

Here's how to see Blacksquare - https://airframedb.com/aircraft?shuffle=&q=&Sim=&Category=&Developer=Black+Square

More will be added, you'll see them show up over the coming days. I know there are gaps, but hey, it's a day.

For example:

AirframeDB

Beechcraft Starship · AirframeDB

A pressurised twin turboprop with a canard, composite airframe and rear-facing propellers.

What's the best way to suggest additional versions of a model to include on a page ?

18 minutes ago, Matchstick said:

What's the best way to suggest additional versions of a model to include on a page ?

https://airframedb.com/feedback

And a public community here

AirframeDB

Aircraft discussions and community · AirframeDB

Discuss aircraft, simulator add-ons and developer research with the AirframeDB community. Share questions, observations…

The community lets others join the discussion . Feedback form is 1-1 with me

Edited Saturday at 03:32 PM1 day by JonathanC

Blacksquare updated, and added a bunch more planes and some nice updates. 216 planes now, more pictures, more devs.

Awesome.

Nice idea need some work. Citation X listed as exclusive XP12 there is also Citation X from FlightFx. My beloved Hawker Beech is missing https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hawker_Beechcraft

Just now, sd_flyer said:

Nice idea need some work. Citation X listed as exclusive XP12 there is also Citation X from FlightFx. My beloved Hawker Beech is missing https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hawker_Beechcraft

Thanks. Yes, you’ll see it grow, I’ll add this in. Some things are updating right now :)

Lots of planes have been updated with more information, real-world pilot reports, pictures, and more.

More are being updated, and I'm thinking of what else to add that will make this a really compelling resource for the community. Open to ideas and suggestions.

Here are some examples of planes with updated info.

AirframeDB

Beechcraft Bonanza family · AirframeDB

A long-running touring single, familiar in both V-tail and conventional-tail forms.

AirframeDB

McDonnell Douglas MD-80 / MD-82 · AirframeDB

A stretched development of the DC-9 with rear-mounted engines and a five-abreast cabin.

Thanks for creating this, even though I am a simulator pilot I like to use a real world EFB on my ipad for flight planning, but sometimes older or maybe not the most popular or well known aircraft are often lacking. I have to search multiple websites to string together all the required info for the app. The hardest ones are aircraft in the Home Built or experimental category. Next to impossible to find info on the Vans aircraft or Lancair's. The included flightsim manuals, depending on the developer, are also sometimes lacking. I have already bookmarked your website and will look here first.

Thanks,

Mike

Thank you! Great resource. Might be an unexpected effect, but this might work great for me as I'm going through an Aircraft Maintenance Technician (Airframe & Powerplant) program at the moment - particularly all the manuals linked in one place. Legend!

1 hour ago, Mike62 said:

I have to search multiple websites to string together all the required info for the app.

Yes exactly this! When I was looking for info for FFB-Bridge, I saw that there is no resource that combines both real world info as well as sim info (none that I could find, at least .. and I looked ).

I collected this info and built an internal database, and then it became so much easier to look up stuff, that I realized other simmers would likely want to use this as well. And since I can host it long term, and already have all infrastructure setup for FFB-Bridge .. why not, right?

I’m already planning some fun additions to the site. Right now it’s just a reference, but perhaps I’ll add the ability to build your own curated collection of planes.. maybe let people share screenshots from inside the sim .. kicking around various ideas. Maybe developers might want to contribute stuff. Lots of options to think about

But whether any of that comes to fruition or not, AirframeDB is going to stick around. Even in its current form I think it’s quite useful.

1 hour ago, cptBadinoff said:

Thank you! Great resource. Might be an unexpected effect, but this might work great for me as I'm going through an Aircraft Maintenance Technician (Airframe & Powerplant) program at the moment - particularly all the manuals linked in one place. Legend!

Haha that’s amazing.

I will state for the official record that all this info is sim-only, I make absolutely no guarantees of accuracy for anything, this is a fun hobby project that collects data freely available on the internet and puts it in one place, saving people the hassle of searching . It is not a replacement for anything official.

But of course anyone is welcome to use the site, I hope you enjoy it!