: It allows you to read and write "offsets"—hexadecimal memory locations that represent everything from aircraft speed and fuel levels to switch positions and light statuses.
Note: For Python scripts to communicate with the simulator, the FSUIPC background application must be actively running alongside the flight simulator. 2. Install Python and the PyFSUIPC Library
Start small: run the examples in this article, verify that you can read your aircraft’s position, and then try writing a simple control. Once you see how easily Python and FSUIPC work together, you will wonder why you ever built simulator tools any other way.
while True: latitude, longitude, altitude = prepared.read() # Format and print the data print(f"Latitude: latitude / 10001750.0 * 90") print(f"Longitude: longitude / 65536.0 / 65536.0 * 360") print(f"Altitude: altitude") input("Press ENTER to read again") fsuipc python
FSUIPC (Flight Simulator Universal InterProcess Communication) acts as the central nervous system of your flight sim, and when connected with Python, it allows you to build everything from advanced telemetry dashboards to custom hardware controllers. This powerful combination gives you direct access to the simulator's core data, offering a level of control that goes far beyond standard keyboard and mouse interactions.
: It supports building a wide range of external tools, such as custom ACARS clients, external gauges, and even hardware bridges for Linux users via tools like wineUIPC . Cons
To get started, you need a running flight simulator, a registered or unregistered version of FSUIPC (compatible with your simulator version, e.g., FSUIPC7 for MSFS), and a Python installation. 1. Install FSUIPC : It allows you to read and write
| Library | Approach | Python Compatibility | 64‑bit Support | Status | |:---|:---|:---|:---|:---| | (by tjensen) | Python wrapper around pyuipc | Python 3.6 – 3.11, runs on Windows | Yes (v1.2.0+) | Actively maintained | | pyfsuipc (by voneiden) | Cython module using Pete Dowson’s FSUIPC_User library | Python 3, requires Cython and a compiler | Not specified | Experimental (2015) |
For more complex projects, developers often use additional tools to extend FSUIPC's capabilities: fsuipc · PyPI
# Connect to FSUIPC ipc = fsuipc.connect() Install Python and the PyFSUIPC Library Start small:
# Read the aircraft's altitude altitude = fipc.read('Altitude')
Writing data to the simulator is just as straightforward. You specify the offsets you want to change and provide the new values. The example below shows how to toggle the parking brake (a common task when you need to ensure the brake is set on the ground).
: Double word, used for larger integer values.
For a comprehensive list of offsets, consult the FSUIPC SDK documentation. 5. Practical Examples: FSUIPC and Python
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