The Flight Sim Network ForAircraft That Exist.

Tailstrike is a virtual network of shared, persistent aircraft, each with its own state and history written by many pilots over time. Every flight updates the aircraft for everyone: location, fuel, radios, and even wear, failures, and the complete airframe configuration for integrated high-fidelity aircraft.

Screenshot of a shared aircraft's detail page on Tailstrike

Works with

Navigraph

High Fidelity aircraft

MD-11

Every flight matters.

On Tailstrike, flights are part of something bigger than your personal logbook. Flying has downstream effects on other pilots.

Open-ended realism.

Fly real-world aircraft registrations, shared by the community, starting from the current location and ending wherever your journey takes you.

Social and public.

Tailstrike adds a new layer of sim depth and social interaction, where flights are public, aircraft have stories, and pilots build legacies.

Jump right in.

Lease and fly any aircraft for free. Get the Tailstrike plugin or fly on VATSIM. Compatible with other networks and tools. Flying is always free.

An open network, not a closed world

Tailstrike is a free and open network. It has no built-in economy, career mode, or game. It does one thing deeply: aircraft persist. Every airframe keeps its location, fuel, state, and history from one pilot to the next, and that layer is open for anyone to build on.

Fly any way you like

VFR or airliners, online or offline, alone, with your group, or with your virtual airline. Every style of flying counts.

High fidelity aircraft

Load into an aircraft exactly as it was left by the previous pilot: every switch, every system, and every failure.

Build on it

Economies, careers, and tools can all run on top of Tailstrike. The Tailstrike API is open to anyone.

How It Works

Lease an aircraft

Lease any Tailstrike registration, load into your sim, and depart from the current airport.

Fly and make an impact

Your flight is logged publicly and the aircraft location and state updates automatically.

Realism Rules

Depart the aircraft's current location

Land at any viable real-world airport

Fly at normal sim speed

Lease and fly any aircraft, for free.

Flying on Tailstrike is free forever. Supporters keep Tailstrike alive and get perks that shape the world for every pilot.

One shared world
connecting pilots and planes.
Tailstrike creates new reasons to fly, and new ways to fly together. Join an open network of pilots sharing persistent aircraft, in any style of flying, with your group or virtual airline.

Lived-in aircraft

Each aircraft keeps its location, fuel, panel state, and history, so every flight is dynamic and meaningful.

Intelligent Dispatch

Get realistic assignments based on aircraft identity, real-world events, online ATC, and your preferences.

Aircraft patronage

Claim one-of-one, real-world tailnumbers. Aircraft bear your name exclusively and come with perks.

Missions and events

Participate in community missions and events with shared aircraft, or fly your own. Every flight counts.

Latest news

October 8, 2026

Patch Notes: October 8, 2026

A redesigned live flight panel with VATSIM listen-in, a simpler plugin with X-Plane launch and one-click connect, patron control over who flies a GA tail, and plenty of fixes.

October 3, 2026

Tailstrike and TFDi Design Unveil First-of-Its-Kind, Fully Persistent Shared Aircraft

The TFDi Design MD-11 on Tailstrike now carries its full state from pilot to pilot: every switch, every system, every failure, and the wear on its parts.

September 27, 2026

Patch Notes: Week of September 22, 2026

MD-11 persistence beta testing, a weekly community digest, a one-click plugin connection, a deeper look at how each airframe was left, and fixes to Dispatch, missions, and badges.

What pilots are saying

“I’ve always tried to keep continuity in my virtual flying. Tailstrike adds a whole new layer to that. With aircraft locations saved between flights, I now plan departures and arrivals with future routes in mind, treating each leg as part of a larger, ongoing journey. And not built just for myself, but to be shared with the community."

“I love how Tailstrike brings authenticity and freedom together. It lets me contribute to an aircraft’s evolving virtual story while keeping a detailed log of my own flights, without the rules of a virtual airline. Every aircraft feels alive, every flight matters, and the experience captures exactly what I enjoy about aviation.”

“Tailstrike really fits my simming style, allowing me to enjoy many different types of planes and fly many new airports while sharing the experience with a likeminded community. It works great alongside my virtual airlines - I can complete routes/achievements for my VA using Tailstrike planes. The events are unique because it feels like everyone is working together for a goal instead of competing.”

Free forever. Supporters enrich the world.

Flying on Tailstrike is free forever. Supporters keep Tailstrike alive and get world-shaping perks that enhance the network for every pilot.

Tailstrike

Flying on Tailstrike is free, with no restrictions.

Join and fly, totally free.

Lease and fly any aircraft in the shared world

Basic and high fidelity aircraft persistence

Permanent, public flight logs and telemetry

Missions and community events

Public pilot profile and hangar

15 Intelligent Dispatch credits to try it out

Tailstrike Supporter

Shape the shared world. Enjoy exclusive perks.

$7$5 / monthor $50 / year · Founder rate, locked forever. Own the TFDi Design MD-11? Redeem your key for a free month.

Everything in free, plus:

Add permanent aircraft to the shared world

Intelligent Dispatch available with every lease

Patron aircraft. Your first tail is included.

Reserve Patroned aircraft for you and friends

Supporter status on your profile and Discord

Cancel anytime.

Own the TFDi Design MD-11? Redeem your key for a free month.

Frequently asked questions

Do I need VATSIM to fly on Tailstrike?: No. The Tailstrike desktop plugin tracks flights in your simulator directly, including offline single-player flying, or while connected to any other network.

Is Tailstrike a career mode or an economy?: No. Tailstrike is a free and open network with no built-in economy or career mode. It is the persistence layer: aircraft keep their state and history from one pilot to the next in a single, shared world, regardless of your reason for flying.

Which simulators are supported?: MSFS 2024, MSFS 2020, X-Plane 12, X-Plane 11, Prepar3D, and FSX.

What does it mean to lease an aircraft?: When you lease an aircraft, your sim flight data is linked to that specific tailnumber on Tailstrike. You don't download anything, and your aircraft does not need to be an exact match.

Do I need to stay connected for the whole flight?: Yes. Stay connected through the plugin for the duration of the flight so it can be tracked and verified. Ensure your flight is being tracked before and after takeoff. There is a grace period for short disconnects.

Does the aircraft update automatically when I land?: Yes. When you land, Tailstrike automatically validates and logs the flight, even if you disconnect immediately. The aircraft's position, fuel, and status are all updated. (High fidelity state only saves after parking and shut down.)

Can I land at any airport?: Only if the airport can support your aircraft. A 747 can not land at a municipal airstrip, since the next pilot must be able to depart. Check the airport page on the app to ensure your aircraft type fits. Diversions are allowed.

Why would my flight be terminated?: Flights that drop tracking for too long, land at too small of an airport (or no airport, except bush plane and helicopters), or use excessive time acceleration are automatically terminated, and the aircraft is reset to its last valid location.

Can I fly VFR or without a flight plan?: Yes. There are no restrictions on how you fly, and you do not need to specify a destination, though it is encouraged.

Why do I have to fly at 1x speed?: Tailstrike is a realistic shared world of aircraft and flights. That only works if everyone flies in real time, keeping the world consistent and fair for all pilots.

How much does Tailstrike cost?: Flying on Tailstrike is free forever. Supporters keep Tailstrike alive and get world-shaping perks that enhance the network for every pilot: add permanent aircraft to the world, patron an aircraft with your name on it, and more.

Does Tailstrike have helicopters?: Yes. Helicopters and bush planes are supported. Unlike other aircraft, they can land anywhere during the flight, but every flight must end at an airport.

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About Tailstrike

Tailstrike is a free and open network, created by long-time flight sim enthusiasts to add a new layer of realism, interactivity, and meaning for pilots, through innovative technology.

Our vision is a network of living airframes that persist between pilots and throughout time, as they do in real life. We enable developers to build and communities to fly with a shared set of aircraft in a unified world, where every decision matters, and every flight leaves a mark.

Developers

Build with Tailstrike

Making an app or developing an aircraft? From the Tailstrike API to persistent aircraft data, we'd love to hear what you're working on. Reach out and let's talk.